The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-30
CHICAGO.
additional Details OF the stOhewalI
BsasieF-Statement OF the Assist
ant Engineer.


Observation-Disclosures Of the Assist
ant Engineer. tl
CHICAGO, Oct. ga correspond
ent, writing from Carbondale, Illinois,
gives additional news of the terrible
steamboat disaster. The Stonewall
had on beard thirty five registered
cabin passengers. five guests, and one
hundred deck passengers, and sixty
officers aud crew. Among the nam
Der were eleven women and some
children. The FIRE originated about
ten feet forward Of the deck stove,
from sparks from match IN lighting
pipe by one Of the deck passengers,
quite a quantity of hay being slowed
in the room. AS soon as the alarm
was given. confusion worse confound-
ed reigned.
A number of deck passengers in.
stantly seized the only yaWl, aud cast
ing loose, hoated off without oars.
The pilot headed the boat for the
shore, while an effort was being made
to subdue the FIRE. In O few moments
the boat grounded in water SIX feet
deep. and two hundred yards from
the Missouri shore. A few seconds
suHced to show that there was no
hope of saving the boat. In the
meantime everything available, doors,
shutters, planks, blinds, mattresses.
furniture, &c, were thrown into the
river, passengers spriHging In after
and cliDglDg to them for safety.
About this hmes0ne of the steam
pipes blew of, adding to the alarm.
At this. those who were not already
struggling in the water, jumped 10,
regardless of consequence.
All except those IN the yaWL nearly
two hundred and fifty ia number, were
battling for life ia the current Of the
Mississippi. Night had gathered
around them. Above the screams of
dying passengers and cracking Of
flames was heard the shrill neighing
of burning horses. With no boats or
life-presorvers. clinging only to frail
supports. scores were dying from the
intense cold of the water, chilled
through, with no help in sight, and
with no hope before them, one by one
they sank to rise no more. Those
who did reach the shore, were not
only exhausted, but nearly frozen.
one man, Mr.. BlenneFs from Calves
ton, Texas. dying after reaching land.
The assistant engineer states that,
after nearly all had left the boat. he
went into the state-rooms to try to
find life-preserver, but fading none,
he ran out and plunged into the water
and swan ashore, with no clothing on
save shirt and pants, He saw but
little and remembers nothing of con-
sequence while in the water. 1t is
understood that he doubted whether
there we're any life-preservefs on
board.
OF the eleven women three were
saved. One lady aged sixty years,
was ssVed BY her son.
Soon alter the FIRE broke out the
engineer attempted to launch the
stage, but the passengers crowded on
il In such numbers that be could do
nothing. he then jumped overheard
and they followed. One little girl
was still remaining, and, by ciingiug
to rope she let herself down from
the second deck on the projecting
part of the stage and remained there
until it burned of, and she hoated off
on the piece and was saved.
The steamer Belle Memphis, on
her way to St. Louis, reached the
scene about ten O'Clock, and gathered
up from the shore all the survivors
that could be found, thirty-three in
number. Fifteen or twenty are sup
posed to have reached tho shore some
distance below, making about fifty or
sixty, all told, that were srved
a dispatch from CarbOndale says
that, up to 2:30 o'clock to day, no.
thing further bad been received at
Grand Tower or Carbondale in refer
ence TO the missing passengers Ii
was hoped that many had hoated
ashore, but that hope is nearly dis
PEELED. None had been heard from
at last accounts. Besides those fshed
up By the Belle Memphis, the entire
number saved will scarcely reach
sixty, out of the two hundred aud
fifty on board. errt.- n.
A young man named o. g. Walters,
was arrested yesterday 10 Des Moines,
Iowa, charged with F6bbinE the bank
ing house of S. a. Way a. Co., Bos-
ton, of $4,000. a.+r ..
An attempt was made last night to
assassinate Sheriff Fisher, of this city,
while in his Office ia the Court
House. He was shot at three times,
by some unknown person, one ball
only taking effect 10 the calf of his
leg. The assassin is unknown.
Admiral Farragut has so far recov-
cred that he expects 60 be able TO
leave for the East ou Monday next.