TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 835, 31 March 1871, Page 2

TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

Memphis, January 28,— The steamerAV. R. Arthur, from New Orleans to Louisville, left last night, and exploded her boilers, 14 miles above, at 1.30 a.m. , took fire, and sank. It was intensely dark, and most of the pas-; sengers rushed to the lower deck, and in the confusion many jumped into the river and were drowned. The waves washed the deck, sweeping them off. Capt. Harry Brohaskay,: commanding, said he had retired, and felt himself lifted up aßd knocked down by pieces of the $ebrie. He extricated himself, and took his wife and child *P the ladies' cabin. He succeeded in extinguishing the fire; All would have been saved, but, owing to the fright, nearly all rushed down stairs. Oapt. Brphaskay's leg was injured ; his wife and sister were seriously hurt. Captain Frazier, of Cincinnatti, a passenger, escaped with wife and child \vith slight injuries. A large number escaped with slight injuries, amongst them W. Racina, of California. Captain Brohaskay says he had 45 cabin and 40 deck passengers. He thinks at Jeast 60 were lost. There is already a lisfc of about 40 passengers aiid crew known to have been lost, and about 80 known to be saved. Two tug-boats and steam ferry-boats left here as soon as the disaster was known, ; f or the scene, and on the way picked up many floating on cotton planks, &c, half naked, and perishing* with cold. All were brought- here and carefully attended to. The lifeboat was taken by five persons as coon as the boat blew up, and landed on. the bank, when she was turned adrift. . When these men were, brought off by the tug, the othersurvivorstalked strongly of lynching them. The boat had 1300 tons of freight, including 1200 bales of cotton taken here. . •. .