Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-12
The Other officers. Grew, Passengers, Etc,
Saved.
Card Of Thanks from The Survivors,
Etc, Etc.

Pittsburg. Captain b. G. Martin, master
had exploded a boiler, and aiterwarC
burned to the waters edge near ISLAND
No. IS, below Helena. Certain detail
were also given by telegraph not necessarl
70 mention here.
On the arrival Of ths steamer CONNER
eial, Of the White river trade, last even
ing about nine o'clock, we vent on board
and found the survivors of the Inflated
-teamer, from whom we CLEAN the follow
ng details Of the disaster:
Mr.. Hsmlin, the pilot on watch
makes the following statements; W.
sJ New Orleans on Thurd2y, thl
"a inst, arriving, after various de
ldys, at the foot Of Island No
80 on Thursday. Something was the mat
Ter with the boiler, and the first engineer
Mr.. Fleming, went 10 Memphis to gel
lools to repair it, leaving the second en-.
Iiueer, Mr.. McDermOtt, in charge. We
eft our landing a5out two o'clock or
Thursday afternoon, towing 4 barge, and
started up the chute Of Island Sc. About
half an hour after we had been unde
way, theeXplOsiOn occurred. IdOnOtkn
what caused ii. Captain Martin wa sitting
forward in the shears, and ali at once
with a tremendous sound the texas and
forward part of the hurricane deck was
blown away. Isaw bricks and other fix
ings OF the boiler, going up in the air,
md tbs smoke stacks Immediately ca
reene6 TO larbOard, as did the pilot house
where we were. The first person whom l
saw was Mrs. DUR, daughter Of Captain
Reese. Of PiJtsburg, and sister of the sec
and clerk, who wa sitting IN the office at
he time of the explosion, and who got
/ out I know not how. She came to the pi-
lot house where We, myself and
partner, Mr. Jones, were, and asked Us
what she should do. / told her to sit
{ down and be calm. while 1 tried 10 get
the boat ashore. airs. Seydam, stsUer-lu-
law of Mrs. DUR both OF whom, with
several others, were on a pleasure trip
with u.s.. came up alsO-both of them
lIackened with the explosion. Both sat
down as we told them, and I tried TO get
the boats head ashore Il was lucky we
were not in the stream. The boat had
not caught hre Yet, although we could see
plenty ire amid The wreck. She swung
around toward shore, and the barge
which we were towing touched the bank.
There was no way 10 make 1t fast, hOwev-
er, and leaving the wheel, I cut the guy
ropes OF the chimney, and knOtring them,
threw them ashore. Mr.. Jones, my
partner, ran out and made the
md fast. Meanwhile I saw the
boat taking fire forward, and I sent Mrs.
Durr and Mrs. Seydam AFT, aud put them
under the charge of the mate, Mr. Andy
Wilson. who TOOK them down the after
H.aaaA W q p eAAA IA AEA eA aAE ~ % ~ ANN0
t1e other passengers had los ofthem al
ready c-OugregsteG In q short tine the
guy rope IhatI mad thrown out parted, but
lbe ma e got out a haWser and made fast.
