The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-05

enough to float, aud plunged with deaf
! ening, unearthly and piteous screams Of
woe into the river, in their attempts to
escape the devOuring flames as they
rapidly destroyed the boat. Capt. Levi
immortalized himself by his daring and
heroic deeds, coolly walking about, try
ing to keep the people from jumping
overheard, as the boat was fast drifting
toward the north shore, where 1t touched
a few moments after the disaster. But
now, to those in the back part of the
cabin, it was as bad as being in the mid.
die of the river, as the boat was vast
flame in the middle, and all In the back
part were compelled to perish in the
flames or bury themselves in the raging
food below. Mr.. John Lusk, second
clerk In the boat, along with Charles J.
johnson, his assistant, who were sitting
in the hall, were either killed by the ex-
plosion or burned or scalded to death.
Mr.. Lusk's wife and child, his sister-in-
law, and German lady just from her
native land, were i'm the ladies' cabin.
The former three were lost and the lat
ter saved. Mr.. j. Il. Rankin last saw
her with her child, on state-room
door, which he had given her. Over
| thirty of the soldiers were lost Two
had been tied up for disorderly conduct,
and In the agonIzing excitement of the
trying ordeal they were forgotten, and
there left to burn to death. Two men
were seen to blow out their brains with
| revolvers.
After the survivors got ashore, the
| negro women and soldiers came 10 their
assistance, the negro women stripping
themselves Of their underclothes and
rending them in shreds for bandages to
soothe the keen pain Of the wounded
and dying. The negro soldiers were
likewise noble and generous, they shar-
ing their coats and pants with those who
had none. Captain Thomas l.. Craw
ford, of tile steamer Henry Ames, hav-
ing heard of the accident Mt Napoleon,
repaired with haste to the scene of the
terrible disaster, and arrived at the place
about o'clock In the morning, greatly
rejoicing the hearts Of the sufferers and
the survivors. Mr.. Rankin greatly ex-
tolls the noble, self-sacrificing spirit of
Captain Crawford, for cancelling his in
surance, losing time and money, besides
going altogether fourteen miles out of
the way to render help and comfort to
the passengers on shore.
| After Captain Crawford and his noble
! crew had rendered all the assistance pos
I sible, he continued his journey to st.
Louis, arriving at this port at 8 o'clock.
The total loss is calculated at from one
hundred and twenty-five to one hund-
dred and fifty souls. She had about fifty
cabin passengers besides the soldiers
and boats crew, summing the whole
number up to two hundred and fifty
souls. General Ashley's band, of Little
Rock, were on board, three of whom
were lost. have as yet been unable to
get the names of the lost. After the ex-
plosion corporal aud citizen were
seen to draw their pistols and blow out
their brains to escape burning to death.
The details of the affair are horrible
| The steamer Henry Ames heard of the
affair and went to the rescue Of the
Miami and rendered valuable assist
ance. One hundred and twenty-five is
the lowest estimate placed on the loss of
life. Major j. r. Rankin and DR.. Jen-
kins are the only passengers known to
be saved.
And the epidemic still RACES. Stimuli
taneous with the above explosion, an
other is heard and the fragments of the
steamer Missouri are seen in the air.
This boat, it appears, fell victim to the
criminal practice of racing so much in
dulged in on our western rivers. The
following are all the particulars we can
CLEAN:
! l learn that the steamer Missouri ex-
ploded at 1:50 O'Clock this morning, op-
posite Robertson's saw-mill, half mile
below the mouth of Green River. The
explosion was distinctly heard all over
this city, and at Newburg. The steamer
Dictator was near the Missouri at the
time of the explosion, and ran
alongside and took off the sur
vivors. The Dictator touched at New
burg, and took on board Drs. William
and Robert Slaughter, but they furnish
ed no list of the lost or saved, and but
few particulars. The wreck is in posses
sion of the Evansville and Cairo Packet
Company. From agentleman who got
off the boat here last night, / learn there
were but five or six ladies on board. He
says there were good many gentlemen
on board, but how many he cannot say.
The safe and some of the books were
brought to this city this morning. The
cabin register has not been found. The
port list shows the officers and crew
numbered about one hundred. A report
from Newburg says that only about
twenty survivors Were taken off, includ-
ing the wounded. Capt. Hurd and two
sons were on board.
| Another despatch says:
The precise point at which the steam
er Missouri blew up, was q half mile be-
low the mouth of Green river. From
all the information received, not more
than twenty-five persons were saved.
Among the number were captain Hurd
and son. The boat had been racing
with the Silver Moon and Dictator, and
was UP to her full capacity of steam.
When at this wharf, she had on board
not 10 exceed twenty-five passengers.
Her portage book, which was secured
by the editor Of tine journal, showed
that she had one hundred aud twenty
officers and hands.
Late this evening the crow of the
Armada discovered the body of q lady.
found in the Texas. She was middle.
aged lady, and supposed to be the cap
tain's wife.
There area great many rumors that
do not seem to have foundation, but the
above are, perhaps, facts. There can be
! little doubt of the loss of at least one
hundred Lives. This conclusion is ar
rived at by carefully collecting all in
formation that could be obtained. II
Later accounts from the wreck, report
Z that the steamer Dictator had rescued
thirty-two persons, and that all of hel
/, officers were lost The body Of a lad,
Z supposed to be the captains wife, wa
3 recovered, land also that of a. little girl