FEARFUL STEAMBOAT-CATASTROPHE, FORTY PEOPLE DROWNED.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 20 September 1864, Page 3

FEARFUL STEAMBOAT -CATASTROPHE, FORTY PEOPLE DROWNED.

A terrible steamboat disaster has just' occured on the Eiver Saone*, in France, particulars^ of which are published in the Lyons papers of Monday and Tuesday. Some cheap steamboats have recently started -on the river, and have been greatly patronised by the public. Tliey are, ho we Ver," all vessels of a build which may be considered highly dangerous — very narrow, standing high in the water, and of small draught.' Oiie of '*those'f steamers, Mth* Mouche, was on her way to Vais'e bh Sunday after--;-' noon, her cabins and deck being throngett.lwith>Y- ... passengers. # She several times lurchedin a- dangerous manner/ and at length was almost' completely thrown on her side by a sudden movement) - ofthe rudder, and some fifty persons; including the captain, were thrown into the river in consequence ofthe breaking of the hand raiL Tho scene which followed is described as heartrending.- 9 The surface of the water was covered with heads, and arms were seen making desperate efforts to release^themselves. The persons who fell in wero so compactly thronged together that every ono clung to his neighbour in the agony of despair so that those who might otherwise have esoaped by swimming were prevented from using any exertion in thafc way. -The captain lost his life in that manner, for he was seized hold' of by two females, one of whom clung round his neck, and the other round liis body, and the three sank together. Only about ten persons were able to save themselves by swimming -, four or five others were restored to animation after being got on shore, leaving tha number of drowned to amount to from 35 to 40. As tbe bodies were" afterwards taken out of the water they were deposited oh the deck of the Abcille steamer, lying alongside the quay. - At six in the evening thirty were ranged there, Those who were recognised were afterwards removed to their homes, and others taken to the Hotel Dieu, to await further inquiries. The Mouche righted after the occurrence, and instead of stopping to assist in the rescue ofthe drowning people made haste to the n earest landing place. This is said to have been owing to the conduct of some of the passengers, who insisted on being at once jut ashore, and actually used violence towards the officers of the vessel. In the mean time the owner of the boat has been arrested, pending the investigation wliich is in progress.