The crew meanwhile were doing every
thing in their power 10 suppress the
flames, but soon found their attempts
without avail. The Captain had been
found shortly after the explosion stand
ing forward by the capstan,
perfectly black, and burned SO
thai no one could nave recognized
him. He recognized the mate. however,
and asked hin what had happened. He
was taken on the barge and carried
ashore. We had made shore at the land
ing OF B. L. Oliver, who Immediately
commenced doing all he could for Us,
working as il his life depended on Il. The
second engineer, Mr.. McDermOtt, was
hunted for and found. He was still alive
and though horribly burned and scalded,
WIS perfectly sensible. He was able TO
talk, and said that he was standing Just
aGs Ofthe boiler that blew up the larbOard
Cuea. He Was carried ashore, and though
everything that could be was done
for him, he died in the course of two
hours and a hall, perfectly conscious to the
last. The Hayes was burning meanwhile,
and burned down TO the waters edge. On
calling over the list after we got so that
We could do so, we found that besides the
captain and engineer, there were four
hands missing, all negroes. One was
named James MUrdon, a fireman from
New Orleans; the other three were roust-
ab0Uts, named Tom Walker and Dan
Skinner, from Belleair, and John Harris,
from Pictsburg. Mr.. 3. L. Oliver did
everything in the world that humanity
could dictate to alleviate the wants and
the suferings Of all the survivors. Not
a passenger was injured. The second
49, 10 a-HAA 20 at 30 h. it,
but cOnld not. de saw when the eXplO-
sion occurred the safe and Office furniture
blown overheard. The first clerk left
the boat % New Orleans to settle up some
Of her business, ard took the railroad up
20 Memphis, where be was to join Us.
About SIX O'Clock the steamer CONNER
cisl came along and took US of. She
alongside an hour and a half or
two hours, and took Us all aboard. Cap
tain Martin fingered a short time, and
died before we get to Helena. We left
remains there.
The above is a connected report Of what
learned from Mr.. Hamlin. The fol-
points we learn in addition TO his
statement;
The Maggie Hayes was about ten years
old, sternw heel, and worth about eight
thouaaud dollars. she was owned by
Captain James Rees, Of PIttsourg. We
understand that the chief engineer, Mr..
Fleming. left her tied 20 the bank az the
OF the chute of Island IS to come
this city 10 yet a bOiIer-maker TO 60
down and repair the boiler, which he
found too faulty to travel with any far
Their. The second engineer, Mr.. McDer-
mott, disregaruing Mr.. F~leniug's eau
lions and orders, undertook TO bring the
steamer up to the city, and The result was
the explosion that We have bad to chrOn-
icie. The Hayes had on board a very
light cargo, consisting mostly OF sugar.
She was bound Tor 81. Louis, but was in
the P-ttsburg trade. The party on board
Of her were mostly relatives and friends
Of the owners, and were on a pleasure ex-
Nothing can exceed the warmth with
which the survivors speak of their treat
ment az the hands of Mr.. B. l.. Oliver, Of
divers landing.
The scene Of the terrible accident was
forty-fye miles below Helena and n
hundred and iorty-hve below the city.
The rescued officers and passengers are
IN their praises OF Captain Matt.
Glass, clerks Jim Thompson and Andy
Granger. as We'll as all the officers and
crew of the Commercial, for the attention
and many acLs Of kindness extended
from the scene OF the accident to
This city. The officers Of this steamer did
everything in their power TO relieve the
wounded, and attended Captain Martin
and engineer MCDermOLt with as much
care aud assiduiIy as these unfortunate
gentleman could have found IN the arms
Ofrheir families. Every want was sup
piled and every wish gratided-eyery-
Thing in fact was done That could be 70
ease their last moments. We append a
card from the surviving officers and crew,
a. well as resolutions passed on their way
this city:
STEAMER COMMERCIAL, Feb. II, 1870.
At a meeting called by the passengers
Of the steamer Commercial, Tor the relief
of the sufferers Of the steamer Maggie
Hays, Dr. II. 3. Blackburn was called to
the chair.
on motion Of Colonel r. A. Crockett, a
committee ofthree were appointed 20 dis
tribute among the sufferers the funds col
On motion of Captain Matt. A. Glass,
collars were appropriated for bury
ing the Captain Of the Maggie Hayes, who
died on board the Commercial.
On motion Of Colonel K. A. Crockett, the
OF this meeting We're rendered to
the Brignol Italian Opera Troupe for the
liberal donations made by them, and that
a copy Of the proceedings Of this meeting
be furnished 10 the different Memphis
papers.
On motion, the meeting sajourned.
LEO POLLOCK, Sec'y.
STEAMER -Co1NERCIAL,l
February lIth, 1870.
At a meeting Of the sufferers Of the
Maggie Hayes, held upon the
Commercial, il was unanimous
RssoJUed. That our heartfelt thanks are
and are hereby rendered to the OFF,
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