The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-11-18
steamer sunk..Forty Lives Lost.
CINcINNATI, November Il


CINCINNATI, November II.
Advices from New Orleans this noon
state that the steamer Empire, running TO
the lower coast, overloaded with sugar,
sank at the foot Of Cont street. Thirty
to forty lives were lost,
Capt. Jean Frau states that the Empire
had only fair cargo and was not over.
loaded, and that the guards were well
above water at the time Of her sinking.
He was awakened by a great noise and
confusion and he caught one Of his chill
dren and swan with 1t 10 the shore. He
saw his wife standing on the deck with
her babe in her arms as the boat went
down. She clung to the wheel house Of
the Bradish johnson which stood along
side the Empire, but violent shock
wrenched from her grasp her child, who
fell in the water and was drowned.
John Dublin says; am Mate OF the
Empire, we arrived last night about 10
o'clock and tied up. l went to my room
and almost Immediately went to sleep.
Between 4 and o'clock l heard tre-
mendous crash, and thinking that we had
been run into rushed on deck, and seeing
that che was sinking shouted for every
body to get lie preservers. | rushed
along forward shouting TO wake all /
could, intending TO run into the cabin,
when the boat almost in seconds time
seemed TO sink, and l was thrown into
the water. l swan until could catch
hold of something and save myself.
Eugene Durable, the pilot, says that
when the boat sank l was in my bed, l
heard crash and thought that we were
run into. l was thrown into the water
and swan 10 the wharf. think the boat
broke in two, she sank so suddenly. Five
bodies have been found. The number
lost is uncertain, as no one is positive as to
the number who left the boat immediate.
ly upon her arrival here. The bost is said
to be insured Tor $4,000.
New ORLEANS, November 1.-THE
regular lower coast packet Empire, Capt.
Jeanfreau, sunk to her texas about four
o'clock this morning at her landing, foot
Of Court street. The Empire arrived
about 1890 A. NJ, heavily loaded with
sugar, molasses, rice and cotton. Several
passengers left the boat upon its arrival,
otherwise the loss Of life would have been
very large. AS tits, fourteen passengers
and many Of the crew are believed to be
drowned. Five bodies have been recov-
cred, including the captain's eldest daught-
CT, about seventeen years Of age, and Mr..
Frisbie, a well known plantation engi-
neer Captain Jeanlreau lost two children,
but saved his wife and baby, who were
with him sleeping in the texas. D. N.
Perrett, q passenger who escaped from
the sinking steamer, gives as his opinion
that the boat was overloaded and parted
In the centre. The Empire was built al
Algiers about three years ago, was owned
by the Empire Parish Packet Co. and
valued at about $4,000. She had on
board about 150 hogsheads Of sugar, be-
sides q large number Of barrels ot molasses
and quantity OF rice. II Is impossible
at present to get the actual number oi
lives lost, as the books and papers Of the
boat are under the texas.
FURTHER PARTICULARS ABOUT TIE I'M
PIRE.
NEW ORLEANS, November 17.-Capt,
Jeanfreau states that 10 the best Of his
knowledge the Empire had 100 hogsheadE
Of sugar, 70 barrels Of molaeses, 23S bar
rels Of rice and 1856 sacks oil rough rice
He says the boat did not break in two, but
went down stiff and solid. Can't account
Tor her sinking as she was not overloaded
and there was no unusual water anywhere
when he retired at night Cannot tel
how many passengers as the books are IL
the safe in the clerks room; think there
was about 35. He lost four Of his chill
dren; Fannie aged II, John aged 12, Ads
aged 8, and Walter aged Z months. He II
overwhelmed with griet and can scarcely
realize the horrors OF last night. The
bodies Of Fannie and Walter, MIR. Frisbee
engineer, and two children OF Mr.. kempel
have been recovered. The boat and cargo
are partially insured in the city offices
The boat Usage will attempt to raise the
wreck tomorrow, when tho dead bodies
will probably be recovered.
THE RETURNING OFFICERS
elected o. Arrago, Democrat, to fill thu
vacancy In the Board. He took the re
quired oath and was seated.
TIE MISSING PASSENGERS, OF THE RMrIRB
i New ORLEANe, November 1.-THE
following are the names as far as knowr
, oil those missing and believed to be lost BY
: the Empire disaster: Henry Jackson
Numa Roberts, q carpenter; VIM. Green
engineer; Mr.. Maddox, from Bellair Plan
tation; Antsine Bare, OF Buras; Mr.. anC
Mrs. Kemper and two children, Mrs. Jas
Martin; Mrs. hEszelle, Of Union Planta'
ton; Rose st. John, stewardesq; Charlie
Williams, pantry. keeper; Charles Ware
and John Williams, cook boys.