The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-13
.COGFLAGRA1ION AT
CINCINGATI.
SIX STEAMBOATS, .DEsrno1ED.

CINCINNATI, May IL.
The most destructive cout1agration of
steamboats, that ever occurred in this
city ragged at the New Orleans and
Memphis packet landing this morning.
The fire broke out at O'Clock in the
Westmoreland and MelnOtte above, and
Cheyenne, Darling and Mary Erwin
below. These six boats were soon en-
veloped in flames. Tne hulls OF the
Melnotte and Darling may be used
again, but the others are q total loss
The fire originated in the chamber
maids room on the Clifton by the M
fourteen kegs of powder on the Chey-
enne which exploded and scattered the
flames in every direction. The West
moreland had 200 barrels of coal oil on
board, and the Cheyenne 25O barrels of
coal oil.
The Melnotte belonged to Williamson
Isham and Capt. Kenlston, value $4,000;
insured for $4,000 in the Union, FArm>
ers, and one other company. Tho
Westmoreland was owned by Capt.
Ryers, Rush IL Wolf; runs in the New
Orleans trade; value 500 600, 20 tons OF
freight, insured for $4,000, old boat.
Clifton, the fine Memphis packet, five
years old, one-third loaded, owned by
the Memphis Packet Company, valued
at $35 600, insured for $4,000; Mary
Erwin, an Arkansas river boat, just
repaired, belonged to George Wolfe,
no freight aboard, valued at .Sl2, 600,
insured for $40. 900, in the Central and
several Pittsburgh offices. The Chey
enne run in the Arkansas river trade,
and was owned by Capt. John Kyle,
was new boat, being only eight
months in use, was loaded with valua.
BILE freight OF about 800 tons, the boat
was valued at $50, 900, insured for Sl4,-
coo, and the estimated value of the carr
20 is S50.000,-the powder on this boat
was carried ashore. The Darling be-
longs to the Memphis Packet Compa
she had just put Off a cargo of cotton,
most OF which was lost, the hull was
saved; was valued at $25, 600, insured for
500 COO. RumOrs are atlOat that several
lives have been lost, but up to noon no
names have been reported.
The following is believed to be
pretty accurate statement of the in
Surance on the boats burned this morn
ing. The Clifton was insured for $3.-
600 each by the Crescent, Boatman's,
Commercial, and Magnolia companies;
81 500 in the Eureka; for 81, 500 each in
the Buckeye and Central; for $4,000
in the Enterprise, total S22 500. The
Westmoreland WAS insured Tor g, 500
each in six companies. viz: Crescent,
American. Franklin. National, Union,
and Queen City, total $4,000. The
Nc lite was insured tor g.. COO each by
three companies, viz: National, Union,
aud Farmers, total $4,000. The Dar-
ling was insured for $1,000 each in
eight companies, viz: Crescent, Boat-
mans, Magnolia, Eureka, Buckeye,
Central, American, Union, and for
81 GOO in the Enterprise, total 10000.
The Cheyenne for $1,000 each In four
companies, viz: Boatman's, Eureka,
Central, and American, and for 81. 600
In the Franklin, total $4,000. The
Mary Erwin was insured in two compa-
MES, viz: Western $500, Central 81, $50,
total $3.50. Total insurance, SS1, $50.
SECOND DISPATCH.
The insurance valuation on the boats
burned to-day is as follows: Clifton,
$50, 600; Westmoreland, $28 600: Mary
Erwin, $l5. 600. Total Sl35, 600. Mary
Erwin Is insured for $4,000, of which
g., 500 Is In Cincinnati and the remain
der in Plttsburg companies. Many be-
lieve that but one deck hand on the
Cheyenne was lost; others say James
B. jackson, of Arkansas, a trader, was
lost on the Cheyenne. The loss in
freight was 500 600; nearly all insured.
Total loss S2S5 600.