The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-08

kVnTi LAVHs Losf-8AUlTlNd bOhNh-DbsIhUSrioN
OF THREE HUNDRED FHKr OF WHARF, THREE
LARGE WAREHOUSES AND FoUR LOADED RAILROAD
CARs--Loss 100000.
From the New Orleans Pissyune, jan 3oI
The steamboat Georgia, Capt. Sinnott, from MONT
gomery, Alabama. was burned at the wharf ~ tne
lake end of the Jefferson and Pontchartrain hau-
road, on Saturday night at a6ou. hal.psss' zen
o'clock The boat had just arrived at the whaft, ana
bow line thrown ont and secured TO the Wnari,
when the beat was discovered TO be on iire stern
line was thrown out at once but IN the hnrry was
not secured to the wharf The stern OF the boat
therefore swung out from the wharf FOR mirute or
two. The fire caught around the boilers, and the
wood Work OF the boat being much heated, it spread
with astonishing rapdity over the boat and cotton
The passengers peary all IN the cabin, and the
flames rising up from the forward part Of the boat
prevented many OF them from escaping.
There were one hundred and eighty five passengers
on board including children and negroes. OF this
number il is certain that thirty perished some of
the lremen saved think that fifty were lost but from
the most diligent inquiries we think that forty is
nearer the actual number lost. twenty-five OF the
aboW number we're slaves, belonging iopersons on
board.
From the moment that the flames broke out until
the fate OF life or death was decided for the passen
gers only about thies minutes elapsed, 50 quick was
the work of destruction. The passengers near.
ly all dressed only Two or three OF them having gone
to their berths. Many Of them were anxious to see
the landing place. OR were kept up listening TO the
music OF O violin which young ulan was playing in
the cabin. Most of The passengers we're from North
Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas, VINO, having
negroes, furniture cattle and wagons to Texas, They
had embarked al Washington, we're but little &C
quainted with each other, wore unused to steamboat
travelling, aid know nothing II the depth 4 water
OF the situation of the landing.
The boat very crowded With cotton c arts, cat.
tic AID furniture. The negroes, who were more
frightened than the white persons, were the after
part Of The lower deck. Add to the above reasons
for causing great confusion the fact that from the
first moment OF the discovery OF the fire the and
officers we're separated by the flames from the pas
selges there were no persons on the wharf TO give
any directions, advice or render any assistance
Many OF the families were large, and some precious
moments were lost in attempting to collect them to.
gether but more than all the rapid progress OF the
danes, and he blinaing aud suttocatng smoke, pre-
vented any order aud caused the great confusion
All who were burned at all persisted in the flames
o. Jumped into the lake. Many of the saved were
mncb bruiaed by Jumping or being thrown ashore.
Those who were saved were so soon scattered that
Il s impossible to ascertain the names of the lost
the saved with any accuracy, the books and papers
OF the boat being burned. The boat was loaded with
1885 bales of cotton, " 1ich was all burned. No. an
article was saved from the wreck worth mentioning
ami nearly all the oxen and mules persisted.
The steamboat Helen from Mobile, had arrived at
the opposite side of the wharf about two hours be.
fore the Inflated Georgia Her officers when the fire
broke out en- oaId the Georgia, cut loose her asten.
ngs, and the wind aided in drifting her out into the
lake, where she remained safe until morning. There
had been about two hundred and fifty bales Of cotton
discharged from the Helen upon the wharf, all OF
which was burned.
4uc company are utdfy lOSer5, Us hDOut
three hundred feet OF the fine wharf, three ware
houses and four loaded cars we're burned. There
was also large quantity CT groceries and other mer
chandse in the warehouses, destined as freight for
the Helen, which was destroyed.
Among those persons who are certainly lost are
the wife and three children OF Mr.. Jolly, of Alaba
ma BIZ. Jolly saved six children, three OF whom
were much injured Oy being thrown on the wharf,
Gr John Jackson, formerly a member OF the lie.
ssature IN Georgia, was lost had retired to bed
before the ooat took ere.
