New-York tribune., 1874-11-18
STEAMBOAT DISASTERS.
STEAMER SUNK AT NEw-OWLEANS.
TIE STEAMER EMPIRE SINKS AT HER LANDING

| ChkW DROwNED-FOUR OF THE CAPTAIN
CHILDREN AMONG THE LOST.
NEw-ORLEANs, Nov. H-The regular lower ceas
packet Empire, Capt. Jeanfreau, sunk 30 her texss
abont o'clock this morning, at her landing foot @
Conti-st The Empire arrived about 1890 q. m. to
day heavily loaded with sugar, molasses, rice, &c
oevefai passengers left the boat upon her arrival
otherwise the loss of life would have bsen very
large AS Is, ii passengers and many of the crew
are believed to be drowned. Five bodies have been
recognized, including the captains eldest daug ghter
about IL years of age, and Mr. Frisbie, awe-kDOwu
plantation engineer. Capt. Jeanfreau lost four
children but saved himself, wife. and
BABY, who were sleeping in tho texas.
Mr. ~ H. Ferret, passenger who escaped from this
sinking steamer. gives the opinion that the boat
was overloaded and parted in the center. The En-
pre was built at Agers about three years ago, and
was owned by the Empire Parish Packet Company.
She was valued at about $4,000. She had on board
abont lC9 hogsheads Of sugar. beside large number
OF barrels OF molasses and quantity of rice. 1t is
impossible at present to get the actual number Of
lives lost, as the books and papers of the boat
under the texas
STATEMENTS f TIE CAPTAIN, MATE, AND PILOT
THE SINKING OF THE BOAT sUDDEN-ErvE BODIES
THUS FAR FOUND.
NEw-ORLEAYs. Nov. 1L-Capt. Jeanfreau states
that the Empire had only fair cargo; that she was
not overloaded, and that her guards were all above
water. AT the time of the sinking he was awakened
by great noise and confusion. lie caught one of
his children and SWAN with it to the shore. On
looking back he saw his wife standing deck with
her babe IN her arms. AS the boat went down she
clung to the whee-hOuse of the Bradish johnson,
which stood alongside but the violent shock
wrenched from her grasp her child. who fell into the
water and was drowned. John Dublin says:
am mate OF the Empire. We arrived last night about
IL O'Clock and tied up. went to my room and almost
Immediately fell asleep Between and o'clock
hearde Tremendous crush and thinking we had been
run Into, rushed deck. Seeing she sinking.
shouted for everybody to get and rushed
along forward shouting with all my might, so as to
wake all could started for the cabin, when the boat,
almost In seconds time, seemed to sink and
thrown Into the water. when swan until caught
hold OF something and saved myself.
Eugene Durdle. pilot, states that when-the boat
sank lie was in his bed. He heard q crash, and
thought the steamer had been run into. He was
thrown into the water and swan to the wharf. He
thinks the boat broke in two she sank so suddenly.
Five bodies have been found. The number lost is
uncertain. no is positive as to how many left
the boat on her arrival The boat is said to be i'll
surcd for $1,000.
Capt Jeanireau states that, to the best of his
knowledge, the Empire had 1863 hoRsheads Of sugar.
70 barrels moasses 23S barrels rice, and 7S5 sacks
of rough rice. lie says the boat did not
break in two, but went down stiff and
solid. He cannot account for the sinking
as she was not overloaded. and there no unusual
amount of water anywhere in her when he retired
at night. He cannot tell how many passengers
there were. the books in the safe board the
sunken steamer. He thinks there were about
Gj. The captain lost four of his children
Fanny, age II years; Johnny, IL years AdaS years;
and Walter. months He is overwhelmed with
grief and can scarcely realize the horrors of last
night. The bodies of Fanny and Walter. Mr. Fris-
bic engineer Of Magnolia Plantation, and two chill
dren of VIM. Kemper, have been recovered. The
boat and cargo are partially insured in city Offices
The bell boat Usage will attempt to raise the wreck
tomorrow.
The following are the names as far as known Of
the missing, and believed to be lost, by the Empire
disaster not including those already mentioned:
Henry Jackson Robert Carpenter, Wa. Green (engi-
ncer) Mr. Maddox OF Beai: Plantation. Ambrose Bare
Mr. aud Mrs. Kenper and two children. Mrs James
Martin Of Point l., Hachc. Mr. Mazcllc OF Union Plan
ration Rose st. John (stewardess) Charles Williams
pantry keeper) and Charles Ward and John Williams
cook boysl.
y DOlIEf EAILOSiON IN Uh H.
A HASTILY PATCHED BOILER ON A TOW BOAT GIVES
wAY-TIIREE MEN DROWNED, ONE KILLED, AND
SEVERAL INJURED.
The tOw-boat Lily, Capt David A. Havcns
" Brooklyn, +. D., was towing the schooner Annie
ruter loaded with lumber from Three Brothers Island
10 New York CITY, yesterday afternoon about O'Clock.
,nd as they passing through He'll Gate the boiler
" the tow-boat exploded, the bow belhg I
blown out with such force that almost the
nitro forward works Of the boat were demolished,
e rear part OF the boilers being driven back by the
ocoi The boat topplcd over and sank minute atter
ward and all on board were thrown into the water.
rbc men on board the schooner Annie Cutter cut
he tow-line at once, aud the vessel drttedt u
lbout, rendering aid to the crew OF tue
Lily. BY means OF the pilots small Doaf' |
he captain and the engineer OF the Lily. and an un-
snown VINO had received injuries by the eNpoSioh
picked up and taken to the schooDers caDn Tue
,aptain in the wheelhouse when the explosion oc-
,urred. lie was badly burned and had bis right leg
,hattered. his thighs broken, and his head badly
injured. He was blown completely or the
Sreck into the water, and was insensiOie wheh
picked up by the crew Of the schooner He
icieny when taken to Bellevue Hospital 10 give DIS
,ane and residence but died last night few minutes
.fter o'clock. He leaves sa wife and Two chdren'
The engineer, Charles s. Warren. was only slightly
piured although he was standing at the boilers ana
was shifting the "exbaust rod" at the moment
If the explosion. He was driven by the iorce OF
he conclusion against the crushed timber In tho Tor
ward part OF the boat, having his heaa ana manu-
ghtly bruised and fell of tho tmbcrs into the water
&c drifted about only few minutes before he was
pulled in by the OF the small boat. John Hogan
the fireman. who lived on the boat, was
yong up stairs to the deck when tho EXPLOSION
occurred, and he was lifted bodily on the
lug falling distance the water. HIS leg was
found to be broken when he reached Bellevue Hospital
Nevertheless he was able to support himself In the
water for some tune and managed 10 reach piece VI
the floating timber 10 which he cung until the crew OF
another tug the Virginia Jackson, which had hasteheo
to the rescue of the sufferers, picked him up. - a,
The also included cook, whose nFst naiho -
" pick" resident OF Southport, Conn, and German
deck hand called John, who Is said to naIo nyeu at
PIKE anu cheIIy s's, Dotn VI WIZ, WIN W Ninety. .second