Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-01-01

| mucn alarmed at nlst. me lany pasBen-
gers, like everybody else, thought it was
only bale of Gotten on fire, which would
DO extinguished in few minutes. The
first thing they knew they were shut out,
and could not get forward, and had to 90
| att. Al the landing the wind blew the
fire right across the boat, and thus pre-.
vented them jumping ashore; and they
were compelled to take the river.
| The scene was most fearful; as have
already stated, it il impossible to describ be
| it. ! have been steam boating for nine
| teen years, but never have | seen such q
| sight as met my eyes whilst the people
were struggling in the water for their
lives. They were not burned; they were
drowned.
After the cotton burned up, the boat
foated off, a total loss.
Confirmation Of tho Above.
Mr.. l.. Carpenter, one Of the clerks OF
the boat who was saved, called upon us,
and fully corroborates the statement of
Mr.. Hastings. He states that he was in
the yawl that put out to the wreck and
the cotton bales to attempt the rescue Of
any persons who might be clinging thereto
in the hope OF being saved. He also says
there were about twenty two ladies IN all
on the boat, Of whom twenty or thirteen
were saved. There mhy have been more
saved, for there were skitfs below picking
them up. He picked up two dead child
rem, and saved one man.
Judge j. T. McMurrin. Of Natchoz, broke
his thigh by jumping from the cotton
down on deck. He was brought down on
deck. He was brought down on the
Magenta.
Capa. Pratt, Thos. Hastings, mate, and
and other saved, arrived on the Magenta.
Messrs. Shaw and Ludwingson, clerks,
were also saved. Mr.. Shaw saved nearly
all the books, papers, and valuable docu-
ments belonging to the boat.
Officers Of the Boat Lost.
OF the officers of the boat, Mr.. Thomas
Montague, the pilot, was Lost also. Mr..
Oliver Farchild, head engineer; Richard
CASTILLO, second mate Ephraim Hardesty,
the steward (the last time | saw him he
had four or five boys passing water)
nothing known as yet as to the fate of the
crow on the deck but think a. q gen
eral thing the most OF them we're saved.
The Boat.
The Fashion was one of our finest lower
river steamer, and was quite popular in
the trade between New Orleans and Vicks-
burg, in which sho had been plying for
some time. She was thoroughly over
hauled and repaired about two months
ago, and had complete outfit in every
particular.
Her officers had an envisble reputation
for the care manifested in the conduct
and man" cement of their vessel.
The Fashion was owned by A. s. Mans
field d Co., of this city, and was insured
in New Orleans Off ces. She was built al
Cincinnati in 1865. was 262 long, forty
two feet wide, seven feet in depth, and
fourteen feet in heigth, measuring ll94 So
100 tons.
Her loss will fall pretty heavily on New
Orleans underwriters. Mr.. Mansfield does
not escape severe loss, but his greatest |
concern is for the safety of those on board.
Attempt to Burn the Magenta.
We have just been informed that the
Magenta was set on fire twice on her trip |
TO this city, and that parties have been |
arrested charged with this offence.
Statement Of Capt. r. ID. Pratt.
LATER-1he steamer Fashion, from
Vicks burg to New Orleans, was found to
he 90 fire at 81 O'Clock, P. NJ, Dece m Der
q, nearly opposite Wallis store, in Mui-
latto Bend, about nine miles above Baton
Rouge.
/ had laid down to sleep at Profits Is
land, with orders 10 be awakened At Pop
lar Grove Plantation, three miles above
Baton Rouge, to take in cotton, and my
first comprehension Of anything was the
mate Tom Hastings saying to the pilot
Montague, would it not be better to land
her on the other shore, the mate having
pr eviously, rs understand, ordered the
pilot to stop berthe boat in on fire." |
said at once, after coming on deck, mo,
let her come in as she swings and don't
stop the engines" Next the second mate,
several passengers and myself, passed Wa
ter from The deck, buckets and tanks on
deck, and attempted TO check the fire on
the iarboard quad, abreast OF smoke
stacks. Seeing that it was useless,
stepped forward to the rail and on the
was about even with the
hurricane roof-to soc that line was
made fast when she landed. The second
mate was not on the iorecaste. He is
think lost. ] then came down the fore
,astle, and with the assistance Of the sec
md engineer, t'not on watch" and others.
got line out, and then sezlDg the yawl,
coming ashore with several persons in it,
v hILe aud coored took il, and with the
carpenter, deck hand and passenger,
'bbi teu iOT INC stefH OF the DOaL, Wn6fe
several lady and other passengers were on
he lower guard. The first mate, Hastings
Vas at this time throwing over from the
'oof all the lifebcats. the ladders, and
'ome three or four trussels that were on |
leck. The flames at this time had en-
7eloped The boat amidships, but the star.
BOARD guard aft was not as yet on fire, .
lbove or below.
We picked up several ladies and gentle
men passengers. AS we nearel the boats
tern we took one OF the lIfeboats in tow.
threw life preserver, taken from one of
he ladies then alongside the boat, to q e
passenger struggling in the water endeav- t
ring TO save his child.
The lady cabin passengers remaining on
he sfterguard when we left the boat, were :
aved, think, with one exception, and
'thers were saved by means of clinging to
pieces of the wreck, doors, life preservers.
tc., and were picked up by the yawl sent
'elow, 10 charge Of the second clerk,
Dinwiddie,' alter the first load, so that
ii were landed.
The boat did not move from her landing