Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-05
sTEAmBoAT DISASTER
steamer Burned and 400 Elves Lost

I =
most horrible casualty which occurred on tbs
lower Mississippi, on Wednesday last. the
9th ult., by which it is supposed 200 persons
met their death. ffa
1t seems that the steamer StonewaH, bound
for New Orleans. when about l25 miles be-
low ST. Louis took fire and in spite of the he
role efforts of crew and passengers to save
her, all resulted in failure Being heavily
loaded, the boat could not be got within a
long distance of the shore. and consequently
but few en- board ever reached the land alive.
We subioin detailed account of the fearful
tragedy:
John H. Lyon, the second engineer of the
Stonewall, who reached here To day on the
Rubicon, reports having helped Capt. Scott
to lower ladder from the hurricane roof,
down which the captain descended; but Lyon
does not think Scott reached the foot of the
ladder alive, the smoke was 50 dense and the
fire so hot. Lyon subsequently Jumped over
board and, with the aid of wheelbarrow,
succeeded i'm getting ashore some distance be :
low the burning boat. He then went TO
Vancils Landing. five miles below, where
he found the head-rook, a eol0red man, and
two other men, names not known. Lyon
does not think any were saved below this
point He also SAYS that after the y awl mem
toned in previous dispatches reached the
shore. one of the men in it returned, using
board for paddle and rescued five men, in
the water. While Lyon was in the water,
he saw John Lester. one of the barkeepers,
clinging to bale of hay supporting little
girl in his arms. A short time Afterwards
four negroes, rousiabouts, were seen attempt
ing to get on the bale OF hay, and Mr.. Lyon
thinks they were all drowned.
Cont John Shaw, part owner and comman-
der OF the Stonewall, and Capts. Daniel G.
Tavlor. J. B. Weaver. and John Conley.
star,ep for the wreck this evening and will
devote themselves to finding and giving de
cent burial to the bodies of those who perish
ed by the disaster.
CHICAGO, Oct 90.
A correspondent writing from Carbonate
III, gives the following additional particulars
of the terrible steamboat disaster at Neel's
Landing;
The Sionewall had on board thirty-fve
registered cabin passengers, five guests. one
hundred and fifty deck passengers. and sixty
officers and crew. Among thu number We've
eleven women and some children, The fire
ORIGINATED about ten feel forward OF the deck
stove, from sparks from match in lighting
pipe by one of the deck-passengers, quite
quantity of hay being slowed in tie ROOM
As soon as the alarm was given. confusion
worse COMPOUNDED reigned. number OF
deck passengers instantly seized the only
yawI. and, casting loose. ioated off without
oars The pilot headed the boat for the shore,
while am effort was being made to subdue
the fire. In few moments the boat ground
ed in water six feet deep. and two hundred
Yards from the Missouri shore.
A few moments sufiiced TO show that there
was no hope of saving the boat In the
meantime everything ayailable-doors, shut
tiers blinds, planks mattresses furniture. etc.
were thrown into the river, passengers
springing in after and clinging to them for
sqfpty About this time one OF the steam pipes
blew off. adding TO the alarm. AT this, those
who were not already struggling in the water
Immediately plunged i'm, regardless of conse-
ouences All except those in the yawl, near
" $50 in number. were battling for life in the
current of the Mississippi. Night had gath
diving passengers and the cracking of the
flames was heard the shrill neIghing OF the
burning horses. With no boats or life pre-
servers. clinging only to frail supports, scores
were diving from the intense cold ofthe water.
Chilled through. with no help in sight, and
with no hope of any 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.. Biennen. from
Galveston. Texas, dying after reaching land.
The assistant engineer states that after near
" all had left the boat, he vent into the state
rooms to try to find life-preseryer. but find
ing none, ran ont and plunged into the water,
and swan ashore with no clothing on save a
III 4 Ia huf las md "a
members nothing of consequence. while in
the water, Ii is understood that he doubted
whether there were any iife-preservers on
board. Of the eleven women. three were
saved One, lady aged sixty y ars, was
saved by devoted and faithful son
Soon after the fire broke ont. the engineer
attempted to launch the stage, but the passen-
gers crowded on it in such numbers that he
could do nothing. He jumped overheard,
they followed. One little girl sill remaining
clinging to a rope. let herself down from the
second deck on to the projecting part of the
stage, and remained there until it burned off.
ami she foated off on the piece and was saved
The steamer Belle Memphis, Captain l.
Crane. on her way to St Louis, reached the
scene about zen o'clock, and gathered up from
the shore all the survivors that could he found
thirty three in number. Fifteen or twenty
are supposed to have reached the shore some
distance below, making about fifty or sixty.
all told that were saved. They were kindly
cared for By the officers of the Belle Memphis,
which carried the greater part OF them to ST.
Louis.
A dispatch from Can bondale says that up
to half-past two o'clock to day nothing iurth
err had been heard, at Grand Tower OF Car
bondale in reference to the missin.. passen-
gers. II was hoped that many had hOated
ashore below, but that hope is nearly dispell
ed. None had been heard from besides
those picked up by the Belle Memphis. The
sixty, out of the two hundred and fifty on
board at the time of the disaster.
ST.. Louis, Oct %.
An inquest was held at Neely's Landing
Yesterday upon the body of Mr.. Bremen,
who died just after reaching the shore. Pa
pers on his person Unidentified him as Francis
Bremen. of Galveston. Texas. The result of
the inquest is not known here.
The Peret family. consisting of twelve per-
sons, were OH the boat, only five of whom
were saved.
Michael and George Kenney, who were re-
ported saved, are now bel eyed to have been
lost, as no tidings of them have been received
by their families. They were well-known
stock men of this city, and had large lot OF
cattle on board the boat.
In addition To the gentlemen mentioned in
the previous dispatch. Captain Vincent Gore
and Griffin Prather left this evening for Nee
ly's Landing. to assist in recovering the bod
les of those lost The party took lumber for
collins with them; also a cannon. supply of
cars and other articles tina, may prove useful