New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-26
The Disaster the Red Biver-Particu
lars Of the Sinking Of the Kentucky.
From The Soc. OIIeAnl PicAyune, JUNO y

From The w.Orleans Picsyune, June ~.
Our readers have already been made aware OF
the snking Of the trans steamer Kentucky short
distance below Shreveport, the 9Th and the loss
thereby Of the lives Of go persons chiefly Con-
fcderaie soldiers from Missouri and some from Arkan'
sas who had been parped and were returning home.
We had m interview yesterday with Mr.. Louis flaau.
one Of the Survivors who gave US quite full account
OF the disaster. which We here snscrbe for the benefit
Of our readers; =,
| The Kentucky, which appears 10 have been an old
and weakly craft bad. shortly after leaving Shreve.
port, been run into the river bank with quite Jar but
nothing serious apprehcnded from IL, aud all re-
tired 10 sleep. There about 90 passengers on
board chiefly Confederate soldiers from Missouri. and
these were lying abont the bow and In the forward
cabin on the foor soundy asleep when sbont ~ p M
it was discovered that the boat had tHoandshaH feet
| OF water In the hold.
No alarm was given at first. and attempt was
made to run her ashore. but the boat proved I'M
ageabe this failed a stcrn-line was then got on.
aud fastened the shore but not IN time to do any
good for the boat swung ont INTO ma river, where inc
was carried under the boat oarceGed over on lis side
and slowly a, first and then suddenly the bow went
down. and only about twenty !eet oil Tie ladies' cabin
remained out Of the water this too standing al an
inclination nearly perpendicular that IL was WIN
great difficulty that nnv one could climb out IL IS
likely that the boat broke in the middle as the Texas
and deck forward remained out OF the water
well as the bell which was kept ringing aiter The
vessel sunk until the steamer Chapih came 10 her as
sistance.
For some reason yet 70 be explained the soldiers were
permitted to remain asleep in fancied security, while
the boat had thus filed with water and was SINKING
and thus nearly all Of them carried under win tbe
boat Some who were outside, or could easy extrI-
| cate themselves, tO the surface and swan ont
some canUered mp the sides and floor Of the boat and
thus escaped; but about 200 Of them were undoubtedly
lost. Al,
Such was the confusion and terror occurring as this
did in the night, and while the were asleep, that
when they emerged from their dreams they Thought OF
nothing but selfpreseryatlon. Among the few who ex
eItcd themselves 10 save the ladies our informant
names Major Buc kner Major Wardell and Capt. Mont
T.. anAA A Ian
son; and there others whose names escaped ms
memory He himself succeeded 10 fescung the h'te
daughter of Mr. Isaacson who had already fallen down
To the water lie clambered up with her with great
difficulty until she could be put into the hieboat ana
| The current was exceedingly swift and boats were
almost anageable. otherwise more might have been
saved AS 1t was 400 persons were taken on including
all the ladies and children, 80 far as known ana then
| baggage. The Chaplin, which had come down owing
to the ncessant ringing OF the bell rendered inc great
est assistance in rescaing those who cinng 70 Inc
wreck and her officers merit the gratitude oil al VINO
| are in any degree Interested IN the SURVIVORS Ihe
Chaplin took On board the ladies' ana cnaren, "na nan
weary made them comfortable, and gave AID ~ al 50
| far ~ lay In their power. 49,,
we arc informed that all the officers and crew OF the
Kentucky were saved and II notice Of the dangerous
condition of the boats had been given to the sieeper
or better still had there been such waichiuiness and
good conduct as not to have waited UNI. 'ns nu WIS
frl OF water before trying TO land the hvss OF two
hundred victims OF this piece OF criminal maintenance
and careessuess would have been saved. Our inform
inst Poor fellowsi They had been four years from
home fighting brayely Enthusiastically. for what they re.
oarded as their right. When tho day OF surrender
came they did not leave theS colors but remained 10
nratet Hose near whom they were placed and 10 de
liver up In TACT their late foes the spos oil wa;
Ike soldiers thcy had remained at their posts, and
having Ike sodiers given their paroles wero ABOUT 70
return TO their homes with the paudis Of Doth iiiehd
and foo when In darkness the wave swept over them
and they were gone.