The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
TIM. uNKINWATER,
LOSS OF THE FASHION
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN nan,
To my Friends and Patrons Of TIA ~.
burg Trade: -

L
for the present, as q steamboat csai.s
land feel like making some ackuosleS
ment at this time, for the uniform kindns
and interest manifested. and .exteudeis
me during the past four years. Nart i
this great misfortune that has befallen Il
community and myself there is nothinsI
90 much regret a. losing the opportuib
to meet you all at intervals, and rein
the extended hand and earnest prssp ~, IA
which ! was greeted by many. Few -
have 30 much cause to be proud 81 q.
kindness Of his friends, and their patrs
age, a. ! have had, and I thank you 4.
cerely for it,, $50
The steamer Fashion was lost under i.
following circumstances, with 1852 bala, =
cotton on board She left Bayou 81 q
the afternoon Of December 9th Il
about 2 o'clock we-lsnded at Waterloo ~
Fontania, below Port Hudson. VI.
the boat had fully entered Prophets LII
chute ! laid down, with orders to b =
kened at Poplar Grove, about twelve ~
below, the last point we expected 8 "a
cotton. In half an hour I Was vakssI
BY the cry OF fire, and heard the order
the mate to stop the engines, when [ -,
Of once on deck and took command q Il.
boat. ordering the pilot to land her, . p
swung With the shape of the river. and na
to stop the engines, as the shore wa a
and shoal, andI knew she would remSia !.
she landed. After attempting e stay s,
fire, with the assistance Of the olicei /
the boat, with hose and buckets, ] ordsvl
the second mate to 20 forward and pet 81
. line. When the boat landed he xas pat
to be found, and is lost. / then went I'd
the root to the forecastle and assisted y
first clerk, who had sprained bis ankle a
who was badly bruised in saving tie -,
bic letters and packages, to get aehorA Viii
them, and With the assistance ofthe secopd
engineer, not on watch at the time, q.
ceeded in getting out : line, and sscis;ue
the boat, this always having been nv u.
tention in case Of fire. Immediately No
this, seeing the yawl from the stern offs
boat approaching the shore, With tie a.
penter, one deck hand, and several colossl
passengers on board, being lodged ih,tls
willows near the waters edge, I wsdsd b
my waist, and putting oil Of them out tuI
the carpenter, one deck hand, 1 pseGsces
and pilot, / started for the stem q H.
boat, where the remaining lady passe6fus
we're gathered together on the after rad.
On the way we took in tow the lifebcak Y
the shutters and blinds that We could IL
up-these having been thrown overheard
BY the steward and mate to the passeueas.
white and colored, on either side Of -
taking up those We met on our vsy: I'd
the lady cabin passengers were ali and
BY this means, with but three exceptionu-
two having gained the shore By the reins
OF liie-preseryefs and floats, and onsxhe
was lost. Id ga.i..
The mate threw over from the roof q
ladders, trestles, and the life boass ;sial
and the steward, Nj. Hardesty, iwho ~
lost, In my observation threw ovsr ~
doors, shutters and life preservers from u
ladies' cabin. After alf were compelIsa b
leave the afterguard BY the fire, -ths M
was landed, and was then sent below d
charge Of the second clerk, to pick uptaoss
found aAoat. { ! s {, =
. There There was but one lady passsngss ~
four Or fya children and two ge1tlepa
passengers. From twenty to thirty nsgr
and deck passengers, the exact uumb9 !
am unable to now state. Out Of tie CIV
OF hremen and deck haods numbering Iixtl
bQt one was lost. OF the cabin crew, aile
out OF thirty are believed to be- lost A
low me to here state what / knovpisbs
officers end crew Of the. Fashion; II
mate was the last person seen BY NJ ~
the yswl remainingIon the burning Me4.
and escaped BY means ofthe yavl dsniek.
guy, and was picked up by me in tho Js1l.
The steward was last seen on The at6
guard endeavoring to I'D those 10 ~
wster. The pilot, Nj. Thomas Mout,gy..
and the inst engineer, Mr.. Oliver Fairc6iN,
remained q their posts, to my knovk1s.
and died doing their duty, ~ / knew ipa
my previous knowledge Of the men tn
would do. Mr.. Shsw, whom / have hor
spoken Of, the Arst clerk, and Mi. Ludyig.
sen, saved the valuable letters and paoks'
ges from the safe To you whom ] hln
known and who have known me, end bsn
kind to me in many ways for years, ! iavs
only this to- say in conclusion, That thsn'
manning officers Of the boat you may nsss
again. Remember them a. kindly y 20.
have always remembered the Fashion and
myself, and a. New Orleans is my hons,
hoping to associate myself In bushes
there, may We meet a. cordially. althoser
at greater intervals. % We have done bslpn
In the past. reg
Always cordially yours.
& p. D. PRATT,
Late Captain Fashion.
a-s = s