Jasper Banner, Volume 4, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1857 — BURNING OF THE STEAMER MONTREAL. [ARTICLE]

BURNING OF THE STEAMER MONTREAL.

Quebeck June 27, 10 P. M. The steamer Montreal left this place at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, for Montreal, with four to five hundred passengers mostly Scotch emigrants, recently from Europe. Nothing unusual occurred until she reached Cape Range, twelve or fifteen miles from Quebeck, where the wood-work near the furnace was discovered to be on fire; quickly afterwards the flame broke forth 1 causing the utmost consternation among the passengers Every effort was made to arrest the flame, but to no purpose. Captain Randolph, finding it itnposible to save the steamer, ordered her to be run towards the shore. The officers and crew exerted , themselves for some time to get out I the life boats. The flatnc spread, with th# most astonishing rapidity, and tiief wildest confusion and despair prevailed through the ship. ‘ Numbers of passengers threw themselves overboard and were frowned. Fortunately the Stea4 mer Napoleon, bound for Mon3 treal,was but a few miles in advance.; • She put back with all possible expc- 1 , dition to h'er assistance. ! The Napoleon succeeded in rescuing ■ from the burning wreck, one hundred and twenty seven of her passengers. ■ , Captain Randolph and Purser of the Montreal were among those who threw themselves into the river.— j Both being excellent, swimmers, they succeeded in reaching the steamer Alliance, and were saved. It is quite possible that others succeeded insaving themselves by swimming, but as the steamer became unmanageable when at considerable distance from the land,.therejs no doubt but those-who threw themselves from the burning boat met a watery grave. Sixteen of those who were saved died shortly after reaching ther deck of the Napoleon. From the present information it is belived that the total loss of life by this terrible . disas- j ter will not fall short of .between . The steamer Alliance arrived here this afternoon with forty-five dead bodies. We have not been able to learn as yet, the names of those who were lost, except that of Mr. Philips, of the extensive lumber firm of Norcross (fe Philips, of three Rivers. _ •». The Montreal, had on board two hundred and fifty-eight Scotch emigrants, with several German fami.-. lies, and a number of American passengers.