The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-30
The Awful Steamboat Disaster on tho
Mississippi.

The Awful Steamboat Disaster on the
hISsisSippI.
Appalling Scenes acd HeaPt.rendInE
Incidents.
ST.. LOUIS, October %.
The most appalling disaster that per-
haps has ever occurred on the MlBsis'
Blppi river took place about six O'Clock
last night, Just below Neely's landing,
and about l25 miles below here. AT
that hour the steamer StoneWall, for
New Orleans. heavily laden, and with
253 souls on board, was discovered 10
be on IRE, having caught by q lighted
candle coming In contact with some
hay, 100 bales OF which was stored ON
the deck.
A deck hand names Charles Williams
who once lived In Cincinnati, bravely
attempted to smother the IRE with
blankets and bed quilts, bat the wind
blowing brlskly, the flames spread rap
lilly and could not be controlled.
An effort was then made TO train the
hose on the Are, but the terror stricken
deck passengers, numbering one hum
dred and fifty, made such a rush to
escape that the men having the hose In
charge were forced back, and the Rt-
tempt was abandoned.
The scene In the cabin at this time,
the passengers being at supper, was one
OF the widest confusion and excite.
ment. A rush was made for the boiler
deck, and the ioreCastle was soon
crowded with terror stricken mass OF
human beings, surrounded on one side
by fierce and kissing flames ready 10
devour them, and on the other by q
rushing and turbld tide OF water. An
attempt was made 10 run out Btaglngs
10 afford refuge for those whom they
could hold, but the opposite effect was
produced, for the atfrighted passengers
rushed pell.mell into the gtRRings, and
all who reached them were engniied In
q wstery abyss.
Others jumped overheard, and after
whirllng Tor an instant In the strong
and edyinR current, sunk and were
swept away TO be seen no more.
When the alarm was first given, the
steamer was headed for the shore, but
struck on Tea Table bar, two hundred
and htty yards from the Missouri shore,
where She stuck fast and remained IN.
III she was completely destroyed.
It Is said that had the pilot run so or
60 yards further down stream, he could
have landed the boat at the bank, and
probably all could have been saved.
As 1t was, there was several feet OF wa
ter all around the stern, and the only
chance TO escape WAS by swimming, and
the distance being so great, the current
80 strong, and the water so cold, but
few were able to land.
Sixteen persons were saved by hang.
Ing In the water from stage planks, and
sixteen more swan ashore. These are
all OF whose positive safety there Is any
certainty.
One gentleman named Brennan was
picked up In the water and brought
ashore, but he was 80 chilled by the
cold water, that he died soon aiterWRrd.
Mr.. Phelps, Of Shreveport, La, was
saved after swimming three-quarters
OF mile, but when be reached the
shore he was so near dead that his jaws
had to be pried open to give him stlmu.
lRnts.
Capt. John Douty, Of New Orleans,
was last seen sliding down bar into
the water. and Is supposed 10 be lost.
Capt. Tom Scott, the commander Of
the boat, was once seen In the texas and
afterward was observed floating down
the river on spar.
Parties on shore, residents Of the
place, followed down the stream on
horseback for distance OF ten miles,
looking for the Captain. 1t Is feared
that. numbed by the cold, he fell off
the log and was lost.
Nhn IUillIaTau md
man, deck hands. were saved. VIII.
llams, after fighting the fire as long as
there was any chance OF subdulng 1t,
rolled bale OF hay overheard, got on
It and 1oated past the stern OF the boat,
where he was picked up by six men In
the steamers yawI. They had cut the
yawl loose without oars, and were
entirely at the mercy of the current.
They finally reached the shore, and
put Williams and q woman, who was
also In the boat, on the bank, and then
with seats and the fore and aft board
OF the yawl, endeav0red to reach the
steamer and save some Of those In the
water. Butsthey could make no head.
way against the current, and were carr
ried down stream and seen no more.
Three hours after the fire commenced
the Belle Memphis came up, and rem
dered all the assistance possible. Her
officers took on board the parties named
above. furnished them with clothing,
and brought them TO this city.
It's stated that while the Stonewall
was burning, the Submarine No. 10
passed by her, going down, and did not
offer any assistance; did not stop 10 pick
up the unfortunate beings in the water;
and when she met the Belle Memphis
even failed 10 mention the appalling
disaster. This, however, Ia not believed
here, on the ground that Captain Wash.
tngton, her commander, Is known to be
kind hearted and humane man, and
his friends assert that be would have
gladly rendered all the assistance In his
power had he been at the scene.