The New York herald., 1869-05-14
EIE TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT CONFLiGRA.
Ti0y Ar CLCisNaE.
six Steamers Dcstroyed-The Landing in n
Blaze of Fire-Terri6c scene.

six Steamers Dcstroyed-The Landing in n
Blaze of Fire-Terrifc Scene.
The Cincinnati Commercial gives the following
account OF the late terrible steamboat condemnation
at that place.
The body OF flame was fully 500 feet long by 100
ABOVE the level OF the spencer House roof The
burning boats were the Clifton Mary Erwin Darling
cheyenne, Melnotte and weslmoreland. The
Charmer had dropped down out OF the way, and the
West Wind, just coming up, had towed the St. James
out OF danger. All statements that our reporters
heard agreed on the Clifton as the starting point of
the ire and that ii progressed in the order Ia which
the boats are named above. The flames
IRON the burning boats shot far into the
arr Illuminating almost the whole city,
and shedding radiant sparks all over the lower
squares as lar north Thrd street. The levee that
bad been deserted for 30 long time. was suddenly
peopled by thousands OF men, women and children.
alarmed by the prolonged ringing OF the bells and
attracted from drowsy beds by the great light at the
The mere handful OF hremen who dared meet the
DESTROYING element at the waters edge seemed SO
puny and Insignificant IN the light OF the grand ter.
rinc eonfagration, that the cDrwds upon the wharf
could not hope for the salvation OF any that might
stand ana gaze and shudder. The light wood worS
could not long Withstand the hot breath OF the
ire fend. The symmetrical outlines OF the
boats were lost sight OF In the sheets of
n ime and the dense volumes OF smoke that en-
veloped them. The white spars and the delicate
tracery OF the cabins were one moment respendent
the next they were gone. Deprived OF support Inc
decks quivered and crashed down to the mil the
tall cn1mneys In second tOppleu over and fell like
forest trees some upon the wharf, some into ihe
water. OH burst from confinement and flowed IN
broad streams far down upon the surface OF the
river, resembling when viewed from the suspen
sion Bridge, q separate rivuiet Of molten gold
IL appeared at the first hopeless task to resist the
progress OF the fire on the SIX boats over whichit
had quickly spread. and hopeless IL proved, for
the stn breeze blowing from the east bore the
flames from one boat TO another until all were
aDlaZe, and the six river palaces were swept away
like cha before the wind. The fremen, seeing that
would be useless 10 attempt to the boats that
were on fire when they reached the wharf, concen-
trateu their energies to the steamers that lay
above the Melnotte. Planting their hydraulic bat
scorchng faces and bstering hands, directing their
heavy streams Of water TO points likely TO be at
tackled. They were very successful In preventing
the flames from communicating to the boats above
the spray, and even that boat was not injured by
the flames TO any appreciable extent. At three
O'Clock when the conragration had spent Its energy
the six steamers, the nremen were still holding
their own.
It is believed that no lives were lost by fire but
deck hand who escaped from the Clifton, states that
a companion, in trying TO save himself, jumped into
the river and was drowned.
When the fire was blazing nercest number OF
kegs of powder on the Clifton exploded, but, as far
as we could learn, did no particular damage.
The Westmoreland was the property OF the New
Orleans and Cincinnati Packet Company, and was
posted for vicksburg Natchez and New Orleans. W.
]. Rusk master.
The Cheyenne was an Arkansas river packet A.
b. Plersel master.
The Clifton Frank stein, master, belonged TO the
Memphis aud Cincinnati Packet Company, aud was
posted for Cairo and Memphis.