The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-23
Oh. Hsw erIsaHs cresstni. gatsaaa february aa.2
The Burning of the Nittis stephens
TuRTHERlACcouNT OF THE DISASTER.
From the jefferson crexas) Jimplssussl


steamer Mittie Stephens, Homer Kellogg, master.
left New Orleans for this port on the evening OF
the : instant. She proceeded on her way, win
every prospect of a speedy and safe voyage, until
the hand of fate fell upon her and the unfortunate
crew and passengers We hereto append the
statements, in substance, of passenger and the
Waterman of the boat, as sworn TO before no.
tary. 1t is proper to state that all the ahdavits
made by passengers and of1cers colnclde, ana 90
not materially differ
Sydte,nent of A. Pace, Pdssenge-.-Mr. Pace
states that he was passenger on the Mittle
Stephens, from New Orleans to Jefferson, Texas
That during the whole voyage to the time and
place of the burning Of the boat, he was careful
to observe the constant diligence, watchfulness
and attention of all the officers and crew. AT II
O'Clock on the night of the 18th inst he was aroused
from sleep by the smell of fire, and the ringing OF
the alarm bell. He immediately proceeded TO the
stern of the boat, at which time the passengers
were given the alarm by the crew. That the
pilots remained at the Wheel until the hrs drove
oouId be done 10 save the lives Of the passengers.
The fire broke out in the hay on board, and the
bow of the vessel was in flames IN from one 70
three minutes after the fire was discovered. Inc
hay was kept covered by tarpaulin during the
trip, and the officers and crew used every pre-
caution to prevent the hay from being exposed TO
the fire. he was sick during the voyage, and
was frequently u p in the night and found the cap
tain up at all times. Messrs seuzsman, bllrke
and s. J, johnson, the latter Of whom had from
seven to eight thousand dollars worth OF goods
aboard, concur in Mr.. PAGES testimony as re-
CARDS the unremittng vigilance and caution on the
part of Captain Kellogg and his men.
Statement of Samuel Underwood, Wdtctndn.--
Mr. Underwood was Waterman OF the steamer
Mittie Stephens, and on watch at the time OF the
disaster. At about IL o'clock on the night OF tne
llth inst, was on the staging on the bow Oh the
boat and discovered 8 bale OF hay on IRE, about
thirty feet from the torchlight and some distance
from the furnace. All the hay on board was COW
cred by tarpsulins. He instantly gave tue alarm
| OF fire, The deckhands present threw buckets OF
water on the fire, but failed to qu-nch It. Inc
| mate then ordered the hay to be thrown over
board, when the flames covered the balance OF tDe
| hay, and prevented the orders OF the mate from
| being carried out. The engineer turned the hose
| upon the fire, which failed 70 exhngulsh II. Ine
| crew. with the mate and witness, worked NJ the
| hose until the flames drove them on. They then
/ went TO the assistance of the passengers, and
/ helped them 10 escape. As soon az i was known
i that the boat would be consumed, the mate
ordered the crew TO throw overheard the powder
| that was in the hold of the vessel. Witness and
the mate assisted the passengers until they were
/ driven of by the flames. Ii was not exceedlng
ten minutes from the discovery OF the fire until
| the boat was enveloped in flames. The officers
| and crew did all that could be done to save the
| passengers and boat. All the officers, so far as
witness could or did know, were at their post and
on duty.
We do not deem It necessary 10 rehearse any
| more Of the statements, as they eliminate no ne
facts pertinent TO the issue, which Is that the
burning was purely accidental, and that human
| prudence or foresight could not have ayerted the
| calamity.
In our issue of Friday we gave a summary Of
the affair. and list Of those known to be lost anc
saved.
spectacle as most appalling. The Inflated steamer
was quietly gliding through the turbld waters o.
the lake, which at that point was about nve mne'
wide and nearly fifty miesfrom Jefferson. IL wa
1 4 usvht and nnhE
turbed it's serene stiffness save the musical surgine
| of the waves at the Prov and the monotonous ant
lsbored vibration Of the machinery. All on board
| except the watches, were wrapped IN profound
slumber. The hour Of midnight had jdst chimet
by the clock, when the pilot discovered signs o
FIRE on the larbosrd side of the forecastle, wher'
is seems two hundred and seyenty-four bales o
hay had been slowed.
