Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-18
NEW ORLEANS.
An Overladen Steamer Breaks
in Two and Sinks.
Fourteen Passengers and Several
Of the Crew Drowned.


The Captain Loses Four Children.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1.-THE regular
lower coast packet Empire, Capt. Jungfrau
sunk to her texas about O'Clock this morn
ing at her landing at the foot of Conte
street.
The Empire arrived about 1890 A. NJ,
loaded with surgar, molasses, rice, etc.
Several passengers left the boat on its ar
rival, otherwise the loss of life would
have been very large. As it is IA pas
sengers and many of the crew are believed
to be drowned. Five bodies have been re-
covered, including the Captains eldest
daughter, about seventeen years of age, and
Mr.. Frisble, well known plantation en-
gineer. Capt Jungfrau lost four children,
but saved his wife and baby, who with him,
were sleeping in the texas. ID. A. PaTett,
passenger, who escaped from the sinking
steamer, gives the opinion that the boat was
overloaded and parted in the center. The
Empire was built at Algiers about three
years ago and valued at about So, 900. She
had on board 169 hogsheads Of sugar be-
sides large number Of barrels Of molasses
and a quantity of wine. 1t is impossible
at present to get the actual number of lives
lost, as the books and papers Of the boat
are under the texas.
Capt. Jungfrau's Statement.
Capt. .Jungfrau states the Empire had
only fair cargo was not overloaded, and
that the guards were well above the water.
AT the time of her sinking be was awak-
ened by great noise, and in the confusion
canght one OF his children and awam with
it 10 the shore. He saw his we standing
dlat NTH fhx. hol.a IN, Icr A. "a
boat went down she elung to the wheel
house of the Bradley johnson which stood
alonside, but the violent shock wrenehed
from her grasp ber child, who fell in the
water and was drowned.
The Mates story.
John Dublin, mate of the Empire, saws:
We arrived last night about u o'clock and
tied up. Went to my room and almost i'm
mediately went TO sleep. Between A and
o'clock heard tremendous crash. Think
ing We had been run into, l rushed on
deck. Seeing she was sinking, shouted
for everybody to get life-preseryers. Rushed
along forward, shouting to wake all could,
intending TO run into the cabin, when the
boat almost in a seconds time seemed TO
sink and 1 was thrown into the water.
Swan until / could catch hold Of some
thing to save myself.
The Pilots Account.
Eugene Durabe, the pilot, says: "When
the boat sank 1 was in my bed. Heard |
the crash. Thought we were run into. l |
was thrown in the water and swan to tie |
wharf. l think the boat broke in two, she |
sunk so suddenly. --
Five bodies have been found. The
number of lost is uncertain, as no one is |
positive about the number who left the |
boat Immediately upon her arrival here. |
The boat is said to be insured for $4,000.
Capt. Jeanfreau cannot tell how many /
passengers are lost, as the books are in the |
safe in the clerks room. He thinks there /
were about thirty-fIe lost, among them |
four Of his children. He is overwhelmed
with grief, and can scarcely realize the
horrors Of last night. The bellboat, Usage,
will attempt to raise the wreck tomorrow,
when the bodies of the drowned will prob
ably be recovered.
Some OF the Missing.
The following are the names, as far as
known, of the MISSING and those believed
70 be lost by the Empire disaster: Henry
Jackson, Robert Carpenter, VIM. Green,
Mr.. Maddox, all from Belair
1laltarion; Mr.. and Mrs. Kemper and two
Mrs. Joseph, Point Louisiana
Hairs; Mrs. Mazelle, Union plantation;
Rose st. John, stewardeSs, Charles Viii
iams, ipantry keeper; Charles Ward and
John Williams, cook boys.