Between three and four o’clock, on Friday morning, March 1st, 1844; the steamboats De Soto and Buckeye came in contact on the Mississippi, near Atchafalaya. The Dc Soto was bound down, from Nachitoches, and the Buckeye was on her way to Ouachata, with about three hundred passengers on board, and a cargo of plantation supplies. The concussion was so violent that within five minutes after the accident, the Buckeye sunk to her hurricane deck, in twenty feet water. The passengers were asleep until awakened by time shock. They rushed on deck in the greatest consternation. A terrible commotion and confusion was produced by hundreds of people, in the wildest excitement, seeking their relatives; as many husbands and wives, parents and children, were separated by time universal disorder which prevailed in the fated vessel. All, or nearly all, were in their night clothes, and few were sufficiently self possessed to take proper means for their own safety, or for the safety of those who depended on them for assistance and protection.
A few brave spirits, forgetful of themselves, turned all their attention to the preservation of time women and children; but the boat went down so suddenly that few of those helpless beings could be saved. Mr. Haynes, of Alexandria, La., whose family was with him, lost his daughter, a beautiful little girl, about ten years old. His wife’s sister, Miss Elizabeth Smith, an accomplished young lady, was likewise drowned. Mr. ilaynes also lost sixteen slaves who were on time lower deck. Mr. Alexander McKinzie, formerly of Florida, lost his wife, seven children, and four slaves. Mr. John Blunt, who was also from Florida, lost his wife, child, and seven negroes. Col. King, of Louisiana, (afterwards Vice President of the Uaited States,) lost two children. A young man named Pollard, supposed to be from Natehez, had a considerable sum of money deposited for safe-keeping in the clerk’s office. ‘When the boat was sinking he applied for his money; it was delivered to him, and he was not seen afterwards. A child of Mr. White, of New Orleans, was lost. Two sisters of a young man named Francis Larkin were drowned. Mr. Larkin and these young ladies had been taken on board at Red river landing. Mr. Beard, one of the unfortunate passengers of the Buck-eye, attempted to swim ashore with his young nephew on his back; but in the attempt both were drowned. The whole number who perished could not imave been less than eighty. The night was clear, and the moon shed a brilliant light on the water, and to this happy circumstance the preservation of many lives may be ascribed. The Be Soto remained by the wreck to the last, and the officers of that boat exerted themselves to the utmost in saving the lives and property of the Buck-eye’s passengers. The mate of the De Soto rescued about forty persons from the water by taking them up into the yawl, conveying as many as the little boat could carry to the steamer, and then returning for more.
The surviving passengers of the Buckeye published a certificate exculpating the Captain and other officers of that boat, and ascribing the mischance to a combination of unfortunate circumstances which no precaution or foresight could have averted.