The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-07
THE LATE STEAMBOAT DISASTER.


ago negro thief was detected by a Waterman on
the Rogers, who fired at him, but missed him.
This negro took deck passage on the Rogers
when she left the wharf Tuesday, and was h ard
to say to several negroes before starting that he
won d make il hot as he'll for that Waterman be-
fore the boat reached Cincinnati.
The opinion is expressed by one Of the officials
Of the line here that this negro set the boat on
fire and cnt the tiler rope.
CINCINNATI, Aug. 6-Among the additionallost
is A. NJ. Boots, North Carolina, and F. NJ. Stone,
North Carolina, was badly burned. The greatest
misfortune consisted in the fact that the fire &C.
Cured in that particular point OF the river, Il r
just there the river was at such stage that it
was impossible for the loat to reach the shore,
drawing as much water as she did
The limit Of time between the first alarm and
when everybody had left the boat is said to be
twenty minutes. At the time there was dry land
on the starboard side only thirty yards distance.
but wall of fame interviewed. o. the
larbOard side land was q long distance
away; the wind was blowing toward tho neares t
shore and drove the flames in that direction.
Many who got to the shore are distigured for
life, the exposed part Of their DO ly being actually
roasted by the excessive heat. One of the most
thrilling and miraculous escapes was that Of Miss
l.. j. Williams. Of Louisville, who threw away
her valise and extra clothing, and after securing
the services of a gentleman in throwing over
board crate of peaches, she leaped into the
water after 1t with life preserver.
voved like reel, and for two terrible hours she
struggled with the crate, and had just closed her
eyes in despair when she was drawn into skif
by Mr.. Huff, who rendered services IN several
other cases.
Miss Rowden, of Louisville, jumped from the
boat toward the Indiana shore, and hungry
tongues of flame, licking along tho surface Of the
w,,ter horribly burned ner head and face. She
had no life preserver, and o .ly secured one end
Of plank.
She says that while moving through the water,
several gasplng, drowning wretches rendered
their hands toward her, some even graspiug her
hair and tearing it out by handsful. The last
living object ON board was little child three
or four years old running about screaming with
fright, surrounded by flames, and its legs, arms
an face exposed to the terri 10 heat.
The negro crew behaved badly. hurrving of
the boat before there was any Immune 1T danger,
and monopolizing all the available means OF
safety. Two colored men aud one white man rowed
ava, in a lieebpat that could have been used to
carry twenty or thirty persons to the -hnre. The
river is beng dragged tor bodies this morning.
CINCINNATI, Aug ETA. bodies Of Ferdinand
Meter, Mrs. smith and Miss q ,ok, OF Mad sol,
Ind, have 4eu recovered from the river at the
scene of the at Rogers disaster near Aurora
Furt er investigation has shed no ad litlonal
hight ON the origin OF the fire, except to disIipate
the suspicion wli,h rested on negro man dis
charged from the boats employ.
The nu .nber on bbarl all told, is supposed tC
nave Detu from se'euty-tWo 10 SeVonty-Alse pas
sengers-an ex act list lnnot b had
Reports If the lost have ranged from sixteen n
twenty-eisht people, probabl. twenty-five is the
number near st the fact.
The citizens and passengers do not attach any
blamn to the cap ain and Otficers at all events
it has not been expressed
Suspense aud uncertainty az to the fate Of thu
missing has added inten sely to the painful in
teres, felt in the calamity b. re. At this time tor
ty-fve persons are known to have been saved.