The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-08
THE CINCINNATI STEAMBOAT
FIRE.
The PartlcnIars Of the Disaste

The Particulars OF the Disaster.
CINCINNATI, March I'm the steam,
boat. fire last night, the people on The
steamer ST. Charles had barely time Ia
rush from their beds, some seeking safety
in the water. Among them were Capt,
Russell, a colored chambermaid, and the
steward, the latter escaping with singed
hair. A large amount OF cotton and other
freight on the landing caught fire and
burned flercely for time, but was finally
extinguished by the flremen.
The steamer Robert Burns, loaded for
Memphis, which was lying at the wharf.
boat, dropped down from the foot OF
Main street and escaped injury.
Early in the excitement warning was
given that there was powder in the maga-
zinc of the Kate Robinson. The de-
stroyed boats had alT wilted away to
glowing hulks when tho first explosion
took place. It was light one-pfobably
OF benzine. The second one, however,
was a genuine volcanic eruption Of gun.
powder-a heavy roar that shook the
crowd and tossed the flame, smoke and
debris fifty feet in the Dir. H.
The work Of the fire department result.
ed in the partial saving Of the steamer
Champion and the rescue Of the valuable
new wharfboat.
The fire spread up and down stream
rapidly. The wharf boat, nextto which
the Abeona was lying, was about half
consumed. The Kate Robinson was
loaded Tor the Tennessee river. She was
o stern wheel boat, valued with freight at
probably $4,000. The st. Charles was a
side-wheel boat in the Pittsburgh trade.
The Argosy belonged to Captain Schenck,
was loaded for New Orleans and had two
hundred barrels OF whisky on board. No
insurance on the boat. With freight her
loss is about $4,000. The Major Ander-
son was fine side-wheel packet, in the
Wheeling trade. She was loaded with
freight. Loss, with cargo, $4,000. The
Champion was the highest boat up the
river and the last TO take fire. She was a
stern wheeler, and was loading with fur
niture and other freight for Red River.
Her owners were Captain Isham and
Williamson. Her value was $4,000.
freight valued at $4,000. The total loss
cannot be detinity ascertained or reliably
estimated. Many OF the boats are small,
most of them old. An approximate esti.
mate would be $780, 1000 to $925,OOO. The
officers at the landing said one ef the
boats cotained q keg Of powder and a
loud report, as OF an explosion, has been
heard in the direction Of the landing,
The Kate Skillinger, lying just above the
Champion, was towed away and saved
by the Newport Ferry. All the fire de.
partments were called out. Twenty-Five
bales cotton and numerous crates OF
queensware on tile landing, with other
freight, were consumed. The loss is total,
except, perhaps, in tn cease of the steamer
Champion, the hull of which may be
saved. .,s.-.---.
The Kate Robinson and Altoona were
owned by Capts. Williamson and Isham;
the st. Charles by Capt O. A. bravo,
Joseph Smith and other Pittsburgh men;
the Argosy by Capt. Schenck and Broth
ers, OF Vevay, Indiana; the Major Ander-
son was owned by Capt Muhleman &
Co., Booth & Co., Of Wheeling; the
Altoona was full Of freight from Tennessee
river, whence she had recently arrived.
Her freight is put at $4,000 Tho Kate
Robinson had on board IS tons Of gro.
ceries, &c, valued at $4,000, and the
boat at $1,000. The st. Charles was
valued at $4,000. The furniture and
freight of the Champion was valued at
SEQ, 900, the boat at $4,000; not insured
These figures are obtained from more
reliable source than those already tcle-
graphad. The Major Anderson is valued
at $4,000. The report sent OF the freight
on tho Major Anderson was probably en-.
tirely overestimated. She was lying up
on account oI low water. Ann Watson,
chambermaid Of the Kate Robinson, fell
in the river and was drowned. The
steamer Altoona was owned by Captains
1sham and Williamson, of this city.
Yesterday she was purchased for $1,000,
deliverable as soon as her cargo was dis.
charged; no insurance on the boat. Her
cargo was estimated to be worth SO, 900;
insured in Cincinnati and elsewhere. The
Kate Robinson was to depart for Ten.
nesse river to-day. She was valued at
$4,000; no insurance. Her cargo was
valued at $4,000. The st. Charles was
valued at $4,000; insured in Pittsburgh
and Cincinnati companies for $4,000.
She had about 5000 worth of freight on
board. The Argosy was valued at 81, 900.
She had one hundred tons of freight for
New Orleans, including 200 barrels of
whisky, 1000 boxes of candles and 200
barrels Of pork. Loss on cargo estimated
at 100000; no insurance. The Major
Anderson was valued at $4,000; insured
for $1,000 in this city. The Champion
was loaded for Shreveport, and had on
board 100 tons Of furniture and so barrels
Of whisky. She was not entirely con.
sumed; uninsured. Capts. Williamson
and Isham, OF this city, are the heaviest
losers, owning three Of the boats with no
insurance. There are two deck hands
missing from the St. Charles, who are
supposed to have been drowned.
CINCINNATI, March 1.-THE losson the
burned steamers last night is thought to
be much less than estimated. Parties to.
night count it up at not above $4,000.
The insurance cannot be fully ascer.
tanned, as some OF 1t is in Pittsburgh
companies. No companies outside OF this
niiV ran hn Faliahly rnnnrtn6