Thursday, 13 Apr 1848:

Died at the Cairo Hotel on the night of the 10th inst., Mr. James McGorkle, aged 22 years, formerly of Mahoming County, Ohio. 

Thursday, 20 Apr 1848:

Died at North Bend, Ohio, on Tuesday the 11th inst., of consumption, Mrs. Abigail Harrell aged 35 years, consort of B.S. Harrell, merchant of this place.  She leaves behind a bereaved husband and two children. 

Thursday, 11 May 1848:

Mrs. Lee M. Barnes was poisoned in Cape Girardeau, Mo., by a female slave who had lived with her since childhood and always been treated most kindly.  Last Sunday week, she ordered the girl to bring a pitcher of water.  Of this she drank and immediately vomited.  She gave some to a little girl who also vomited.  She then called in the Negro woman and ordered her to drink, but she refused.  The woman previously made threats that she would ax her mistress.  On the night after drinking a cup of coffee, Mrs. Barnes was taken sick and rapidly grew worse, when a physician was sent for.  Without knowing anything of what had transpired, he at once pronounced her poisoned.  She remained insensible and callous to feeling till death, which took place at 9 o’clock Friday morning.  She was the wife of a respected merchant and had only been married a few months.  The Negro woman was arrested and various means taken, without success, to make her confess. 

Edward Mann of the wharf boat Ellen Kirkman died suddenly on last Saturday.  Directly after cooking breakfast he began coughing up blood, which was stopped by medical attention, but in a short time afterward, the flow of blood again commenced and continued for nearly half an hour when he died.  Mr. Mann was sober and industrious and aged 47 years.  Useful in his vocation, other men could better have been spared. 

Mr. John Morgan, aged about 18 years, son of Daniel Morgan of this place, fell from the bell boat Submarine near Cape Girardeau on Friday the 5th inst. and was drowned.  He is said to have been a worthy and industrious young man. 

A letter to the St. Louis Reveille from Jefferson Co., Mo., states that Aaron Henry, an old and respectable citizen of that county, was murdered by a neighbor named Jacob Jones.  They both resided at the time on an island in the Mississippi.  Jones was ordered to leave the premises when he struck the other with the blade of an oar on the side of his neck, dislocating it, and of course, causing his immediate death. 

A man apparently about 35 years old was found dead by the side of the road some six miles back of Caledonia on the morning of the 6th inst.  It was ascertained by some papers in his possession that his name was John E. Murray, formerly of Webster, Washington Co., Mo., where he had formerly owned a shoe shop and apparently had a family.  A dollar and 20 cents in money, a bundle of clothes and an old musket were in his possession at the time of his death.  There were various rumors about his having been murdered, but after attending the coroner’s examination in person, we have no doubt his death proceeded from natural causes. 

Thursday, 18 May 1848:

A whole family named Bessy residing near Twelve Mile Grove, Ill., was recently poisoned by eating ham, which had been returned from a neighboring smoke house.  After the family was taken sick, the ham was chemically examined and found to be strongly impregnated with arsenic. Three of the family died and the remainder, at last account, were dangerously sick.  A man suspected of having committed the diabolical act, is under bonds of trial. 

Thursday, 25 May 1848:

On last Friday morning about 8 o’clock, Mr. Martin Leftcovech’s only daughter, Josephine, of this place, a beautiful and intelligent child, fell from the boat Cradle of Liberty, upon which its parents reside and was drowned.  She was missed a few minutes after the accident and her body found floating some distance above, probably three fourths of an hour afterwards.  Efforts were made in vain to resuscitate the corpse.  She was only 2 years old and was one of the prettiest and most intelligent children we ever met and a general favorite.  She is now in heaven. 

Died on the morning of the 19th inst., Josephine, daughter of Martin Leftcovech, aged 2 years, 1 month and 9 days. 

Thursday, 22 Jun 1848:

A young man by the name of Peter Callegan who went on board the steamer Phoenix at Evansville on Friday last for the purpose of coming to this city, is supposed, to have committed suicide.  He was deranged and attempted several times to throw himself overboard.  Two men were appointed to watch him, but at a time when they were off guard, he disappeared and all thought that he had jumped overboard.  In searching the boat, he was found an hour afterward in the hull, crushed to death between a heavy beam and a part of the machinery. 

Thursday, 6 Jul 1848:

A lad about 12 years of age named Samuel Ketchum was lost overboard from the steamer James Hewitt on her upward trip about 50 miles below Cairo on last Monday.  His parents are said to reside in Madison, or Indianapolis, Indiana. 

On last Saturday morning, between the hours of 9 and 10 when the steamer Oregon was opposite Tea Table, the second cook, named James Dunn, while in the act of drawing a bucket of water, fell overboard and was drowned.  The unfortunate man swam well until within a short distance of the shore, but disappeared before assistance could be rendered him by the boat. 

