The New York herald., 1870-11-25
STEAMBOAT FIRE At EVANSVILLE.
Burning of the Steamers City Of Evansville
Pine Bluff and Norman-Loss 100000.

zinc DUH ana NOrman-AAOss $3OO,OOO.
From the Evansville Qnd.) Journal Nov 23l
The most sad part OF the burning was the loss OF
iady passenger on the Norman. She had got on
board the boat on Sunday at Newburg, anr was on
her way to Charley 1uey's landing, Tennessee to
Join her husband, who had gone ahead or her. She
mad all her household goods on board the Norman
IN Warwick county, and her maiden name was
Lewis, a daughter OF David Lewis.
me loss on the various cargoes OF the steamboats,
ana on the Wharlboat Will be very heavy; large pOr-
ton OF 1t was insured The City OF Evansville mad
$50 bales OF cotton on board, and a thousand
The Norman had about halt load OF -four potatoes
hay, &C., for Memphis ana was TO nl out yesterday
and leave in the evening. The Pine Blufr had dis.
charged part OF her cargo but it was burned In the
wharf boat.
The City of Evansville was new boat, built ex
pressly Tor the Evansville and Memphis Packet Com
pany, at Pittsburg, and was her first week for
thus season. She IS valued at $4,000 and insured
Kennedy, OF this city valued at sI5. 90. Insured
for $4,000. The Pine Biur was 0S owned ed by
Captain Elder and John Adams. the clerk.
$4,000. The wharf boat belonged to Messrs.
Humphrey ~ Lewis and was valued at $4,000. The
Insurance is for s6,5oO in Eastern Offices. The Flo
renee Lee, Sam Orr, w. G. Brown &,Co.'s wharf
boat Mollie Ragon, Mary Miller, Evansville and
Hartford were all at the same wharf, and it seems
almost miracle that they were not all burned. On
the wharfboat there were three or four kegs OF
powder, which exploded after the steamboats, parted
from the wharf boat, causing sudden demOrali.
zation OF the crowd OF bystanders. and at the
same time helping to save the Florence Lee,
whose stern was In dangerous proximity to the
wharfboat 1t Is estimated that the total loss Will
amount to nearly 100000 Mart. Stone. mate or the
City OF Evansville alter the burning boats were out
In the river found that there was woman left on
the boat. took yawl and went TO the boat and
brought her of safely but terribly frightened The
dead body Of the lady burned on the Norman was
taken TO Newburg yesterday evening by her brother,
David Lewis. William n. Lodge, late clerk OF the
steamer Shamrock, who was on the City OF Evans
vile, gives the following statement:-"About half
past four O'Clock was awakened by an alarm
from below u.s. Hastily dressing, stepped
out on the guards and saw that the Norman
and Pine Bluff were in Games Starting
back met MIR. Samuel 3. Laughlin, who asked me
TO assist him IN getting the hose on the hurricane
deck. After doing this went down on deck, where
/ met Mr.. Pennington, who told me we were cut
loose and had better save ourselves. He ran aft,
and followed. We jumped from our boat TO the
Sam Orr, and from thence 10 Browns wharlboat.
do not think the City of Evansville would have
burned mad she not been cut loose. as the Sam Orr
and Florence Lee were between us and the Pine
Blun. Too much praise cannot be awarded 10 the
gallant conduct OF sam b. Laughlin. He was the
last to leave the boat and certainly saved the lives
oil lady and gentleman (passengers), whose home IS
at Cape May. The name OF Sam Laughlin should
hereafter be a synonym Of bravery and chtvalry. /
lost everything except what had on.u