Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-22
APPALLING MARINE DISASTER.
Steamer Emma No. 3 SHagged and Burned---
Large Loss Of Life---Fun Partic.
uIsrs Of the Catastrophe.
Total Destruction Of The VesseI--.TsIeuraph
from Cairo---Names of the
Dead and Wounded

BY the arrival Of tia steamer Mary For
sytn &C an carly hour yesterday morning,
news was received announcing tho de-
struction Of the steamer Emma No. 3 al
ten O'Clock last Saturday morning, near
the foo OF Island 30, some fifty miles
above this city. The Emma, com
malded by Captain Dan. Marratts.
was on her way from New Orleans to Gin
cinnati, between which points she was a
regular packet, with a cargo Of sugar, mo-
lasses, wines and groceries from New Or
leans, and four hundred bales of cotton
FROM this point, two hundred Of which
were consigned TO Cincinnati, and two
hundred TO Evansville. She left here
shortly after midnight on Saturday morn
the chute Of Island 80, struck a
snag which caused her to careen to
such an extent that her cabin
stoves capsized, and set tho vessel on fire.
II is Thought that at least ~ninety-fve
souls We're ON board at the time Of the
disaster, forty at least of which are sup
posed TO have been lost. In the confusion
and excitement, occasioned by striking
the snag, the flames gained such Roadway
that it was found impossible to subdue
them. The boat was about eighty yards
from the shore in a swift current at the
time she struck, and no skiffs were nearer
IA two or three miles to render aid to
the wrecked steamer.
The snag entered the forward part of
the vessels hull, directly opposite the
cspstSn, and passed through and held her
last, while the stern of the vessel slowly
commenced sinking from the rush Of wa
ter in the break. Captain Marratta, as
sisted by his brother Walter. clerk Of the
steamer, at nce lowered the yawl to save
the lady passengers. While engaged in
getting them i'm the small boat. the fright
pnnI nanUla hadran ~ fnFan in EHF.rFa
were made TO prevent them doing 50 I'M
til the ladies could be saved, and the Cap
tain bravely stood with "A revolver in
hand 10 keep them back. In spite Of
threats, they leaped into the small boat
in such numbers that it was swamped, and
all within, including Walter Marratta,
the Captains brother and clerk Of the
steamer, were carried OF by therapid cur
rent to a watery grave before succor
could be rendered.
Captain Marratta then went to lashing
cotton bales and planks together, to make
floats. Upon these, the ladies vet re-
manning on board, and some gentlemen
passengers were placed and sent adrift.
A number of people were known 10 have
reached the shore upon these floats, but
whether any of the bodies were saved
has not been aScertaiued. Mr.. Lineberger,
the first engineer, and a passenger namei
Mcfarland, were among those who
re ached the bank, but in such a state of
exhaustion that they died shortly after.
The Columbian passed up about two
hours after the disaster and saved all that
remained alive, taking such as desired to
90 up the river or 10 Cairo. At last ac-
cunts the wreck of the boat was lying
fast on the snag with her stern sunk in
eighteen feet Of water. Among the names
of those supposed to be lost were Miss
and aunt, Of ~Covington, Ky; one
lady from NicksbUrg, one from New
and one from Memphis, names
unknown E; three frenchmen from New
in charge of wines and liquors a
part Of the steamers cargo; ThOs. Flynn.
Of st. Louis Jos. Scaley, of Lexington,
Ky. Thomas pennel, pilot; VIM. Foster,
second engineer Jas. Chapman and three
0fthedeck crew, also the second chamber
maid, coiOred Otto Johnson, New Or
leans JnO. COyle, barkeeper Walter
Iarratta, first clerk.
The following are among the saved;
Marratta, Captain; Caleb Marratta,
nate; William A~ttenbOugh, pilot; David
second cierk; the second mate;
Edward, Waterman; Parker, cook; Chas.
Brown, porter; and the head chamber
maid.
Among those who took passage at this
point were Messrs. w. G. Spence, D. Kin
aid and J.. r. Forbes. farmers, living
Double Bridge, Lauderdale county,
Tenn. They had been 10 the city with
and designed returning home 10y
he Sallie V, but falling to get their bust
less settled and goods ready in time for
Ter departure, they went on board the
The proceeds Of their cotton
ales was in their possession when they
the city. Il Is nOt known whether or
they We're lost. -Four W0Od-choppers,
rom Cincinnati, had also taken passage
or Furcell's, near Point Pleasant, where
hey were engaged TO chop cord wood.
Adam Pnsier, of Greensboro, XIV,
a passenger on board. He had en-
aged TO work on an Arkansas plantation,
started to OwenSboro after his wife
child. We learn he was among the
ayed. II was rumored that Miss Sallie
Miss Ella Harrison and Miss Saun-
ers, of Danville, Ky, VINO had recently
visiting near Holly Springs, Miss,
ad taken passage here. but we learn that
hese ladies' did not leave the city until
evening. They must have gone
Il some other steamer.
The Emma No. 3, while at the wharf !
took On Two bales of cotton from a {
pile that did not belong 10 her shippers, !
for which she gave no bill of lading. Z
he owner Of cotton took cars to head {
or of at Cairo, an hopes OF saving his {
rOperty. His trip there is a useless one,
at we trust he viii vet be able to save
be properly taken on board without au-