Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-11-02
Terrible Calamity.
BuRNING OF TIIEs STEAMER SToSEwALn on
THE MIssIssIsH-OvER Two HUNDRED
LIVES Losr-ScENEs AND IScIDENTs. Z

ct. bOUlsy Oct. Ao' -
A terrible disaster occurred on the Mis-
sissippi River last evenipg, inwhich it's
supposed over 200 lives were lost. The
steamer Stoncwall, Capt. Scott, which left I
here on Tuesday last for New Orleans,
when about As miles above Cal o, was
discovered to be on fire. The boat had a
deck load of hay, and the fire spread so
rapidly that all attempts to extinguish the
flames proved unayailing. The Stonewall
was then run aground, but owing to the
depth of water between the boat and the
shore, only about 80 passengers succeeded
in reaching it. The announcement of the
disaster has caused great excitement here,
many of the passengers being residents of
this city, and further particulars are
awaited with great anxiety.
STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER
ST. LOUIS, MIDNIGHT, Oct. %.
George W. Fulton, Chfef Engineer of
the Steamer Stonewall, arrived here on
the Bell of Memphis, and gives some fur
Their particulars.
Sixteen persons we're saved by clinging
to planks and l6 more swan ashore.
These are all out of between $50 and 260
souls on board Of whose positive safety
there is any certainty. One man named
BENEFITS was picked up and brought
ashore, but he died soon after. The only
: officers Of the boat known to be saved are
George W. Fulton, Chief Engineer Ed
ward Fulkersom, Pilot, and E 2. Wat
son, CARPENTER. Monroe Vandervoert,
the stoker, and Charles Williams and
John Churchman, deck hands, are also
among the saved. Of the three ladies on
, board only one, Mrs. Gregg, was saved.
Capt Scott was last seen floating on a
SPAR Men on shore rode seven miles
down the stream in hopes of finding him,
but he was not found. The scene on
: board was heartrending in the extreme
} The flames spread with wonderful rapid.
. ty under the action Of a strong wind, and
the passengers in wild terror crowded the
D iorecaste until forced overheard in Q
mass, and drowned each other in desperate
e struggles to free themselves. Others
: would jump into the water, whirl arouhc
in the strong current for an instant, ant
r disappear forever. Mr. Fulton jumpeC
e overheard and attempted to swim ashore
e but coming in contact with a number O
e mules he swan to and climbed on The
wheel of the boat. While there the
= steam-pipe burst, and the wheel revoved
G three times. He chung to it, howev'
n er, and WAS finally taken ashore in skiff
d Charles Williams, deck-hand, says he
!, tried to smother the fire, when II was
i INST discoveries, WIN piankets, UuJ the
wind blew so strongly he failed. An effor
was made to bring the hose to play CT
the fire, but the crowd of the frenzieC
deck passengers rush with such irresisti
Bile force upon the men having itin charge
that they were obliged to give itup. VIII
0 liams then threw overheard bale of hay
and getting on it drifted to the stern o
the boat where he encountered the boat,
: yawl, containing six men and a won az
: He was taken on board, but, having NJ
oars, they could not stem the current
Williams and the woman were put OF
Shore, and the remaining men made an
other attempt to reach the steamer, using
. the seats of the yawl for paddles, but the
tide was too strong, and. they were carri
) ed down the stream, and we're seen nc
> more. Williams thinks there were moi
more than 30 persons saved, but it is
hoped many were able to reach the shore
at different points down the river, and
: that further information will show the
> loss of life has not been so terrible and
appalling as the present adyices indicate
There is no telegraph Office within several
miles of the scene Of disaster, and no in.
formation later than / o'clock last night
has been received. tega yyeE gnT