W. B. RhenD, Of Newbern, N. c., with his wife
and Eve chldIen, were saved but he lost nre of his
negroes.
Mr. Carter, of Georgia, with family Of thirteen
persons saved but he loss three of his negroes
Mr.. McClenethan, Of Cincinnati, was lost.
The clerk Ct the beat endeavored to save the
money, books, &c, ia the iron safe, but he was
Obliged e leave the SAFE open and rush to the
" at2 Several Of Inc passengers had deposited
IN Dir money With the clerk and it was of course lost
TIE total loss Of cotton, boat, wharf, merchandise
&c, ca1not be far ffom 500 600. The cotton is in.
ssured and re learn t1at the railroad company we've
Insured on tie freight which wasin the warehouse.
The passengers who were saved were kindly re
ceiged into the hotel OF Messrs Bride Roier,
tie disaster, ply scisDs sent for, clothing pro
videa tor t1e naked and every comfort extended to
them which the house afforded.
The hull Of the boat was burned to the Writer'S
edge, and she yesterday laid close alongside OF the
wharf, with broken machinery and smoking cotton
mixed togethsr a perfect wreck. The water and
asore, for long distance, were covered with black
enei cotton, which few persons were endeavoring
TO save. Not a bady, or yestige Of one OF those
lost had, IN 70 last evening, been discovered. or
those vh} persisted in the flames no trace probably,
ever VII be seen; but many are known to have
iunped overheard, md they viii soon, probably, be
found,
Toe loss OF life from this disaster will probably
rever be known With any degree of certainty. The
list o passengers was burned, their baggage lost.
The passengers from various parts OF the coun-
/ ~, ueknown by name 70 each other and more than
all most OF those that were saved hurried from the
awful scele TO town by the first train OF cars in the
m )fnipg. Had the fire broken out during daylight,
put few would have been lost; but the crowded state
OF the boat and the perfect ignorance of the passen.
gers as TO their locality, added to the rapdty with
which the tauIts spread, caused the fatal confusion
Tue scele of the burning boat, the half frantic
passengers, mothers searching for their children &C.
can only be imagined. Terrible as it must have
been IL was soon over, bringing anguish and despair
to TaLy wounded spirit, dividing families and Sc
paratinR friends forever
The New Orleans Bulletin, which puts down the
loss of property including the boat and her cargo OF
cotton, at $l20 000, says
Women and children were thrown from the upper
deck on the wharf, like so many sticks of wood,
while Others il their fright, eaped into the water
and found waery grave. BY this disaster it is sup
posed that no less than forty persons persisted. M'.
lckson and child, of Barbour county, Ala,
lost; his wife and eight surviving children in
the city in destitute circumstances. Mr. Jackson had
on bis person checks or drafts to a considerable
amount, which wess lost with him.
Mrs. Jolley and one child of Randolph county Ca,
were lost Mr.. Joliey also lost 5000 in money which
wasni he possessed. WV. Damn, Of Lenoir county,
N. c. lost one negr, boy, with $3.50 in money, but
Lofin, of Lenoir county, N. c., lost two negroes.
Rev. NJ. Carter of Clinton Ca lost three negroes
and his wife was badly but not fatally injured in
making her escape from the burning boat. Dr.. J.
III. Young, from Hancock, Ga, lost valuable ser.
want boy all his medical books, surgical instruments
clothiu everything, in fact but what he stood in
Mrs Davidson, from Macon county Ala lost several
negroes. Mr.. Graham, from Williamsburg s. c.
lost two negroes and $500 in gold. Thomas j. Me-
Lapathan, OF Bristol CT, is among the missing. J.
B. Hubbard, Of Bristol CT, was saved, bat lost all
his baggage, &c. A gentleman from Stewart county,
Ga, whose name could not ascertain, lost several
negroes. He was On route for Arkansas
The True Deta says
One woman, who fell or jumped from the cabin
floor TO the main deck, was caught on the points OF
the horns Of an Infatuated OK and was torn most
drnn dfnlIv Rnt the thrnMel her into the 1Yatar