The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-27
From the Charleston News, 22d.
The steamer General Hooker De-
stTOycd by Fire.

From the Charleston News, 22d.
The steamer General Hooker De-
stTOyed by Fire.
A sad occurrence took place neal this
port yesterday, by which some eight
parsons were drowned, and Others in
jured. The steamer General Hooker,
Captain Davidson, which has been ply
ing as a packet from this port to George
town, S G, for several months, left
BOyce d Cos Wharf, in this city, on
Wednesday, about S a. m, and about
one hour later, when the steamer was
of Breech Inlet breakers, she was
found 10 be on fire in and near the coal
bunkers. Although q stream of water
was Immediately played on It, and
every effort used 10 put out the flames,
they increased rapidly, and in some
fifteen minutes the entire upper part
of the steamer appeared to be on fire.
The boats were got ready, and the
steamer pointed for the beach, but there
was a heavy sea rolling, which, with the
confusion among the passengers, inter
ferred seriously with the use of the
boats, and finally ospsized and filed
them with water, causing the drowning
OF several ladies, and perhaps others.
The fire progressed 50 quickly that
the tiller ropes were burnt before the
Hooker could be got to the beach, and
she consequently became unmanagea-
Die. While in this position, passen-
gers took TO the water, and hung with
tenacity TO any object that would sup
port them.
The steamer Pilot Boy, Capt. Payne,
also on her way TO Georgetown, and
which was about one and a half miles
oil, put about and came to the aid of
the Hooker as soon as her situation was
discovered. Capt Payne, on reaching
the spot, anchored his steamer to keep
her head to wind and sea, got out his
Hfe-boat, which was taken charge of by
Capt John Ferguson, who, together
with Capt. Davidson, of the Hooker,
who was in a half-sunken boat, and Mr..
Doane, pilot, succeeded ia placing some
twenty persons on the Pilot Boy, by
which means they reached the city
about II q. m, and bringing the first
news Of the disaster. The following are
the names Of those who came up in the
Pilot Boy, as near SIS could be ascer-
tanned:
D Risley, wife and sister, passengers,
Georgetown, G.
W Burke, passenger.
J Il Foot, passenger.
Master Bush, passenger, Georgetown,
sc.
Mrs Davidson and child, wife Of the
Captain of the Hooker.
FIG Coffin, Mate OF the Hooker.
A + Doane, Pilot of the Hooker.
Four other white passengers.
The body Of Miss Bush.
Two Firemen, Steward, Waiter, and
one deck hand.
Also, three or four colored persons
one e woman badly burnt
The follaWing landed on Sulliyan'i
Island:
Captain Davidson.
Mr. Long Engineer.
Mr. ROttereau, Purssr.
And two deck hands.
The following are lost
Mrs Rhodes, passenger Of George
town, South Carolina.
Miss Belle Risley, of Philadelphia.
Miss Bush, daughter of the Mryor o.
Georgetown, S. C., who was Just return
ing home from school. Her body was
kept sAoat 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 conjecturally-there may
have been a greater number. The
Hooker has burnt to the waters edge,
and has hoated ashore on Sullivan's
Island. The bodies of Mrs. Rhodes and
and a colored woman hOated ashore on
the beach yesterday, and others will no
doubt soon find their way there. Cap.
tains Ferguson and Payne, add Mr..
Doane, pilot of the Hooker, are par
ticularly spoken of in reference to their
efforts to save the lives of the unfOrtu.
nate.
The Gen. Hooker was a new boat,
and is owned by Messrs. Mckay a
Aldus, of East Boston.