The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-11-04
Terrible Steamboat Dis
asteT.
The Steamer StonewaII Burned,
and 200 Lives Lost,
Weart-renJIing Scenes and In
p7dnmfe


fire on Wednesday evening, of last
week, about } past 6 o'clock, near
Neely's Landing, 45 miles above Gai-
70, and in few minutes burned to
the waters edge, She had on board
about 40 cabin and 25O deck passen~
gers, and 60. ofBee=s and erew--in all
about $50 persons, of whom only 90
are known to be saved, though it is
hoped that others may have reached
the shore below the scene of the,C9-
lamity. The boat was heavily load
ed, having about eight hundred tons
of freight, including two hundred and
seventy cattle, horses and mules.
We cOndanse from the telegraphic
dispatches in the daily papers the
following particulars of the awful dis
aster:
When the fire broke out, every ef.
fort WAS made to land, but the steam
er was 50 heavily laden that she could
not be brought nearer than one hun
drpd yards of the shore.
The steamer was run on a gravel
bar, the pilot suppOsihg that the
passengers could wade ashore on the
bar. Unfortunately, at the end of the
bar there was a slough, and
there it was that the larger num-
Der were drowned, The boat was run
on the bar but two feet, aud the shall
lowest point about her had five or six
| feet of water.
The boat had so much hay aboard
that she burned like tinder, and all
efforts to put it out were unavailing.
Great confusion and terror prevail
ed. There were about two hundred
cabin and deck passengers aboard,
quite a number of whom were women
and children. The flames spread with
great rapidity. Scores Of men sprang
into the water, and attempted to reach
the shore by swimming. Nearly all
these men we're lost. Every conceiv-
able object that could be obtained was
thrown into the water, and to these
the PASSENGERS clung as well as they
could. .
The steamer Belle Memphis, Cap
tain Crane, on her way to st. Louis,
reached the scene during the fire, and
picked up from the water all that are
known to be saved. The pilot, engi-
neer, stoker, carpenter, and forty-four
passengers are known to be saved.
! The Captain, the clerks and other
officers, deck hands, and many pass
engers were lost.
All the books and papers of the
boat were lost, as also were the cattle
and other freight on board. 49,
A number of passengers died soon
after reaching the shore from exposure
in the water.
There was no explosion.
The conduct of the passengers and
officers is said to have been heroic.
Such an appalling scene has, not been
witnessed On the Mississippi for many
years. The saved were kindly cared
for by the officers of the Belle Mem
phis, and were carried to st. Louis.
Another account gives the follow
ing additional particulars:
As soon as the alarm was given
confusion worse confounded reigned.
A number of deck passengers instant
Iy seized the only yawl, and casting
loose, foated of, without oars.
The pilot headed the boat for the
shore, while an effort was being made
to subdue the fire. In few moments,
the boat grounded, in water six feet
deep, and two hundred yards from the
Missouri shore. A few seconds suf,
feed to show that there was no hope
Of saving the boat.
In the meantime every thing avail
aEle-doors, shutters, planks, blinds,
mattresses, furniture, &c, were thrown
into the river, passengers springing
after, and clinging to them for safety.
About this time one of the steam
pipes blew of, adding to the alarm.
At this, those who were not already
struggling in the water, Immediately
plunged in, regardless of consequences.
All except those in the yawl, nearly
two hundred and fifty in number, were
battling for life in the current of the
Mississippi.
Night had gathered around them.
Above the screams of dying Passen-
gers and the cracking of the flames,
was heard the shrill neighing of burn
ing horses. With no boats or life pre-
servers, clinging only to frail supports,
scores were dying from the intense
cold of the water-chilled through and
through-with no help in sight, and
no hope before them. One by one
thew sapk to rise no more. Those
who did reach the shore were not on
Iy exhausted, but nearly frozen, one
man, Mr.. Brenner, from Galveston,
Texas, dying after reaching land.
The Assistant Engineer states that
after nearly all had left the boat, hei
went into the state-rOOms to try to !
find Iife-preserver, but finding none,
ran out and plunged into. the water
and swan ashore, with no clothing
on save Rshirt and pants. He saw
but little, and remembers nothing of
while in the water. 1t
is understood that he doubted wheth-
er there were any life -preservers on
board.
OF the eleven women, three were
saved. One, a lady aged sixty years,
was saved by a devoted and faithful
son.
Soon after the fire broke out, the
Engineer attempted to launch the
stage; but the passengers crowded on
it in such numbers that he could do |
nothing. He then jumped overheard, |
they following. Que little girl still |
remained, clinging to a rope. She
let herself down from the second deck |
on to the projecting part Of the stage,
and remained there until it burned off, |
and she foated off on the piece and
was saved.
The people at Neely'ssaw the light, |
and fastened to assist. One man res
rned sixteen persons with a skiff.
Had II not been for their help all
,Do,,Id have been lost. -