Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-17
THE LATEST DISASTER.
Particulars of the Burning of the
Steamboat Financier.

The telegraph of Friday morning
brought intelligence of the loss by fire of
the steamboat Finsncier, twenty miles be-
low Pittsburgh, on Thursday night. The
following account of the disaster we copy
nun ShrS
The steamboat Financier, Captain John
Darragh, which left the Monongahela
wharf Thursday afternoon at five o'clock,
for New Orleans, with full complement
of passengers and q large freight list, was
totally consumed by fire, at Crown Island,
twenty miles below this city. The cause
of the catastrophe was as follows: Mrs.
Rothschilds, who, with her husband and
two children had been visiting Mr.. Kauf
man of this city, and were on their return
TO Texas, their place of residence, asked
the chambermaid of the boat for a light,
when she was informed it was against the
rules to allow a light in the staterooms.
On receiving this answer Mrs. Rothschild
went to her trunk and produced a small
camphene lamp, which she proceeded to
light. The moment the match was ap-
Piled to the lamp it exploded with a loud
report, setting Mrs. Rothschild on fire,
who Immediately rushed out into the
cabin, crying murder" A gentleman
from Vicksburg, Miss, Mr.. Holloway,
rushed to her assistance, and seizing a
wooden table cover, enveloped her in it,
extinguishing the flames, but not until
she was severely burned. All on board
were anxious for the safety of the woman,
which wss set on fire by the explosion of
H. L. v-A.1 A.
issuing therefrom. By this time the fire
had gained too much Roadway to attempt
to extinguish it, and it spread with fear
full rapidity. Captain Darragh ordered
the boat to be run ashore, and the pilot
on duty, Mr.. Charles Hughes, attempted
to do SO, but the tiller ropes were burned,
and he was compelled to abandon the
wheel which was now useless. The boat,
which was heavily lsdened, grounded,
and the efforts of the officers were now
directed towards saving the lives of the
passengers. The gangway staging was
launched into the water, and all the lady
passengers placed upon it. Just as they
were about letting loose from the boat,
two men jumped from the boat to the
staging, causing it to cspsize, and drown
ing Mrs. Darragh and daughter, wife and
child of the Captain, and Mrs. Rothchilds
who caused the disaster, together with the
two children of the latter.
The capsizing of the staging added to
the horror of all, and the passengers be-
almost frantic, manyin their despair |
jumping overheard, some to find death by !
drowning. The steam tug Coal Bluff
happening in sight, landed her tow, and |
in ~ aAsata1- >-Aoaal1l - ~, y. 1
aster, rendering valuable assistance.
The names ofthose known to be lost are
IS follows:
Emanuel Rothschild, wife and two
children, of Texas. The husband and wife
were observed to go down together, about
or one hundred yards from shore.
Mrs. Captain John Darrsgh and daugh-
ter, the latter only eleven years old,
drowned by the capsizing of the staging.
This was the first time Mrs. Darragh had
ever ventured on q trip with her husband.
Thomas Bsiden, colored, pantry-man,
drowned.
Man sick with consumption, name IN
An Irishman, name unknown, and three
ieck hands are missing-two of the latter
believed to have persisted in the flames.
The boat was heavily laden with Pitts
manufactures, including agricul-
implements, wagons, iron, nails,
glass, etc, for the Southern market.
The Finsncier was only two years old,
md was owned by Captain John Darragh,
lslf interest; Joseph Darragh, engineer,
,ne-fourth interest; and James Russell,
Jerk, one-fourth interest. She was valued
It $4,000.