The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-27
The LOSS OF The GENERAL HOuKER."
The Account of the Fire and the Loss OF
Eight Lives,

Eight Lives,
The Charleston DAILY Netos of the 22d instant
publishes the following, in relation TO the de
struction of the steamer General Hooker!--
The steamer General Hooker, Captain David.
son, which has been plying as a packet from
this port to Georgetown, S. c., for several
months, left Boyce & Co.'s wharf in this city,
on Wednesday, about 8 A. M, and about one
hour later, when the steamer was Oft Breech
Inlet breakers, she was found to be on fire in
and near the coal bunkeGs. Although stream
OF water was immediately played on il, and
every effort made TO put out the flames, they
increased rapidly; and in some fifteen minutes
the entire upper part of the steamer appeared
TO be on ire. The boats were got ready, and
the steamer pointed for the beach, but there was
heavy sea rolling, which, with the confusion
among the passengers interfered seriously with
the use of the boats, and finally capsized and
hlled them with water, causing the drowning OF
several ladies, and perhaps others.
The fire progressed so rapidly that The tiller
ropes were burnt before the Hooker could be got
TO the beach, and she consequently became un-
manageable While in this position passengers
took TO the water, and hung With tenacity to
any OBJECT that would support them,
The steamer PiE0t Boy, Captain PAYNE also on
her way to Georgetown, and which was about
one and half miles of, put about and came to
inc ald OF tho Hooker as soon as her situation
was known. Captain Payne, on reaching the
spot, anchored his steamer to keep her head to
WIND and en-, got out his life-boat, which was
taken charge OF by Captain John Ferguson,
Hooker, who was in a halEsunken boat and
Mr.. Doane, pilot, succeeded In placing some
twenty persons on the Pilot Boz, by which
means they reached this city about II A. NJ,
bringing the first news OF The disaster. The
following are the names of those who came up
in the Plot Boy, as near as could be ascer,
tained--
D, Hisley, wife, and sister, passengers George.
town, s, O.. w. Burke, passenger; s. H. Foofe.
passeneer: Master Bush, passe' ,oer Caorge.
town. S. c.. Mrs. Davidson and child. Wife of the
captain OF the HOoker; +. G., Colin, mate of the
Hooker; A. +. Doane, pilot of the Hooker; four
other white passengers; the body Of Miss Bush;
ALSO three or four cOlored persons, one a woman,
badly burned.
The, following landed on s1llivan's Island:-
Captain Davidson; Mr.. Long, engineer; Mr.. Rot
tereau, puTser; and two deck hands.
The following are lost;--Mrs. Rhodes, passen-
ger, OF Georgetown, S. c.; Miss Belle Rlsley, Of
Philadelphia.
Miss Bush, daughter of the Mayor of George
town, South Carolina, who was lust returning
home from school. Her body was kept adoat
by her clothing, and she was picked up, but life
was extinct when she was got on board the
steamer.
The number of colored persons drowned we
found it impossible to learn, and placing them
at four or five we do so only coujeCturally-
there may have been greater number. The
Hooker has burned TO the waters edge and has
foated ashore on Suilivans Island. The bodies
of Mrs. Rhodes and colored woman hoated
ashore on the beach yesterday, and others will,
no doubt soon find their way there. Captains
Ferguson and Payne, and Mr.. Doran, pilot OF
the HOOber, are particularly spoken Of IN refer
ence to their efforts 10 save the liyes of the un-
fortunate.
The General Hooker is rev boat, and is
owned by Messrs. Mckay q Aldus, of East Bos.
ton.