The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-11-04


board; all probably lost eNcept one,
Mrs. Fulkerson. The pilot and the
carpenter were the only ones of the
crew saved.
The Mississippi River Disaster
We have the following additional
particulars, by legrapb, Of the burn.
ing Of the steamer "StOnewall, > l.5
miles below ST. Louis OH Wednesday
evening last, at Neclcy's landing.
There were about two hundred and
fifty persons aboard, so that in all
probability two hundred people have
perished by this appalling alamity.
Sixteen persons were saved by
clinging to the stage plank. and six
teen more swan ashore. These are
all, out of between $50 and 26n sonls
on board, of whose safety there is
any certainty. One mar was picked
up and brought ashore but he died
soon alter. The only officers o., the
boat known to be saved are Geo. W.
Fulton, chief engineer; Edward Full
kerson, pilot. and Il. p Watson, car
penter The striker and two deck
hands were also saved OF the three
ladies on board only one, Mrs. Gregg,
who was going to New Orleans, with
her family, to meet her husband, was
saved. Capt. Scott was last seen
floating on spar The men on shore
rode seven miles down stream, on
horseback, in hopes of finding him,
but without success
Tho scene on board was heart rem
ding. The flames spread with won
dertul rapidity under the action of u
strong wind, and the passengers in
wild terror, crowded the forecastle
until they were forced overheard in
q mass, aud drowned each othc, in
their desperate strugg es to free them
selves; others would jump into the
water and whirl around in the strong
current for an instant and then dis.
appear forever Mr.. Fulton jumped
overheard and attempted to swim
ashore, but coming in contact with q
number of mules, he swan to and
climbed on the wheel OF the boat, and
while there the steam pipe burst, and
the wheel revolved three times, hc
clung to it, however, and was fually
taken ashore in "a skiti;. Charles Will
liams, II deck hand, says he tried to
smother the fire with blankets when
it was discovered, but the wind blew
SO strong that he failed, An effort
was also made to bring in the hose
to play on the fire, but the crowd OF
frenzied deck passengers rushed with
such irresistible force npon the men
having it in charge, that they were
obliged to givei up.
Mr.. Williams then threw overheard
a bale OF hay, and getting upon IL
drlfted into the stern OF the boat.
where he encountered a boat and
yawl containing SIX men and NO
man. He was taken in but having
no oars they could not stem the cur
rent, and Williams and the woman
were put ashore. The remaining
men then made another attempt TO
reach the steamer, using the seats OF
the yawl Tor patidles, bit the tide was
too strong AMI they were carried
down stream and seen no more. Mr.:
Williams thinks that M more than
thirty persons We're saved, but 1t Is
hoped that more were able to reach
the shore ut different points down the
river, and that further information
will show that the loss OF life has not
been 80 terrible and appalling AS pres
ent advices indicate. .-
The wheat crop of 1869 is estima-
ted Mt 27l 900, 900 bushels, the corn
crop at 1850, 900, 600 bushcis- that Of
oats 800, 600, 900 bushels, and that OF