Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-07
THE MAILBOAT HORROR.
A Wall of Flame Between Boat
and Shore. a e4lt
Miraculous Escape of Two Young
t.t1. Ladies'.
The Latest Estimate of the Lost
Thirty. 81 asiil.-'i-


CINCINNATI, Aug. Elm addition to
those reported lost off the steamer Pat Ro-
gers yesterday, the following are now be-
lieved to have been drowned: Anna Cook
and two children, Simon Gesner, Cincin-
natl; the wife and child of DIR. Gibbons, of
Madison, Ind; A. NJ. Bats, of North Car
olina, and james Smith, deck hand. 4.
NJ. Stone, of North Carolina, burnt, and
John g. Hughes, the mate, arrived here
last night. The greatest misfortune con-
sisted in the fact of the fire occurring
in that particular part Of the river, for Just
there the river was at such stage that IL
was impossible for the steamer TO reach
shore drawing as much water as she did.
The limit Of time between the first alarm
and the time when everybody had left the
boat is said TO be twenty minutes. At
this time there was dry land on the star
board side only thirty yards distant, but
A wall Of Flame
intervening. On the larbOard side land
was long distance off, The wind was
blowing toward the nearest shore, and
drove the flames in that direction. Many
Of those who got TO the nearest shore are
disfiglred by fire, the exposed part of their
bodies being actually roasted by the ex-
cessiye heat. One of the most
Thrilling and Miraculous Escapes
was that of Miss L. J. Williams, Of Louis
vile. Miss Williams, throwing away her
valise and extra clothing, secured the ser
vices of 4 gentleman in throwing over
board a crate of peaches and leaped in after
it with life preServer. When she at
tempted TO cling to the crate, however, it
revOlyed like reel in the water. For two
terrible hours she struggled with the re-
fractOry box, and had just closed her eyes
in despair when she was drawn into skiff
by Mr.. HUFF, who rendered such signal ser
vice in half dozen other cases.
Miss Rowdon, of Louisville, jumped from
the boat towards the Indiana shore, and the
Hungry Tongues Of Plane
licking along the surface of the water hor-
ribly burnt her head and face. She had no
life preserver, and only secured one end Of
plank by clinging to the pantalOon leg of
a man who swan past her. She says that
while moving through the water several
gaSping, drowning wretches extended their
hands toward her. Some even gTasping
her hair and tearing out great handfuls in
their terror.
The last living object Seen on board the
boat was a little child three o. four years
Of age, running about screaming with af-
fright and surrounded by flames, its legs,
arms and face exposed to terrible heat.
The Negro Crew
behaved badly, hurrying off the boats be
fore there was any imminent danger and
monOpOlizing all available means of sup
port. Two cOlOred and one white man
rowed away in life boat that could have
been made to convey 20 or 30 people
ashore. The river is being dragged for
bodies this morning. 4.
Up TO 2 O'Clock this afternoon four bodies
had been recovered by the party
Dragging the River.
One was a barber, Miner Muntz, one
young lady, supposed TO be from Coving-
ton, Ky. The other two are an unknown
man and woman.
Further investigation has shed no addi-
tional light on the origin of the fire except
to dissipate the suspicion which rested on
the negro.
Latest Estimate of the Lost.
The number on board, all told, is sup
posed 10 have been ~ to 10 persons. An
exact list can't be made The estimate of
the lost ranges from 10 to % persons.
Probably % is the number nearest the fact.
Suspense and uncertainty as to the fate Of
the missing has added intensity to the
painful interest felt here. At this time -
persons are known to have been saved.
The latest intelligence says the persons
peri shed are near so in number.