-Four quick, successive taps Of the bell gave tn
alarm to the crew. That alarm was the knell tina
summoned sixty.one souls to meet their Maker
| Exertions almost superhuman were made by IN
men, but all TO no purpose. The ire. king had De
gun his reign. Already he was painting nell o.
the skyn The maddened flames were holding
their high carnival on the doomed decks OF tn
gallant boat and no earthly power could aver
The impending woes that must soon overwheln
her human freight. Then ensued scene OF dis
| NAV of terror and Of death, which the Pen OF ma
cannot adequately depict, nor the MAD OF ma
fully conceive The brave captain, comprehend
ing his duty at this crisis as II by intuition, erie
| to the pilot, "head her from the wind Ope
up ~ TO the clerk, the unfortunate Remer, b
rave orders 10 rouse and save the passengers
| Riemer went below to die at his pest. Ii now wa
certain destruction to remain any longer on tn
roof, and the captain bid the pilots save them
selves which they did by escaping from the ster
! of the vessel.
Capt. Kellogg made leap for life through tn
! flames being slightly burned as he went, and fe
into the lake distance Of thirty feet de had
| however, inhaled so much hot air that he becam
-. al, ,eaaw Ooho al n n
was observed by passenger and the barkeepel
who soon recuscitated him. All united in the
# Re q sss Se q bosf and
gers. 1t would seem invidious TO particulariz
where all did SO well bat the thanks of the pa:
sengers are directly due to the meritorious sci
vices rendered by Mr.. Hetherton, the bill cler
in providing life preservers for them. He was ID
last TO leave the wreck. Binding on preservel
he dropped into the cold waters OF the lake. ID
= floated about awhile, and becoming insensibl:
was picked mp or rather toved ashore by th
Dixie's yawl. The Dixie lay in Jim's bayou
about Eve miles distant, tied TO tree. with steal
down. Capt. Jacobs, the master, was II
formed by the Waterman that he believe
there was boat on fire. He thereupo
dispatched his mate and deck hand to IL
. place Of the disaster. Capt. Swsyne, the pilot
the Mite Stephens, was the first one OF the su
yiyors whom they saw he was enconsced in
tree TO which he had swan. He directed him
the body of Mr.. Hetherton, and afterward to TIL
L OF Il. L.. LyOFbt Vi kuc uOu1o VI " W Jul Otiub
NO. They then relieved some persons clingir
TO the rudder of the wreck. Capt. Svsyne In Il
meantime refusing to be relieved until the ya'
had done all the service possible. They picks
| up the corpse of an unknown woman, who can
aboard the stephens at Grand Ecore. The vess
was but few minutes consuming, owing to Il
combustble material Of the freight. That sho
time seemed like an eternity TO some. The d
tressing screams and groans of the sufferers q
n cended to heaven mingling with the din of disa
ter, and the prayers OF the dying husband al
y wife, child and mother. friend and foe were or
died in the pillows Of the lake, which soon rock'
them to sleep. Like the boat on which they b
q few minutes before 30 peacefully slumbere'
they passed away IS it were "a tale that is told
Mr.. Bjirke, surviving passenger, having BEE
informed by the officers Of the steamer that tv
thieves had come on board at Shreveport, vi
keeping watch for them in the cabin when q
fire broke out. The thieves were both lost.
One of the most signal acts Of heroism that b
2 ever come TO our lot TO record. was performed
= Phil Hill the carpenter, and deck hand, BY nan
y Jacob Stein. Twenty kegs OF powder had be.
: deposited in the magazine In the hold. With q
II presence of mind and q daring that have few pa
b allels in the annals Of stesmbostng, they 10 q
face of horrible death, carrie The powder a
i and threw il overheard. A moment lost, al