The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-06

Dragging for Bodies-A Colossal InQuesc-
Thieves and River Pirates-Thcir Joiiinca.
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Dragging for Bodics-A Colossal Inquese-
Thieves md River Pirates-Thcir J0iiinca.
u0n-HurrowinG Details.
Meely,s Landing fOet 81 correspondence OF the
Missouri Democrat.l
Sunday October 81 has come ana gone. noble
DAYS work has been accomplished. Eight st. Louis
acknowledgements every citizen, man. woman aud
chid-haye done a work for humanity to-day that
G, naat Into history aud be recorded and repeia.
bered among the heroic Efforts Tor the suffering and
afflicted as long as the name Of the stonewal VIII be
q household word aud the fatal night OF the 27th OF
October be known. FROM early dawn to sunset with
drags and yawls, by promises and personal exer-
TONS have sixty liieess remains been rescued from
their sleeping places The success exceeded all anci-
patton The bodies found thus have been nearly all
deck passengers or members OF the crew, and have
been found the wreck with the exception OF live
bodies which were found below the wreck, thus
seeming 10 give proof To the theory that the deck
passengers leaped overheard and that the cabin
passengers aud officers Of the boat burned death.
Certain II Is that many on board did burn TO death,
Tor the people on shore saw human beings eDveloped
In flames, rushing IN vain TO the guards and boats
edge. SO rapid were the flames, so crowded the
boat, SO confused and panlc-5treken all on D0arl,
thai however painful the thought, are bound 10
believe that many were burnea TO ashes-boneS
nesh and cohing-every seInoiance Oh Identify IRE
on the wreck to-day was found the remains--a
few bones, tiny skull, charfed, biaekened and
erumbng 10 tlnder-of what appeared TO be young
child. Touching very touching, was the conduct
Of o brother who came down to look for lutte
ruins, measured the Tiny skull, weighed ana ex-
emlned the bones, ana then shook his mead mourn
ss Sa~ ana SAID 80 sadly = a'a'' Know cannot
Al a few moments before nine the work OF drag
ging commenced. Two yawis pushed OUT from the
shore, Captains Weaver, Taylor, T0mpkins Con-
polly and shay, and Messrs. Alexander, Gowdy and
Murray manning them, and returning brought each
time one, two anu sometimes three bodies Young
Lewis Murray drew in the first body, and WITHIN
three minutes Captain Dan G. Taylor drew in the
second, and then on until one O'Clock bodies came
In thick aud fast when so many were gathered
along the bank that IL was not deemed advisable 10
upon them, were identified and delivered 10 their
friends or buried. Along the shore the bodies lay
Ill equal in death. The pretty Italian GIRL with eyes
OF jetty backDess and pair that dropped to her
waist, arms that Titan would have gioated over
and tiny foot that would have won the word over,
side by side by huge roustabout, with his knife in
his belt and TWO bar tickets and dollar and
broth OF boy, sadly played now his right cheek
terribly Scared his left cheek fearfuiy burned and
his features distorted as though MS death agonies
the composure OF all the countenances- happy even
IN grim death. With the exception OF tnose VINO
bore evidences OF having suffered FROM the flames,
all seemed TO have died as quietly as though they
had lain down to pleasant dreams
DRAGGING THE RIVER.
grim duty-a sad task, yet an GRAND Of mercy
ana LABOR OF love. On the Belle Of Memphis SatuT-
day morning, when within ten miles Of tine wreck.
the pronged instruments were brought forth-barbed
hooks with sharp wrought iron prongs six inches in
length keen and cured. They are fastened to cords
tnirLysiX feet long and thus the dragging machines
were perfect. Arriving too late Saturday for
work, It was not until TINS morning at hall,
and any ching began TO be done. EmoarKlng IN
skins from Harris OF NeelY's landing, the committee
ana party proceeded to the wreck and, sklrting
Ground the huge nun burned to the waters edge.
yet Rtiii smoking and sizzling away, business at
once began. The dragging irons were hurled out
from All and stem, and, sinking deep into the muddy
stream, c0ursed about among the dead men.