A watchman on the steamer Montauk by the name of Joseph French fell overboard during the storm on Wednesday night last, a short distance above Quincy and was drowned.  He was on duty at the time and is supposed to have slipped between the boat and a barge that was in tow.  It is probable some time elapsed after his falling over board before he was missed, it being late and the night dark. 

Thursday, 20 Jul 1848:

George Roberts, a drummer attached to 2d Illinois, in jumping from the Josiah Lawrence to the Autocrat last night fell overboard and was drowned.  This is a sad fate to pass through the battles of the enemy and then drop quietly to a watery grave. 

Thursday, 3 Aug 1848:

A discharged soldier named Thomas Harrison was found in a dying condition in a yard in St. Louis, having, as was supposed, fallen from some steps attached to a carpenter shop near which he was found. 

Thursday, 10 Aug 1848:

The St. Louis Era says that on the 26th ult., at Waynesville, Pulaski Co., Ill., Dr. Dallinger was killed by a lawyer named Horrell.  The Miner’s Prospect says the cause of the cause of ill blood was one of an aggravated nature.  It appears that Dr. Dallinger made a charge publicly prejudiced to the hitherto irreproachable character of Mrs. Horrell.  On Sunday Mr. Horrell in the presence of witnesses refuted the slanderous charge by unmistakable evidence.  He then told the doctor that it was in his intention to kill him and would do it at that time if it were any other day but Sunday.  On the road he was told that Horrell awaited his arrival, swearing to take his life.  He did not heed the warning, however, but went on and as he passed into town, Horrell with a rifle from a covert, shot him dead.  The grand jury of the county found a bill of murder in the first degree against Horrell. 

            This may all be true, yet it is the first time we ever heard of this town and we do not believe there is a Waynesville, Pulaski Co., Ill.  (There is a Waynesville, Pulaski Co., Mo., which was most likely the setting of the story.—ed.)  

On Monday night about 11 o’clock 31st ult., James Lynch, as is supposed, was chastising a Negro boy belonging to the steamer Mohawk.  Mr. Archer, the mate of the Mohawk came up at the time with some of the officers of the boat, a fight and altercation ensued, Lynch drew his knife and inflicted several wounds on his antagonist, the last a mortal one.  Archer expired in a few minutes.  Lynch, we understand, has been held to bail.  We did not attend the trial and cannot give all the circumstances (Paducah Kentuckian). 

Thursday, 17 Aug 1848:

At 4 o’clock on the morning of the 12th inst. the Edward Bates running on the St. Louis and Keokuk trade collapsed two flues of her starboard boiler.  She was at the head of West Post chute on her way up.  Everything 40 and aft was carried away and death was spread on every side.  Twenty-eight lives were lost and about 30 persons scalded.  The scene was an appalling one.  Members were blown overboard, some of whom, were rescued.  The wounded were taken up in the cabin and everything done to alleviate their torture.  Some of the dead were interred at Hamburg and others died shortly after their arrival at St. Louis.  (There was at one time a landing on the Mississippi River in Union Co., Ill., called Hamburgh, however, the Hamburgh mentioned in this story must be a different place, as the boat mentioned ran from St. Louis, Mo., north to Keokuk, Iowa.—ed.)  We extract from the St. Louis Republican, the following list of the dead and missing; the wounded were mostly taken to City Hospital of St. Louis.

            William Chamberlain, residence not known, destination Keokuk, blown overboard;  Mr. White, res. do, destination do, blow overboard; Mr. Rarridon, res. do, dest. do, blown overboard; Mr. Haines, res. Pike Co., Mo., dest. home, blown overboard; Mrs. Bowen and nephew, res. Hamburgh, Ill., dest. home, blown overboard; Mrs. Jno. Bowen and children, res. St. Louis, dest. Hamburgh, died of wounds; Mrs. Susan Bowen, do do; Mrs. Eads and two children, res. Knox Co., Mo., dest. home, died of wounds; Master Eads, do do, blown overboard.   

Died of pulmonary consumption at her residence in Thebes, Alexander Co., Ill., on Thursday the 27th inst., at 12 o’clock, Mrs. Sarah Garner, consort of G.P. Garner, in the 23rd year of her age.  

Thursday, 24 Aug 1848:

The Andrew Fulton took a sick boy named Alexander Marks, 11 years old, from the Constitution aground above and the little fellow died on the way down and was buried at Cairo on Monday morning.  He was from New Orleans and a passenger on the Constitution.  An uncle was with him during his sickness. 

Thursday, 31 Aug 1848:

$30 reward is offered for the body of James Blunt who fell overboard from the steamer North Alabama week before last at Taylor’s wood yard, 10 miles above Cairo.  He had on a pair of cottonade pants and $10 in gold in his pocket.  The above reward is offered by his brother. 

Thursday, 14 Sep 1848:

A discharged soldier named Greenfield Jones and who said he lived back of Golconda died on the steamer Chalmetto on her way back from New Orleans to this port the night of the 8th inst. of congestive fever.  Capt. Williams informs us he left some money and clothing on the boat which can be had by application on board by the proper persons. 

