The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-07

sl60C6 OF cuUTb W ccChpc. 4uC uNC hhfIuE
broken out as above described, spread with
v detected, and the efforts Of the first mate,
to whom our informants accord all
praise, were at once directed to extinguish-
ment. But alarm usurped the place of COOL
ness and discipline, and all the efforts of the
mate and a few of the crew, who ran to the
hose, were rendered abortive by the alright
ed passengers, men and women, who ran
about the deck, and thus overwhelmingly APP |
plication of the nj cans of safely till all means
were too late to be of any avail. 1t was in |
view of this state of things, and the evident
fate that awaited the vessel, that the captain |
cried The ship goes-lower away the
boats ~ wild, disorderly rush to the
boats followed, the captain OF the General
Lyons, as 1T is stated, being among the most
eager to abandon the vessel and seek safety
in the first boat lowered The moment the
boat touched the water he was overheard
but in the next, the boat came in collision
with the steamers wheel striking him and
Captain Weber, of the fifty sixth, and instant
ly sending them lifeless beneath the waves
The engineer and first mate In vain attempt
ed to restore order. Major James Fyles, in
command of the fifty sixth, made a like vain
endeavor to quell the insane tumult that pre-
vailed but all such efforts were useless in
the presence of the fiery element that was
now last gaining the mastery, and whose in
evitable approach deprived the unfortunate
people of all hope from human aid. OF the
majority of these below seeking rest but
few escaped, and these only by rushing on
deck at the first alarm. Through some
agency or other the matches were closed. and
as the alarm spread the CONSERVATION OF those
below broke all bounds. A rush was made
to the ladders, but the wild instinct of self
preservation deprived the unfortunates of
their only chance to escape 10 the deck
Those foremost on the ladders were pulled
back by the crowd who pressed behind and
In the struggle that followed the ladders were
pulled down and every attempt to replace
them was thwarted by the blind and de-
spairiug efforts of the unfortunate themselves.
| The cries from below became heartrending
| but they were unheeded at the terrible mo-
ment OF common danger to all Within halt
| an hour the vessel Was wrapped in flames, and
those on deck had disappeared IN the en-
! gulphed waves very few escaping to the
| boats aud even many of those who first gain
ed then. were by the roughness of the sea
eapsized, their places being taken by those
| who we're able tFconba for briet speact
! the waves. which were then running noun
| tains high. Michael ). B-ockett a mem be-
/ of the fifty sixth regiment, and one Of our in
| formants entered the first boat lowered alonl
with the captain of the steamer lie anC
| eight others we're in the boat for neaaly foul
| hours, aud it was only at intervals that th
burning steamer could be discernet
as she drifted away on the breakers
| The steam had not been turned off an;
thus impeled by wind, steam and tide, tn
| doomed vessel, one broad sheet OF flame, hur
| ried to twO-f0ld destruction. The scream
and imploring cries for help, shouted Ia vain
l aam,a rpar~ ~~S faintiy over the storm,
/ waters Besides the first boat lowered II
/ which Mr.. Brockett was, were two others 80
/ clear Of the steamer, containing about thirty
| i've persons in all. and these were all tina
escaped. There were about fifty women AM
! children on board. refugees coming north
but not one was saved. Mr. George w. vii
| liam. of the ffty-sixth, calamity rlsked IN
| life in an effort 10 rescue one woman. ii
succeeded in getting her on the same plan
as ne himself chung to, but when finally aiC
/ came she was past all succOr, the immersion
| 10 ..le water and the cold having done theI
| fatal work There we're sixty seven NAL
| retpcees Init threc of whom were saved
! There were twenty -six enlisted men Of tn
| 10th Missouri en- route to their homes none o
these were saved. From the exhaustion they
| had und ergo1e and the suferings they were
| enduring In their half submerged boats, ev
! GIV mOnenT tHEtaF VIII NCSkEhChhNti ~
| hope of being rescued was dying out Of th'
| few survivors of this terrible calamity, when
at last the steamer General Sedgewick cam,
| in sight-almost unseen until the mumen
she threw out the means of escape. Int
| boat Mr., Brockett was in was the last hailed
| He managed to catch the line thrown to him
| and in q instant the friendly coil was around
/ his body, but ere be Was up the boat cap
| sized, and while in the water he was gFaspeC
| by two of his companions IN misfortune
| with the clutch of drowning men they cuns
| TO him, aud when drawn upon deck he wa
| unconscious, the terrible stress of the others
causing the rope to tighten 50 as 20 almost
| deprive him of all respiration. The terrib.t'
scene on board. the narrowing cries of men,
women and children for help. where no help
| could come the almost hopeless struggle for
| life through which they passed, have left
such an effect on the hearts and memories Of
the survivors that many of the details and
! circumstances of the moment are in the whirl
| of emotions created vet unremembered but
! enough has been told TO class the loss and
| fate of the General Lyon and its in fated pas
eengers among the most disastrous calamties
that have occurred at sea for years
The survivors received all the care and at
tention from the captain and officers Of the
General Sedcewick that their unhappy con
dition demanded
NAMES OF POTION OF TIE LOST
The following names of members of the fif
ry-sixth Illinois are furnished by !. surviving
comrade: .@
Major Jas. Files. Seargt. John Morris
Captain Weber Seargt. II. Diitingee.
Cartain Dunquary. L. Perry.