The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-08-23

| Others stood mute and motloniesf,
| The checks of timid woiaen Iu 1''
pale, and wondering eyes O h'''o
children spoke . Language that can
| not be spoken in words. - i
The officers Of the boat, perceisine
the critical condition Of affairs, im1ne-
diately turned her head to the.slore
in the hope Of afording the passen-
gers an opportunity to escape the
peril that threatened tlIem. The
pumps were Immediately set to work
and the crew worked nlanfully with
buckets but too late. he fire origlna-
ted in the hold near the englne-room,
andaonly spread the faster when the
patches were opened to admit the
hose, as tile air was then more readily
admitted to it. In the incredibly brief
space of ten minutes from the time
the alarm was given the vessel was
entirely wrapped in flames, except a
small portion Of the forccastle, and
the only reason why it, too, was not
also burning was that the motion OF
tie boat caused current of air toward
the stern, carrying the flames faster
in that direction. Unfortunately the
larger number Of passengers were in
the after part Of the vessel. Although
tile officers directed them to move to-
ward the bow they were 50 frenzied
or stupefed with fright that they did
not obey these Instructions, and in
moment the passage from one end to
the other was cntoff BY an impossible
wall of fire. As the flames advanced
the panic-stricken people were pressed
farther and farther aft. The merci-
less fcnd began to encircle them and
the clothes of ladies' and children took
fire. Then they sprang from death
by FIRE into death by water. They
Iclung to the railing till that was Oh
fire and then dropped into the water.
Some seized hold of the ropes and
chains hanging over the guards, where
they were often cIutched BY persons
struggling 10 deatl'in the water near
them. The crew Of the vessel threw
overheard chairs, stools, shutters,
peach boxes, barrels, and every article
that seemed capable of being of assis-
lance to the drowning victims.
The steamer grounded at about two
hundred u ards from shore in five feet
of water, the beach being fat, and all
who had managed to cling to her were
HOW able to wade shore. A small
stern wheel steamer passing up soon
after took on board some Of the sur
vivors anda few OF the dead whose
bodies had at that time been recov-
cred. She arrived in the city the next
morning before day, and in a few mo-
ments the news of the disaster spread
through the city, especially over that
portion known as "thc Island.' near
est the wharves. The first estimate
placed the number lost at about fifty,
and it was generally supposed that
this would prove to be an exaggera-
ton, but contrary to all experience,
1t turned out to be an under estimate,
as up to yesterday morning there had
been recovered eighty two bodies,
and it is thought still more will vet be
found. 1t is further supposed that
some were burned. The total loss
was likely not less than ninety, and
it may have been fully hundred.
We will probably never know. 1t
seems quite certain that as many were
lost as saved, and'pcrhaps more. The
number on board is not known, as the
passenger-Gst was destroyed and there
We're among them many little chill
dren whose names were not registered.
The incidents connected With this
disaster, unparalleled in it's horrible
results, would fill large volume.
Each OF the survivors has fearful
story to relate, and each story is full
OF Interest. To give these narrowing
details is most unpleasant task.
Among those on board was the en-
tire family of Officer Reed of the Met
ropolitan Police force, consisting Of
his wife, three bright children. an
aunt and niece. They were all lost
A few daysag they composed a happy
Cheerful e1 family; to-day but one Of
the seven remains on earth. q heart
broken, disconsolate man. Their
bodies have been recovered, and last |
Sabbath the funeral of three of them
toos place from one of our city |
churches, attended by an Immense |
coneonrse Of sympathizing friends.
A MIR. Cooke, merchant Of this
city, was on board accompanied by a
son, a bright little lad of thirteen
me father seized his body and Slid
over the railing at the stern and each
caught hold of the rudder chains
lhey We're washed off. The lad
again seized the chains and was saved
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