New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-20
TIE MITE STEPHENS DISASTER.


The telegraph announced few DAYS ago the
loss OF the steamer Mite stephens which was burned
the waters edge in the Red River Texas BY this dis
aser GO persons persisted The following account Is from
The Neic- orleans Times: s,.{sss
At the time the accident occurred the Mttie Stephens
was on her way TO jefferson Texas with large consign
specie perhaps some money in greenbacks for paying of
amount of hay The hay was placed as is frequently done
four tiers deep upon the bolerdeck The danger from
the accidental ignition OF this OF infalnmabe
tera was not unknown to the passengers but appears
TO have OccasOned protest On Thursday the Mttie
nayigable, owing to the raft 80 miles aboye-and had
now turned aside into the network OF bayous, lakes.
and agoons which connects Shreveport Jefferson City
At the time she had already gone more thap bali the
distance between Shreveport and Jeersonthat is had
and sailed through De Soto Lake into Lake Caddo Inc
latter body OF water lies partly in Louisiana he extreme
miles long and seven wide. On Thursday night supper
had been served at early hour and the
manner usual to those who have been several days on
board Of boat, had retired. As early o'clock the
with the exception Of perhaps here and theae party at
poker and by u o'clock or midnight, as
son, and With no prospect Of reaching shore
before daylight there was scarcely any 5 1ne
boat 1t IS supposed sailing although the water
was ten feet deep in various parts Of the LAKE,
and when the lake Is to large extent dryed up oonst'
sumps u from the water and render the nav.
CATION otherwise extremely dangerous supports this
superstition What confirms the belief that the main
channel was taken is that boats IN high water push
straight through with but little trouble to the pilots
1t precisely at this hour of midnight when the pas
sengers and crew were buried in sumber, that tho
cry of fire was heard on the doomed boat.
escape, from thes nhammable character OF the
cargo, and the fact that other boat was In sight
meaSer. but it needs but little Imagination to suppose
that time lost in dressngthat women and child
running IN every direction like pald specters
yainly appealing for help which would never come
Another feature which attended tho death OF these nn
fortunate victims the slowness OF the deat-the
agonizng suspense which they were called upon TO
undergo In ordinary accidents on boats-for instance.
In explosions the suddenness ana OF ne
calamity divest it of element OF horror snpposng
that the passenger escapes once, the danger is over
there is then but little else TO fear or ordinarily Wheh
boat catches fire 1t Is perhaps IN the uay tithe
IL easy TO swim or run tho boat ashore. In the
the passengers who were unable or had not
compelled TO stare death steadily in the face while the
vessel slowly consumed gradually retreat TO the rear
In the black waters below Why IL viii now be asked,
was not the boat TO the shore The answer TO TINS
question that the water OF the lake outside OF the chan
el already referred too shallow 10 admit OF close
approach to the low swampy shore The boat In all PROB
stu the number OF stumps cypres there In the lake
ought have afforded the passenger hold once they
captain-which doubtless was performed-was TO throw
overheard every bale OF hay that could be rescued from
the flames every door, shutter and epreseryer ana 10
Inform at the same time the passengers what they hadto
do 10 save fe suppone SUCH precautions 10 have been
taken, and that hale OF hay ought to support hVe
men. that people from the surrounding country were
soon attracted by the flames 10 their situation and rem
dered help ~ not easy 10 understand how so many VIC
tins met watery grave What appears singular, TOO
that OF the passengers on board who are known
like the first clerk Mr. NJ A. Broadwcn Zone OF tho
largest cotton buyers OF the city, 20 have been men OF
experience should have also persisted by the accident
The fact that the passengers were asleep ana mat some
Of them persisted IN the amo4 accounts Tor some OF the
number but by no means all. one thing, however, Is
certain the Mte stephens had at the time OF the ace
dent more souls board the passengers aud
crew, at the time OF the accident and OF that number
only saved The remaining 6j persisted by drown
ing or st mlserably IN the general holocaust OF
vessel and the corpses OF these, ana those who ira
yelled upon the many other well known steamers, are
doubtless this moment beneath the sluggish and sullen
ISaters q the lake.