Lewis Murray, whose brother was pilos on the i'll
fated Stonewal, drew In the first body. 'its my
brother,n lie cried, ana, dragging 1t TO the snore.
found that 1t was some person UNKNOWN. This was
At ave minutes before nine O'Clock on Sunday morn
StOueWalI
Ektn and small one borrowed for the occasion, and
in thirty minutes twenty bodies were Obtained only
two OF which could be Identified and then Anne, the
chambermad, whom Captain Shaw knew and
roustaDout, whom some OF the boat boys brought
DAY the DodY OF Adams Of st. Louis, was found,
with fortytwo dollars IN silver on his person. and
an envelope IN his pocket backed TO James A.
Adams s,8ol North Tenth street. ST. LOUIS, MOI and
posimarked September Is, Texas.
Don't think that the wreck renamed for two days
exposed TO the gaze OF curiosity seekers, numanitar
ans officers OF tue law aud the birds OF the The
morning OF the nrst day had not dawned before
diminutive pirates from the Illinois shore-.yahoos'
VINO live God knows where-came forth from their
dens IN the woods and underbrush, and steathiy
crawling Into their skifs visited the scene OF plum
der and carried or what they could lay hands to.
can call them-wlth unshaven faces. uneasy eyes,
ana steathy gait. Noiseessiy they Rided IRON out
ding almost noselesslyl reached their dcs
tinailon, and quickly reaplng their ilgot-
ten harvest hastily shot across the dark
dense shrubbery OF the Illinois shore. They had
heard the cries the night o. the fire. had seen tue
heaven illuminating blaze, and remained IN conceal
till they could get the benefit OF their stealing.
Some Of them were bold, indeed genuine Captain
Kyds and first rate jack Sheppards. III broad day
ligh they mounted the RUNS rolled OF barrels OF
Incur and sacks OF oats, embraced Darreis OF whskey
ana sherry ana lugged them on In triumph slowed
them away IN their skins that sunk TO the waters
edge with the weight ani went Off singins:-
We're we're :. bold ddt band car Of robbers cb6s
We first rate gopbers,
And why kick up fuss2
Chorus-Then oil up. boys, your flowing bowls,
And drink TO the health OF US merry souls.
The good people on shore protested and hailOed to
the marauders; but they minded them no more than
the wind that blows and considered that 1t was no
THEFT to take what was going TO ruin, and why tale
only twenty-i per cent salvage wnen you can get
LAID in good store for the winter too Flour bacon
and whiskey for the men, oats for the horses trim
kets old Knives burned and charred nickels for the
children and burned sacks OF coffee for the wives
with here and there watch or finger ring-it was
harvest for wrecSers salvagers ana Illinois pirates
that does not come along every day.
They were generous too with their nl-gotten
punderings. "Tnar, take tEat barrel OF apples; 1t
hant yet been popped,n said one OF the long haired
individuals to u.s. whom sherry had made commu.
NEGATIVE and loosened the heartstrngs OF his ber.
atty; Come over thar and stay week." said
another, pointing to the Illinois shore; 'got lots to
eat, and Wen hunt and fish and nave heaps o.
SPORT said another.
I'VE 'uns amt so bad people arter all, stranger
said a third ''come, let's swig.D
They CROPPED through the s'nouderiDg ashes and
blackened runs ana got much that Will do their
hearts good and bring comfort 10 their wives and
children, and perhaps II they had not taken, why
nobody would. And then the boat was fully insured,
ana II the Board OF Underwriters ana Insurance men
did not choose to look after their property, why
who sbouldi Tue owners OF the boat were saved by
tho insurance, ana The boat always unlucky
one, has met with four accidents well nigh fatal
before, has cost tho insurance companies much
money; perhaps tlike bad and hayward son, whose
parents don't want him 10 die, but are glad when he
is wei settled IN liiesay married) they were glad
when she burned, and at Board OF Directors
meeting, duly called, with deiDcration folded their
hands ana put on their spectacles and SAID, "Let
her burn " So she burned. But these theving
always go on at all wrecks. on the coast
Of England ana France Scotland and the
Atlantic seaboard whole families and towns
live by 1t, and why should not y few Illinois
yaho0s, living on the banks OF the Father OF
Waters, follow the illusrlous example set them by
people OF all ages countries anu chimes. ana stow
away little to make The old woman smile aud keep
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