The New York herald., 1871-01-21
THE BURNING OY THE STEINER M,GLL on
THE n ISskSIPPI RIVER.
Statements Of the Barkccper, Pilot and Enai'
neer-A Fearful Scene -IIcartrending Fea'
turcs-NnrrOW Escapes.

(From the st. Louis Democrat, JAM 1871
Yesterday a lernoon's train from Memphis brought
TO 81: Louis fhe following named oiflcers and en-
ployes OF the burn "a steamer I. l.. McGIl:-
Ollver Coltre iirst engineer.
Charles halen, barkeeper.
w. Woodruff secOld clerk.
John Grannls steward.
George IrusseL second clerk, and Thomas McCue,
second COOK
The pilot, James Kelly, went To New Orleans and
tho.e OF the rouslabouls who were saved remained
The statements OF the SURVIVORS who have reached
the CITY ada little OF esseatal importance to those
already telegrapned and pubisned IN columns.
Yet as these statements are corrob0ratve and will
be read with interest," we append some OF them.
Mr.. Charles Ha1en. the barkeepcr OF the Inflated
steamer makes TO our reporter the following state.
menG:-
STATEMENT OF CHARLES HAzEN
When the alai IN of nre was first gwen happened
to be sitting IN the capn, by the han stove. saw
the Chief CLERK, McFaranc run into the office, hav-
ing all his clothes on. lie hurrledly opened the
safe, got out ms books, and With them under mis-
arms ran down the stairway ahead OF me. l
spran2 to my room snatched my coat and
the handle and hurried down The stairi AS soon
as aot down saw Kelly, the pilot helping some
twenty persons then got out On il. Among them 1
saw lne steward, colored man, and think Mr.
McFarIane must also nave bean on the stage plank.
They out on before II got INTO Inc water and
they were on the end OF II the plank was tipped
up aud spilled them INTO the water, ana the PLANK
Slid IN after nem Then we tried 10 get OUT the other
have TO look out for ownselvesn Both Kelly aud
the engineer mad been working ike heroes, saving
others. 1nare were only eleven bales OF cotton
board and tneln we tunlbled overheard. i jumped
on one Of them and succeeded In getting to the
Captain Tompkins left standing on the forecastle
near by the Jackstair. lie said to me- ..Don you
Jump overheard. You won't be abe TO SWIM
dressed as you are" replied To him that couldn't
swim, anyway and ! might as well SO. That was
the last saw Captain Tompkins. He had been
WORKING hard, engaged throwing barrels OF hour
and other things overheard, ITO give the women."
lts.s II
would follow me III few minutes, He was very
active, yet seemed To be quite calm aud self-pos-
got on board the steamer ST. Francis and was
there well taken care OF by her officers and crew.
Among the passengers were thirteen Mexcans,
and ! understand that there were four OF them
saved.
OLIVER coTTRELL's STATEMENT.
was engineer OF the T. L. McGlll. The fire did
not originate IN the engine room, as stated, but
started back aft on the starboard quarter, and was
stove 1t broke out about haiipast nine. O'Clock
The alarm was given by some OF the deck crew. /
was sitting IN the blacksmith shop when heard the
alarm. ran out On finding the boat was on fire.
and attached the hose TO the hre-pump, or doctor.
Nelson BrowD, the second engineer, assisted me in
attaching The hose and starting the doctor. Jerry
Lory, the assistant engineer brought the nozzle
and rendered assistance. The doctor had just got
work when word came that IL was useless To the
fre-pump, the flames having got under full head.
way. At THIS time the engine room was filed with
valve to tie sa o SS y nv RaS
was singed and the side OF my face was slightly
scorcheu-notnIng serious; was the last one to
leave the Ienglne room; In coming down from the
footbox, blinded and cnoked by the smoke, fell
way to go or where was Exactly; in gong about [
got hold OF the stats alongside the bO ers and then
/ knew my locality; went to the forecastc, where
crowd was collected; Captain TompKins and the
first clerk, air. Mctarlane, were there McFarlane
had the books OF che boat under mis- ar the Captain
was throwing barrels and cotton bales overheard
for the people to hold to; the pilots, Kelly and MUIR
ray, were helping, pitching overheard everything
could lay hold OF joined them and helped 10 throw
out cotton bales &c. there were eleven bales OF
cotton on board ana we neaved them all overheard;
George Murray threw over hook plank and Jumped
overheard on q bale OF cotton; the negroes Knocked
for ryon man for himself without resara 10
race, color or previous condition OF servltude, as
the politicians say.
j thought it about time to take care OF No. i, and
jumping on bale oI cotton, called on Woodruff,
the second clerk, to jump on. He jumped on, like
June bug; the bale careened, and rolled or into
the water, and went spashny unuer the guard
houndered around and got hold OF the bale again,
but had hard work TO hold on, being almost frozen.
held with my hands as long as could, when lost
my grip from numbness. seized the bale with my
Ethiopian. While noloing by the teeth, bull dog
fashion, l tried to restore The circulation to my
hands by pounding them violently upon the bale.
century or two-certainly longer than would like
again II was the coolest bath ever took The bale
noared down, and wnen twenty-five feet from the
shore yawl from the Henry Z. Yaeger came along
and was hauled in like irozen turtle from dead
i u
into the yawl like col of cable. my legs hanging
over the side. Tney put me ashore and started OF.
ana WoodruI ana another man helped me crawl on
board the Yseger, where procured dry clothing
and had myself thawed ont. My fingers were FROST
bitten and was as cold as turnip. was kindly
treated on the Yeager, and, in iacL everywhere.
live III st. Louis and feel thankful Tor my escape.
STATEMENT or GEORGE MURRAY.
was pilot on the McGiil. When heard the alarm
was In the Captains room, In the texas. talking
with Captain lompxins. We heard noise below.
The Captain thought the mate was having trouble
the cry OF fire. ! ran down on the man deck and
was making my way INTO the engine room, when l
ctement, the whites OF tneir eyes looking like full
moons at harvest lime. The engineers were trying
to get the hose out. The doctor was at work. 1
saw there was no use 10 try TO any further that
direction, SO ] started back, and was followed
side. where the crowd They were scream
ing, jumping overheard and wringing their hands.
and was again driven back by the names i ran
back and went on the starboard side and Helped the
Captain pltch over cotton bales and barrels threw
hook plank out ana the Captain told me not to get
on It, as 1t was not sale. jumped for Dale of COT
ton In the water but two negroes were ahead OF me
saw the carpenter, John Shockey, holding to the
bull rails. asked him TO hep me. lie said he could
not do IT. as 1t was much as he could do to help
himself; but he told me hold to pale Of cotton
] could not do this, as was too numb from cold. /
was swept under the guard, ana managed to swim
to the starboard Wheel when | found the hook plank
l had thrown overboard it lad lodged In the
wheel. After several efforts got the plank loose
and padded down to the stern where was picked
up. was as still as a sated cod, and hardly able
to move. was put on shore and taken on board
the Yaeger. My clothes were frozen stiff, and had
to be got on py rpains them open with knife. My
hnge.s& ger were were lTts. ;. pit.en, and are SO stu.
just before Jumped IN the water the steam pipe
burst. Cottrell said, There goes the steam pipe.r
We were kindly treated by the people the Yeager.
The Alice, Inc St. Francis and the A. j. White came
along and their officers rendered every assistance in
their power. We came TO Memphis on the Alice
and from there by ran to st. Louis. There was one
lady passenger In the cabin and two on deck: these
with the colored chambcrmald, were all lost.