Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-11-04
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
STEAMER ST0NEWALL DE-
STR0VED BY FIRE.
Over Two Hundred Passengers
Perish.

Especial Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazettel
ST. LOUIS, October 90.
The most appalling disaster that
perhaps has ever occurred on the Mis-
sissippi river took place about six
o'clock last night, just below Neeley's
Landing, and about 1875 miles below
here. At that hour the steamer Stone
wall, for New Orleans, heavily laden,
and with 253 souls on board, was dis
covered to be on FIRE, having caught by
lighted candle coming in contact with
some hay, $50 bales of which was
stored on the deck
A deck hand named Charles Will
Hams, who once lived in Cincinnati,
bravely attempted to smother the fire
with blankets and bed quilts, but 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 hun
dred and fifty, made such rush to es-
cape that the men having the hose in
charge were forced back, and the at
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 forecastle was soon
crowded with terror stricken mass of
human beings, surrounded on one side
by fierce and kissing flames ready to
devour them, and on the other by a
rushing and turbid tide of water An
attempt was made to run out stagings
to afford refuge for those whom they
could hold, but the opposite effect was
produced, for the affrighted passengers
rushed pell-mell into the stagings, and
all who reached them were engulfed in
watery abyss.
Others jumped overheard, and after
whirling for an instant in the strong
and eddying 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 I'M
til she was completely destroyed.
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 so chilled by the
cold water, that he died soon after
ward.
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 a bar into
the water, and is supposed to be lost.
Capt. Tom Scott, the commander of
the boat, was once seen in the texas and
afterwards was observed floating down
the river on a spar.
Parties on shore, residents of the
place, followed down the stream on
horseback for distance of seven miles,
looking for the Captain. 1t is feared
that, numbed by the cold, he fell off the
log and was lost.
The first clerk, Mr.. Milton Elbart,
was last seen in the Office of the boat
trying to open the safe. The bar
keepers, DR.. Hoov er and Josh Lester,
it is feared, are lost-nothing was seen
of them after the fire broke out.
VIM. H. Chick, the second clerk, is
also thought to be lost, as he has not
since been seen.
John Lyons, assistant engineer, is
also lost. 1t is feared the only officers
of the boat of whose safety we are as
sured are George W. Fulton, first en-
gineer; Edward Fulkerson, the pilot;
Elisha P. Watson, the carpenter; Mon-
roe Vandervert, the striker.
Charles Williams and John Church
man, deck hands, were saved. Will
liams, after fighting the fire as long as
there was any chance of subduing it,
rolled bale of hay overheard, got on
it and foated past the stern of the
boat, where he was picked up by six
men in the steamers yawl. They had
cut the yawl loose without oars, and
were entirely at the mercy of the cur
rent They finally reached the shore,
and put Williams and woman, who
was also in the boat, on the bank, and
then, with seats and the fore and aft
board of the yawl, endeavored to reach
the steamer and save some of those in
the water. But they could make no
headway against the current, and were
carried 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.