New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-30

to have taken passage at Shreveport on the
i'll -fated boat, and to have been an eye-wit
ness to all the incidents connected there
with hence he will give your readers
concise statement of facts, hoping to do JUS
tice to the officers and crew for their
gallant conduct in saving him and his
fellOw-pasengers Tor he feels that |
too much praise can not he bestowed |
on them for their GOODNESS and prudence un-
der the trying emergency whereby the en-
tire crew and passengers were safely landed |
without injury to single one, and without
the loss of any of their baggage. The
books, papers and valuables of the boat
were also saved intact, while every possible
exertiou was made to preserve from de-
struction the favorite boat, during the two
and a half hours from the time the first
alarm was given to the bursting out of the
flames. The Red Cloud left Jefferson atten
p NJ, Saturday, arriving at Shreveport at
one p. NJ, Sunday, where she took on two
hundred head of cattle and added to her
number of passengers, among them the
writer of this, and left at twelve o'clock at
night Monday was very warm day, but
passed without incident.
At about dark the steamer passed Mont
gomery and landed passenger. She had
put off and taken on maIly during the day,
and about five miles below Montgomery.
near Durand's landing, as all the cabin pas
| sengers were sitting on the hurricane roof
ENJOYING the breeze, the alarm of fire was
! given. CAPTAIN Brinker Immediately or
dered the pilot, Mr.. Harry Atkinson, to
run her ashore. He did so, and at the same
time learned the fire was near the forward
gaugway; he, with great prudence, at once
backed of the boat and run her stern
! ashore against a high bank covered with
trees, thus atfording opportunity to make
the boat fast and to enable the passengers
and crew to escape ashore from both sides
of the wheel, by the use of plank. Had
the same plan been adopted when the
Mitte Stevens burned in the lakes, one
hundred lives might have been saved. She
was put bow on to the bank, and the flames
spread aft, cutting of all escape, as the
water was fifteen feet deep at the stern;
whereas the Red Cloud, by the good sense
of her pilot, was placed stern up the river
and against the bank, and all escaped un-
harmed and perfectly dry.
A scene of wild excitement ensued on the
first alarm; the ladies ran up and down and
screamed and the gentlemen, many of them
seemed panic stricken, while all the officers
as far as we could judge, were calm and
collected. They assured the ladies and
others that all would be saved if they would
be prudent, and one of them, Mr.. Cole, bar
keeper, assisted the writer to get some oI
the ladies ashore on one side of The wheel
while Mr.. Russ, first clerk, Mr.. Mitchell
second clerk, and Mr.. McGraw, steward
did the same on the other side. The passeu
gers descended from the cabin to the lowe
deck on the cotton and by the gangway aft
After getting all ashore they sent off tn,
baggage. The chief mate, Mr.. John Clark
the engineers, Messrs. Simms and Chap
man, and the pilots, Messrsr Atkinson ant
Aukrim, stood nObly 10 their post
and ably assisted Captain Brinke
in his untiring efforts TO get a
the fire and save the noble craft
He threw overheard all the cotton near tn
boilers; the fire was i'll the hold under tn
boilers, and could not be reached. How
originated no one could divine, perhaps tn
fire from the ash pan burned through thu
| deck; il is not possible of belief that an
one could have set her on fire. and thus en-
dangered the lives of SO many There wer
eight ladies and three children of Captain
Brinker; the had all his family on board
about twenty-three gentlemen-several wei
known citizens of Jefferson and your city
. also two State Senators, Messrs. Twtchel
| nj Att ntr &,
, shatta, and the latter at Shreveport, hi
place of residence.
: For two hours and a half the crew, unde
Il the direction of the steward and mate
: labOred hard; the one in saving everythn
4 out OF the cabin, completely stripping heI
t the other in keeping the fire under bv usin
steam and trying to save the boat hOpin
all the time the iron steamer John T. Moor
would come up, as she was past due frOI
\ New Orleans, and to get such assistance b
the use OF her superior fire pumps as wOul
at once put out the fire. She had been de
layed over twelve hours, and did not com
up until A. NJ Tuesday; whereas at te
minutes to eleven Monday evening-tw
= ! hours and half after the first alarm wa
:, glven-the hames burst forth, and soon til
h boat was wrapped in a sheet of fire
e grand sight TO behold, though painful A
+ the poor cattle had been driven overboar
; except two or three. The captain, ere,
2, anu PHSSehSSlr stoou dguast gazing ON IN
wild scene of destruction, SO painful [
I. many, and which made all give their syn
e pathy to Captain Brinker. His loss was tn
/ greatest; his boat was only insured fo
;, $4,000, and she was worth more than fou
y times that sum, she had fine trip on wort
> nearly $4,000, and thus in a short time a
s was swept away. We join his numerou
z friends IN their regrets at his loss, and j
1f expressing the hope that he may soon be i
command Of another fine boat.
The light from the CONFEDERATION was see
on board the John II. MoOren when dow
- at "Calhouns" landing = two hours befn,
she got TO the wreck. On arriving Captai
a Boardman rendered all passage who wisl
y ed to go up stream, gave a cask of ie
to the castaways, and departed wit
r.. only one of the passengers wb
ls went on her to Grand EoOre hoping to me,
the packet B. L. Hodge, and deputied Il
all to use his influence to hasten her Ia M
relief of the sufferers. On arriving there ,
daylight he found the B. L. Hodge was /
~ Natchitoches, and sent messenger TO Cal
tain John Helm, her commander. who I
speedily as possible, got through the neee
sary business, going TO Campte and fhe
down to the wreck of the Red Clond arri,
:, ing at r. NJ, and taking on the emit,
% crew and passengers, q list Of whom we a
pend, and who were most kindly tfeated 4
3, the Hodge by Captain Helm, and an h
q crew, especially Mr.. b. b. Hotohkisx Rr
g clerk, and Mr.. John Hardea9y, steward.
whom thag desire % tendeE their hemFffs