The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-05
BURNING OF STEAMER FASHION.
Further Details OF the Terrible Disaster
Panic Among the Passengerss and
Fearful Loss of Life.


by the destruction Of the steamer Fashion, near
Baton Rouge, on the afternoon of the 9th ult.
The FIRE was discovered about half-past three
o'clock, some ten feet forward of the side-house
on the larboard side, and lie stated to have been
caused by sparks from the chimney falling on
the cotton, of which there were over 1900 bales
on board.
The steamer was on her way to New Orleans
from Vicksburg, with aoout one hundred cabin
and large number OF deck passengers. Her
crew and all told must have numbered three
hundred souls. Every effort was made by the
officers to put out the fire with water using the
hose and buckets, also by throwing the bales
overheard; but the wind blew the flames into
the tiers of bales, and within five minutes the
whole side was on fire, thus cutting off commu-
nication between the forward and after parts of
the boat.
She was Immediately headed for the shore.
The pilot Mr.. Thomas Montague, never left his
post until the boat was landed, and was probably
lost by his devotion TO his duty. Captain Pratt
and the second engineer, Mr.. Harry Hoffman,
succeeded in getting q line fast to the shore.
Then, having secured the safety of those tor
ward, Captain Pratt next took the yawl from
| parties who had escaped in it to the shore, and
| went to the stern of the boat and succeeded in
saving some twelve or fifteen passengers, six of
them ladies, who were hanging to the stern, and
ready to jump overheard. Mr.. Tom Hastings,
first mate, assisted Captain Pratt in his efforts to
| save the lives of the passengers.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon
! Captain Pratt, Mr. Hastings, Mr.. Oliver Fair
child, first engineer, who lost his life at his post,
! Mr.. Harry Hellery, barkeeper, and Mr.. Ephraim
! Hardesty, steward, who 40 doubt lost his life in
his efforts to save Others, for the last that was
seen of him was on the afterguards throwing
over shutters TO the passengers to keep them
! from drowning; Mr.. ]. A. Dinwiddie, second
! clerk, and Mr.. Hosey, carpenter, took the yawl
! and picked up several children some of them
already drowned-and other passengers. Alter
putting them on shore, they followed the wreck
as it hoated down several miles, and came on
to Baton Rouge.
The Bayou Sara packet Lafourche Captain
! Baranco, was the first boat passing She was
bound up, and her crew picked up all they
could, doing all in their power to relieve them.
| The Vicksburg packet Magenta, Captain I. p.
Leathers, bound down, came along, AMI took
! Off those coming to New Orleans from the La
fouIche, treating them as well as 1t was possible
! TO do. ~.
The statement of the mate, Mr.. Thomas Hast
ings, contains the following:-
The Fashion had on board 1900 bales of cotton
and over 100 cabin passengers, besides some $50
on deck, making 250 passengers in all. Mr..
Hastings thinks this low estimate. About so
| or 60 passengers came ON board at Vtcksourg,
Dut they were coming on ana gong on al the
way GOWN, ana we nave no llst Oh tne Iost or
saved; The principal landings after leaving
HlcKspurg were OarthaSe, AsnWood, Grand
Gulf 81. Joe, Rooney, NatcheZ, Fort Adams,
heG hlEer, ana Bayou sara. Two ladles came
on board at Bayou Sara, but the mate does not
know their names. Tbey were undoubtedly lost.
! among the caDln passengers was party OF
emlgrants 10 IeXas' !hey were from North
! Alaoama. tully one-tnlru OF tnem were lost.
\ they had horses, wagons, ETC., with them, all OF
! which were consumed IN the hames. But one
morse went oVerooard. -
Inc passengers on decS were prlnclpaHy
negroes. tney Ieaped wllaly INTO tne water.
Hastings saw hlty or sixty OF them struggling in
the waves az the same time. very lew, II any,
were saved. Ine two chamoermalds, Mrs.
CLARK and assistant, Jumped overheard, and are
OelleVed 10 De lost. me Doat was landed from
| seven 10 Ten minutes alter she TOOK hre 10
toWarqs tnS DOW ana towards the sIern; here
| they huuulea togetner' TIL, pressed oy the
names, they Jumped overheard. Mr. Hastings
let nnnseH uoWh INTO Vhe wafer ana swan
ashore.
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