The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-01
Burning Of the Steamer Laura
Fenton.
Loss twenty-five Thousand Dollars
But Few Articles Saved.


r. K. Dunkerson & Co.'s wharfboat,
took fre-just how it is not known.
1t was first discovered by a private
watchman by the name of w. lei. Stu
der, who at once boarded the boat and
gave the alarm. The fire broke out
midway Of the boat as near as was as
certained, and when first discovered
could probably have been easily ex-
tinguished had there been few men
there. The cause is not known,
BUTT Is supposed by some to have
originated by the explosion of a coal
oil lamp. This by Others is doubted.
There were no persons on board ex-
cept the crew. and they were aroused
at once. At the time the clerk, Mr..
0. Hewitt, was aroused, which was but,
few moments after hereported ex-
plosion Of the lamp, and the conse-
quent firing Of the boat. the cabin
midway was ina light blaze, and SO
filed with smoke that it was fmpossi-
bic to remain. The officers fof the
boat, on being aroused, at once set to
work to save, if possible, their person
al baggage, the books, papers and val
uables, but we're in great measure
unsuccessful, as all lost more 81 less.
The books and papers, together with
the contents of the safe, were saved.
It was, however, instantaneous work,
almost, as but few moments elapsed
till the whole craft was enveloped in
flames.
AS soon as the crew were supposed
to be safe aboard the wharf boat, the
Fenton was cut loose and pushed
adrift As the current is not exceed
ing swift, the wharf boat by which she
was moored was in most imminent
danger. But by constant applica-
ton of water it was saved from
| lighting, and the burning vessel drift
ed away beyond, the reach of the late
mooring On the way down stream,
it touched the wharf boat of Messrs.
Cox i Humphrey. which was fred on
the roof. For a while it appeared as
if that, too, would be destroyed; but
the timely arrival of fire engines pre-
vented its loss. To that wharf boat
no very serious damage was done, ex-
cept the burning Of perhaps about
half the roof This, with the damage
to a lot of sack corn by the water
thrown from the engines, make up
the loss sustained by these gentlemen,
the supposed amount Of which was
not ascertained.
The Fenton had now drifted past,
and was about burned to the hull; in
fact, as the steamer was passing the
rear of the wharf boat, the chimneys
fell Drifting as far down as the elm
tree. she lodged and was scuttled on
the spot. The wreck of the boat lies
where she was scuttled, and as soon
as the water recedes it will be an easy
matter to remove the machinery. 1t
is supposed that the hull is uninjured.
Before the boat was scuttled, an ex-
plosion took place, almost as loud as
that of a cannon, which is not ac-
counted for, as there was nothing of
an explosive nature on the boat, ex.
cept it was five or six gallons of coal
oil. Capt. Bellas is at loss to ac-
count for this loud report, unless it
was caused by the oil.
At the time the boat was cut loose
from the moorings, it was supposed
that all the crew had got safely
ashore, but itwas not so. A partially
deaf and dumb black boy was left, but
he managed to escape to the wheel,
from which he was taken, having re-
ceived no injury.
The boat was valued at $25, 900, and
insured for $15, 0O0-all by Cincinnati
companies. Itwas owned by Captain
Us. Bellas and Mr.. O. Hewitt, the
First Clerk. Both reside at Alton,
Illinois. It was laid up at this port
Tor the purpose of making repairs,
which were about completed, hence
there was but little freight aboard.
The cargo consisted of about $500
worth OF stoves, shipped by III. E.
Biemksr & Co., no insurance, and
soOo worth of furniture, shipped by
Llmberg, Casper & Co., and few lots
OF miscellaneous freight, all of which
was lost. ~
The fire companies were quite