Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-17
BURNING OF THE Won PHUL.
ihree Thousand Four Hundred Bales
OF Cotton DesfrOyed-Nine Deck Pas
sengers Losf-AII the Rest Safe-In-
teresting Particulars.
Special to the Commercial and Argus

Special to the Commercial and Argusl
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14-The Memphis
and New Orleans packet Henry Vo1u Fisul.
bound for this place, with large trip OF
passengers and three thousand four hundred
and sixty-iiye bales of cotton aboard, when
eight miles above Donaldsonville. La.
caught fire aft the wheel-house, and suffered
total destruction.
Ihe boat was at the time under way. The
alarm of fire spread through the boat in an
instant, and caused an excitement beyond
the power OF human description, and but for
the eoolness and bravery Of her officers,
numbers now alive and safe would have
plunged madly and wildly into the Missis-
slppi, and would now be sleeping beneath its
turbulent waves. There were about three
wedding parties, Col. J. c. FIzER and lady,
Col. BRowN and lady, and a Mr.. ADAMS
and lady. The first names of the latter
have been unable to learn. Besides there
we're number of ladies and a large list of
gentlemen passengers.
Capt. HICKS and Capt. BANFIL displayed
coolness and admirable tact under such a
trying ordeal, doing all they could to quiet
the fears Of the passengers, assuring them
that the boat would reach the Louisiana
shore before the flames could possibly reach
them. The pilot gallant fellow whose
name disremember, stood with heroic and
reckless firmness at his post, and with a
steady hand, guided the noble vessel to the
shore, while the flames in the rear of the
wheelhouse roard and crackeled behind him,
and in five minutes after the first dread
word Of fire rang through the different |
apartments Of the boat, she was
landed at the Louisiana shore, planks put |
out, and now came rush for dear life, |
IN inlhllment Of the adage, everybody |
for himself and the devil for us all" |
But am glad to say that the officers |
OF the boat showed no disposition of the /
KIND, bat gave invaluable and ever to
be remembered assistance to the ladies and /
children, whose life and safety was made
paramount TO everything else; even the safe
lnll OF valuable papers and twenty thousand /
dollars Il think was left to share the fate of
the boat, in the zeal Of the officers to see the
ladies and children cared for, but am sorry
TO say, that Notwithstanding their hercu-
lean efforts, some persons, nine in number,
deck passengers), being cut off from the
fore part of the beat, we're driven by the
ruthless flames to the edge Of the boat, and
forced TO choose between burning and drown
ing, and with wild yell and a prayer for
their immortal souls, gave themselves to the
water, sinking TO rise no more, after short
Dut vain struggle to maintain the surface.
Captain Hicks and Captain BANFIL, with
he rest of the officers and all the survivors
If the disaster, arrived here last night.
The total loss of the cotton and boat will
lmount to over 100000, and falls heavily
ipon many planters, who, after having had
o struggle against the many hardships of a
lad season, poor crop and hired labor sys-
EN-, now drink the bitter dregs Of the sad
up Of misfortune.
Capt. Hicks is well, and bears this great
misfortune with good cheer. He has been
,usily engaged all day in making arrange
nents for new boat, equal in size, speed,
md comfort, to take the place Of the Henry
VoR Phm. The shippers of Memphis and
he public generally can depend upon seeing
Japt. Hicks at your city next week, ready
o leave on his regular day, next Wednes-
law