Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-01-09
ponlrsttc Mus.
THE Loss on STEAMER oFAsnioN'

TIE LOSS OF STEAMER FASHION
Louisville. Jan. 2.
The particulars of the loss Of the steamer Fash
100 airs received The disaster occurred when she
was about seven miles from Baton Rouge, the fire
being caused by sparks from the chimney. u
spread with such rapidy that the efforts 60 check
it were Of no avail. and boat and passengers bad
to be abandoned TO their fate. The Fashion had
on board POO bales of cotton. The cabin passcn-
gers on board numbered 100 but their names are
not given in consequence of the destruction OF the
register and papers Of the boat The deck passen-
gers were mostly negroes They leaped wildly
into the water and very few. ii any, were saved.
The people TO escape the flames ran backwards
and forwards until driven into o compact mass,
when they would leap overheard and perish
Pilot Thomas Montague remained at his post
until driven oil 10y the flames, when bee walked To
the stern and was never seen afterwards. Mr..
tarchild the engineer, stuck to the engine until
1t too late TO escape and persisted n the iames
The steward and second mate were also lost. Capt.
Pratt saved several ladies by wadug waist deep
into the river. putting them into a lawl, and pad
ding 10 with portion of the statc-roum blinds
The ladies were from Mississippi. Capt. Pratt
was almost dead from exhaustion, bat finally sue
oeeded in reaching Baton Rouge.
Mr.. Hastings, mate. loaped into the water and
reached shore boy swimming. a lady passenger
threw her three children into the river and then
leaped after them The mother and one of the
two were lost.
The panic on BOARD the steamer was fearful, and
the mate, who describes the scene, saws IN nine
teen years Of steamboatng he never saw such q
sight He was about the last to leave the burning
vessel.
Two ladies who came on board at Bayou Sara
WAsnINGroN Jan B.
Commissioner Howard Of the Frecdmeu's
Bureau, in letter TO the Secretary OF War, in
answer to a resolution OF Congress. reports that
while the colorcd population has decreased in Viz
ginia, North and South Caoliras, Arkansas and
Missouri, Il remains about the same in Florida,
Mississippi and Louisiana and has increased in
Texas and Tcunessocc. lie says the Assistant
Commissioners OF The States of Louisiana, Florida
and Arkansas report an increased disposition on
the part Of the freedmen 10 take advantage OF the
Homestead Act. lie submits synopsis of She
laws OF the Southern States IN regard to freedmen,
and says that the reports Of the Assistant Comuds
ssioners contain evidence that the manner OF exec
cutting laws on the part Of the magistrates and iu-
rors IN some parts of the South does great injury
to the freed people The necessity OF enforcing
General Order, No. A., from the headquarters Of
armies OF the United States IN Louisiana Missis-
sppi, and Texas by the Assistant Commissioner is
fully established. The decisions Of some Of the
District Judges in the State Of Mississippi, that
the Civil Rights bill was unconstitutional. has no
doubt robbed The colofed people OF privileges in
tended to be secured for them by that law The
machinery of the Civil Rights bill is not in full
operation in some portions OF the South. for many
criminals that ought 20 be brought trial under ihat
bill are at large The Assistant Commissioners
generally favor the contract system. and report
the freedmen having ia most cases faithfully
performed their obligations. Ihcremploycrs have,
general thing settled with the freedmen IN
accordance with the terms of the contracts; vet
when any Of them have failed 10 do SO the State
lutg "a, .I..lt
the proper remedies and protection. For this
reason the Assistant Commissioners report that
they have relieved The evil as far as possible boy
assuming the guardianship OF the freedmen as con-
templatcd by the laws OF Congress. lie calls
special attention TO the vagraht laws of Mary
land, Georgia Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas
he small time allowed after the expiration of
one contract before the person must enter on an
other to escape yagAncy, will occasion practical
slavery. The arrest of assembled persons as va
grants upon information given by any party, their
trial by Justice of the Peace and the sale of
their invoices at public cutlery for the payment
OF the fine aud cost without limit as to time and
the whipping and working in the chain gangs pre-
sent some of the obnoxious features OF the irreg
ular law.
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Jan. 3.
Both Houses completed their organization to-
day, by eecting David Bonner President Of the
Senate and Mr. iollan Speaker OF the House
mated in the Radical caucuses.
Columns O.. Jan. 3.
The State Senate to-day adopted resolution
ratifying the proposed amendment to the Consti-
tuition OF the United States The vote was a par
ty one, and stood u 10 r.
WAsHINGToN Jan. ..
The ARKANSAS delegation met with cordial re-
ception from Radical Congressman.
They do not estimate the wisdom of the Prcsi-
dent very highly, as he told them to reject any
thing offered. by Congress.
The friends Of Gov. Curtin, for the Pcnnsylva-
MIA Senatorshp, have withdrawn him in favor of
Thad. Stevens, whose friends are now quite COM
fdent but Cameron is very sweet in securing
nominations.
ST. JosFrH Mo-, Jan. &.
a telegram from the Plains say that the Sweet
Water Station was burned by the Indians ON the
Is Of January.
A party Of telegraph men went there to-day, and
found the mutilated bodies of one soldier and a
telegraph operator.
a dastardy attempt was made last night to de-
stroy block OF the buildings with gunpowder,
but it was detected and foiled.
Parties who bad it insured for several thousand
dollars over its valuation, were suspected, and
have been arrested