The Van Buren press., 1869-04-20
Burning of tn. Steamer Thompson.


In the Little Rock daily liberal Of the
18th, we find the statement Of Ocsmoins
one Of the pilots on the unfortunate boat,
which embraces fully all particulars re
ceiyed. One Of the families that was on
the boat arrived here on the AmeT1ean
Their destination was for Washington
county They lost every thing but what
the had on. Captain CHAPMAN, of the
.Amer5ean. with his CHARACTERISTIC liberal
ity TO all unfortunates, brought them to.
this place without charge:
DEsMoINs SrATENENr.-Mr. Desmoin
is an old river pilot, on the Arkansas
river, and much Interest IS manifest in his
statement since he was present on tine oc-
casion of the disaster and a pilot OH the
boat. The G. \. Thompson left Cincin-
natl on the 3ist of March heavily laden
with bacon; -four, agricultural implements
and furniture. bound for Little Rock and
Fort Smith She left Memphis on the
18th inst, leaving Pine Bluff at IL clock
at noon Oh Friday the 9Th. Nothing of
note occurred on the trip until at point
known as Erwin's landing about forty
miles below this city, on the Arkansas
river, when the boat struck a snag on the
starhoard side. on the right hand bar,
sinking in five minutes in nine feet of wa
ter. The time being precisely twenty
minutes past 'yo O'Clock.
Aftei liking it was discovered that
smoke was issuing from the engine room.
Upon investigation it was found to pro.
cecd from some lime barrels slowed on
deck, which were immersed in water. I'm
mediately steps were taken for removing
the women and children, keeping secret
from them the situation. Every exertion
was used to throw the lime overheard by
the crew, but they were driven off by
fumes, Stacking lime and heat. The life
boat was then launched and the ladies
carried off in safety. Seventeen persons
were lost--eight white and nine coiored,
OF the eight white, four were Of the crew
and four passengers. The two clerks,
George Ely and John Perkins, the sec
ond cook, and lame cabin boy from
New Albany. Indiana were lost Also a
Mr.. Trumdal and three others, nam $
unknown, making up the complement of
whites. The ichambcrmaid and eight
colored deck hands made up the compile
mcnt Of colored. The greatest loss is
accounted for by the negroes jumping
into the yawl, and upsetting it. Mcssrs.
| Ely and Perkins, clerks, and MIR Dcs-
mon were in the yawl when it started.
At this point the scene beggars descrip-
ton. The negroes grasped wildly at
every object in reach, the flames of the
burning steamer lighting up the river for
long distance, and the river dotted with
floating bodies Of those compelled to
| leave the wreck. r.f
Ely was very excellent swimer; also
Perkins, but both disappeared and are
among the lost. Desmoin was grasped
about the neck by deck hand, but sue.
cecdcd in shaking him off, as also in free.
ing himself from his overcoat and pistol
with which he had kept the deck hands
and male passengers from the boats &c
prevent their sinking. Desmoin swan
down the river about one half mile, great
] ~ annoycu pN large ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS uoE
that CHANGED to single him out and fol
low as q means of safety, and was finally
picked up in mn exhausted condition by
G~.ia;,, - I ..,t-,.h....bel ee>pna.tou his as
ter were also picked up at the same time
after which all proceeded to the residenc,
of Mr., Irwin and passed the night .H
| The officers of the boat behaved cool
ly, and but for their exertions the disas
ter must have proved more appalling
than 1t is. The ladies on board nine il
number, were all saved. = "' .Tad .
The flames were discovered some five
or ten minutes after the boat sank ..
On Sunday morning the Thomas II. Al
len came along from above and took the
survivors, who desired to go below. The
balance went up on the Caldwell as stat
cd, at o'clock on Sunday evening. AL
were treated very kindly by the hospita
bic Captain Rube Hanes.
/ Loss estimated at about SI5, 600 70,
the boat. Value of cargo unknown.