The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-08-01
ANOTHER FIRST-cLAss STEAM
Err BURNED.
Dan Able Burned at Columbus, Ky.
NO LlvES LOST.
OMcers snd Crew Lose ali an Their
Clothing.

We are panied to announce the loss Of
another magnificent frst.clnss steamer by
IRE and carelcssness- the latter however
being from the conduct of an irresponsible
person. The splendid steamer Dan Able,
'ed by the Illinois Centrtl r. X. Co. to
convey passengers from their road at
Cairo to the Mobile & Ohio road, at Co.
lumbus, and vice versa, was totally de-
stroyed by fire last Saturday night at 10
o'clock, while lying at the wharfbo at
Columbus, waiting for the train from Mo-
bile. Fortunately no lives were lost.
The fire seems to have originated In tho
cook house, and the following is the report
furnished us: -. .
Tho third cook kindled q fre In tho
cook stoveto prepare supper for tho pass
cngcrs expected by the up train, and then
went up stairs to notify the other cooks.
1t is supposed that he built quite a largo
fire or that some combustible material, 40
oil or grease, was near or perhaps on the
stove, which ignited during his absence.
At least the flames were found bursting
out Of the doors Of the cook house on his
return. The alarm was Immediately given
and the engineers promptly turned a
powerful stream Of water on the fire and
quickly subdued the fire below. Unfor.
tunately the fame had mounted the stair.
way leading to the pantry, and notwith.
standing all the efforts Of her entire crew,
the fire spread to the light wood work Of
the cabin and soon over the entire boat.
Word was then passed for all hands TO
abandon her and Let her 90 adrift, o. she
could not be saved, and was
sndangering the wharf boat and depot
buildings. The Arst engineer, Ben Magse
and the Waterman, Geo. Smith, were 90
bent upon doing everything in their pow.
err to save the boat that they continued 70
use the hose for some time longer, not
knowing that the boat had been cut loose
from the wharf When the flames Ut
length drove them forward, they were
some distance from shore and were com.
PEELED to jump into the river, and swim for
life. Magec SWAN to The wharf boat, but
as he could not reach The guards nor be
reached he narrowly escaped drowning,
When tho burning steamer had drifted
some thirty fset away from tho wharfboat,
the lines which held up Asr levers 10 allow
the stcanto pass through the cylinders,
(shc had been 10 engineer yornacular,
"blowing through, burned In two and
both engines started. Amusement seized
all spectators who were not steamboat.
men, they knowing that no human being
was on board. when they saw q
| steamboat start her own en-.
gincs and begin to move up stream,
heading at a slight angle from the shore.
1, seemed Ms though the doomed steamer
and finding herself deserted, was attempt.
had been suddenly endowed with intellect,
ing to use her own mighty power and
strength to save herself. Each loud es-
capement of steam from the pipes seemed
like hoarsc groan for help. The wheels
turned but slowly, steam being low, and
each paddle as II struck the water seemed
like the splashing hands of u great
dying giant, struggling against the doathly
assault Of both fire and water. Enveloped
in flame from stem to stern, she slowly pro.
grcssed about one hundred yards up the
rivcr--sach eseapement becoming weaker
and weaker, when II, length the steanpipe
melted. With u mighty shrek, Of seem.
ingly mortal agony, her pipe (stcam)
poured fourth in dense volume for few
sccc0ds-hcr chimnies tottered and fell
one wheel.bouse went overheard - the
engines stopped - the current gradually
took possession Of her, forcing her back.
wards down stream, and all seemed over.
Suddenly, Us though arou.ing herself for q
last expiring effort, n smotlered but deep
report was heard, and the spectators saw
her forecastlc and capstsn rise into the air
and fall to pieces, while shower Of sparks
shot upwards to the sky, and then all was
still, A key of powder had furnished the
last breath to the noble steamer which died
so brayely and went out at last il blszs
of glory. II is said that many persons
who witnessed the above scenes actually
shed tears, so humsh-like seemed the ac-
tions of the gallant craft.
Soon afterwards the burning mass
grounded on a bar near the head Of Wolf
Island and was consumed 10 the waters
edge.
All her etheers and crew lost everything
except The clothing they wore, so intent
were they in endsavoring to save the boat.
Pilot Mckinney lost library costing over
one hundred dollars, u masonic regslis
costing one hundred aud Afty-6vs dollars
and clothing curiosities and trunks valued
at over five hundred moro. The bar.
keeper, Mr.. Jos. Smith, Of Cairo, lost every.
thing including several hundred dollars
deposited with him by deck hands. Loss
$1,000.
This catastrophe viii doubtless hasten
the building Of the Kentucky and Tea