Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-11-04
MisfelIaueous.
The Awful Steamboat Disaster on the
Mississiopi.

The most appalling disaster that per-
haps has ever occurred On the Mississippi
river took place about six o'clock last
Thursday night, just below Neely's
landing, and about 125 miles below St.
Louis. AT that hour the steamer Stone
wall, for New Orleans. heavily ladenad,
and with 253 souls on board, was dis
covered to be on fire. having caught by
lighted candle coming in contact with
some hay, 150 bales of which was sto. ed
on the deck.
A deck hand named Charles Williams
who once lived in Cincinnati, bravely
attempted to smotherthef fire with blank
cts and bed quilts, ,bnt the wind blowing
briskly, the flames spread rapidly and
could not be controlled. -
An effort was then made to train the
hose on the fire, but the terror stricken
deck passengers, numbering one nun
dred and fifty, made such rush to es-
cape that the men having the hose in
charge were forced back and the attempt
was abandoned.
The scene in the cabin at this time,
the passengers being at supper, was one
of the widest confusion and excitement.
A rush was made for the boiler deck,
and the forecastle was soon crowded
with a terror stricken mass of human
beings, surrounded on one side by fierce
and kissing flames ready todevour them,
and on the other by a rushing and tur-
bid tide of water. An attempt was
made to run out stagings to afford refuge
for those whom they could hold, but the
affrlghted passengers rushed pell-mell
into the stagings, and all who reached
them were engulfed in q watery abyss.
Others jumped overheard, and after
whirling for an instant in the strong
and edying 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 fifty yards from the Missouri shore,
where she stuck fast and remained un-
til she was completely destroyed.
1t is said that had the pilot run so or
90 yards further down stream, he could
have landed the boat at the bank, and
probably all could have been saved. AS
it was, there was several feet of water
all around the stern ,and the only chance
to escape was by swimming, and the
distance being SO great, the current SO
strong, and the water SO cold, but few
were able to land.
Sixteen persons were saved by hang
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 so chilled by the
cold water, that he died soon afterWard.
Mr.. Phelps, of Shreveport, La, was
saved after swimming three-quarters of
mile, but when he reached the shore
he was SO near dead that his jaws had
to be pried open TO give him stimulants.
Capt. John Douty, of New Orleans,
was last seen sliding down bar into
the water, and he is supposed to 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 n 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