Eleanings of News,

Colonist, Issue 10, 24 November 1857, Page 4

Eleanings of News,

frROM THE LATEST ENGLISH PAPERS. " ~~~~" CANADA^ A DftEAB&'tJL accident happened on the River St. Lawrence, about twelve miles above Quebec, on the 26t of July last, when the passenger steamer Montreal, with more than 400 persons on board (of whom a majority were Scotch, who sailed from the Clyde in the John M'Kenzie), was destroyed by fire, and the greater portion of them perished. The fire was discovered when the vessel was near Cape Rouge, and originated in the woodwork near the furnaces. The flames speedily broke forth, and raged with such fury that, finding it impossible to save the steamer, Captain Rudolph ordered her to be run towards the shore, and at the same time the crew exerted themselves to get out the life-boats. One was immediately launched, but so many persons crowded in her that she sank in a minute or two. Others of the passengers jumped into the water, and fruitlessly endeavoured to save themselves by swimming to the shore. Fortunately the steamer Napoleon, also bound for Montreal, was but half a mile in advance of the burning boat, and, as soon as the fire was discovered, immediately put back, and, by the aid of boats, succeeded in saving 125 passengers, and sixteen dead- bodies. The remainder of the emigrants perished, and at the latest dates 242 bodies had been recovered. In two hours after the outbreak of the fire the Montreal was utterly destroyed, so that scarcely a vestige of her could be seen. Among the noteworthy incidents of this great disaster was the Saving of her two children by a Mrs. Hamilton. She held to a rope with one hand, keeping the head of one child above water with the other, and holding the other up by fastening her teeth in its dress. So heavy was the load that two of her teeth gave way and were lost, yet she retained her hold until a boat rescued them, when just on the point of drowning. A sub-cook of the steamer, <of the name ef Lamontagne, wrenched the dodr off his room, and, being a most expert swimmer, succeeded in saving eight children, at different trips, on his door. A 'gentleman from Montreal had collected five 'or six children, whose parents were lost, into a place not much exposed to the fire. He stood by the bereaved and helpless little. •ones, and was the last, with them, to leave the burning wreck. The scene on board tvas awful. Here families were preparing •and determining to die together; there the husband or the wife saw his or her partner ■for ever separated. Women with children in their arms leaped into the water; others held on to the burning wreck, until losing Sheirjfoothold they fell and were lost for ever.