Thursday, 28 Sep 1848:

Mr. Lemuel B. Roby, watchman on the wharf boat Ellen Kirkham of this place, was drowned last Sunday evening.  He fell from a skiff outside of several steamboats lying along side of the wharf boat Sam Dale and after rising several times was drowned.  Mr. Roby was a worthy young man and lately came to Cairo from Cincinnati, where he had been engaged as a runner for hotels and for Doyle & Dickey’s line of Canal Packets. 

Thursday, 5 Oct 1848:

The body of Mr. Roby, whose drowning we noticed last week, was found on the 1st inst.  The coroner’s verdict was in accordance with our report- accidental drowning.  The body was decently interred. 

John Sladen who murdered a young man at Cairo named Reed a year ago last spring, for the purpose of robbing him of the small sum of $40, we understand has been arrested in Missouri for horse stealing and is now confined in jail at Hillsboro, Jefferson Co., Mo.  He made his escape after being arrested and committed for the first mentioned crime while being conveyed to the jail at Thebes. 

Thursday, 12 Oct 1848:

Last Friday morning about 2 o’clock a deck passenger from the steamer Mohawk, just from New Orleans, fell down the forward hatchway of the wharf boat Louisiana at this place and was so injured that he died in a few minutes thereafter.  It was ascertained by papers found on his person that his name was Mathew Mullholland and he had formerly been a deck hand on a steamboat.  He was apparently about 35 or 40 years old and decently dressed.  At the time of the accident the wharf boat was well lit up and the watchman warned him of the hatchway just before he fell. 

We learn that on Wednesday last, Master James W. Bury, aged 7 years, son of Mr. James Bury of this place, fell overboard while riding in a skiff and was drowned.  His body was found two days afterward (Paducah Kentuckian). 

Drowned at Benton, Ky., on the 26th ult., an infant son of R. Fletcher by falling in a vat in a tan yard belonging to said Fletcher. 

Thursday, 19 Oct 1848:

A colored fireman named Gorman who had been employed on the Tobacco Plant for the last two years was missed from that steamer on Thursday morning last as she was coming down the Mississippi a few miles above this place.  He was missed in about a half hour after he was seen eating his breakfast.  He was owned by Dr. Tyler of St. Louis and was about 50 years old. 

The remains of the late Lieut. Henderson Ridgely of the 4th Infantry who so gloriously fell in the battle in Mexico in November last arrived in this city (New Orleans) a few days since in course of transportation to his friends at the North.

Last Saturday the remains of the gallant Lieut. Ridgely arrived at Cairo on the steamer Illinois and under charge of Mr. Ridgely, a brother of the lamented deceased.  On the same steamer they proceeded to St. Louis. 

Thursday, 2 Nov 1848:

On the 15th ult. Mr. M.F. Taylor took out of the river at his wood yard on the Mississippi 10 miles above this place, the body of a German and interred it.  The man had on a blue cloth vest, corduroy pants and check shirt, no coat.  About his person were found an old knife, a pipe, two combs and a small red pocketbook containing $3.15 in specie and two deck passage receipts.  One of these was from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati for “Mr. Buges and family of 4 persons” signed Spencer and steamboat not mentioned.  The second, a card receipt from the steamboat Germantown and we think trip #7.  He was apparently 30 years of age and had light hair. 

Thursday, 9 Nov 1848:

James Steward, the unfortunate man whose death by perishing in mire of slough in this vicinity we mentioned a couple weeks since, was from Alton, Ill., or we learn by a gentleman who had conversed with him sometime previous to his death.  He had not been in the employ of Dr. Overton of Missouri, as we stated.  He ran from a steamboat to the house of Mr. Rodney, a neighbor of Dr. O’s while laboring under a fit of mania a potu and seizing a loaded double-barreled gun, secured himself in a room and threatened to shoot anyone attempting to take him.  He was finally secured and remained in the vicinity several days before coming here.  Imagining himself pursued, he at one time leaped from a steamboat and swam to shore.  He was occasionally the victim of these horrid imaginations to the period of his dreadful death. 

Thursday, 21 Dec 1848:

A Negro man employed in a steam-flouring mill on Market between First and Brook streets was yesterday caught in the machinery and horribly mangled.  He died in a few hours after. 

Thursday, 28 Dec 1848:

The St. Cloud arrived at Cairo last night after dark, having on board the body of Capt. Jabez Smith commander of the St. Cloud, one of the finest men and best officers on the river.  We received a letter from E.R. Glass, clerk, stating that Capt. Smith died at Vicksburg on the 23rd inst. at 25 minutes past 8 o’clock a.m. of the cholera.  Capt. S. leaves a wife and four or five children at Newport, Ky., to mourn his loss.

The St. Cloud also lost one deck passenger of the cholera named Horace Jenkins, a native of Rhode Island and aged about 40.  He was buried at Vicksburg.  A small bundle of clothing is in the possession of Mr. Glass, which belongs to him.