The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-04-27
TERRIBIE nIgAsTRR.
Another terribIe stoambol

AANN3 AHAHe. |#N I'm
Another terrible steamboat disaster
occurred GU the Ohio river ON Thurs
day night, Utmost in sight Of the city,
by which twelve lives were lost The
steamer Finarccr, Captain John Oar
ragh, which left the Monongahclo
wharf Thursday afternoon at Eve
O'Clock, for New, Orleans, with a full
complement Of passengers and q large
freight list, was totally consumed by
FIRE, at Crows Island, 20 miles from
the city. After a careful investiga-
tion on the part of our reporters the
cause Of the cat ~astrophe was ascer-
tanned TO DO as follows Mrs. Roths-
childs, who with her husband and two
children, had been visiting Mr.. Kauf-
man, of this city, and were on their
return to Texas, their place of resi-.
dence, asked the ehambermaid of the
boat for a light, when she was inform
cd that it was against the rules to al
low q light in the staterooms.
On receiving this answer Mrs.
Rotchschild went to her trunk and
produced a small camphene lamp,
which she proceeded to light. The
moment the match was applied to the
lamp it exploded with n loud report,
setting Mrs. Rothschild on fire who
Immediately rushed out into the cab
in, crying " murder" A gentleman
from Vicksburg. mississippi, Mr..
Holloway, rushed to her assistance,
and seizi ng a wooden table cover, en-
voloped her in il, extinguishing the
flames, but not until she was severely
burned. All on board were anxious
for the safety OF the woman, aud no
attention was paid to the state-room,
which was set on fire by the explosion
of the lamp, until the flames were dis
covered issuing therefrom, BY this
time the fire had gained too much
Roadway to attempt to ~extinguish it,
and it spread with fearful rapidly.
Captain Darragh ordered the boat
to be run ashore, and the pilot on duty,
Mr.. Charles Hughes, attempted to do
so, but the tiller ropes were burned,
and he was compelled to abandon the
wheel, which was now useless. The
boat which was heavily ladcned
grounded, and the efforts Of the off.
GERS were now directed towards saw.
ing the lives Of the passengers. Tho
gangway staging was launched into
tho water, and all the lady passengers
placed upon it. Just as they were
about letting loose from tho boat, two
men jumped from the boat, upon the
staging causing it to capsize, and
drowning Mrs. Darragh and daughter.
wife and child of the Captain and Mrs
Rothschiids, who caused tho disaster,
together with the two children of the
latter.
The capsizing.ofthc staging added TO
the horror Of all, and the passengers
became almost frantic, many IN their
despair jumping overheard, some to
find death by drowning. The steam.
tug Coal Bluff, happening in sight,
landed her tow, and Immediately pro-
ceeded to the scene of disaster, rend-
ering valuable assistance in picking
up those in the water, and rescuing
those who were so fortunate as TO reach
the island. The Coal Bl uff carriedthe
rescued to Rochester where they were
placed on board the LeLi Lcoti and
brought to the city. The officers of the
Leni Leoti behaved in a most prais-
worthy manner 10 the unfortunates,
attending to their injuries, and pro-
vidingehem with clothing and other
comforts.