The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-18


had already sufficient load, but he replied
| that the river was smooth and the wind had
subsidized and he thought it was perfectly safe.
Mr. Baldin was not lost, as I saw him leave
the steamer.
When the steamer landed 1 retired TO my
room, as lived too far off to go home.
I was lying on the bed with my coat thrown
off, when heard rush and commotion and
sprang up. On going into the cabin found
the steamer was sinking, the bow being al
ready much depressed. Before could get to
the side guards next the levee, was knee
deep in the water. I climbed at once on the
roof, and stayed there until was rescued by
a yawl from the Bradish johnson, which boat
was the only one that rendered assistance for
a long time.
There was considerable uneasiness ct the
time the steamer Handed, about the deeply la&
den condition of the steamer, and it was re-
GREETED that it was impossible to get out some
of the sugar at the time the landing was made.
About seven Or eight gentlemen escaped in
the same way in which did, chipping upon
the hurricane roof Some of the passengers
who relied upon their ability to swim, sprang
from the hurricane roof into the river, and /
could see them in the dim light struggling in
the water and then clinging to the posts of the
wharf. l believe they were all or most Of
them saved by the yawl of the Bradish John
son.
My opinion is, that the ladies in the after
part Of the boat, on hearing the alarm, rushed
out of their state-rooms and ran forward and
met their fate almost instantly, as the steamer
sank, bow first The old colored woman
Louise, who is known to. everybody on the
Lower Coast, was on board, and l saw her
standing on the guard opposite the gangway
Of the ladies' cabin. She was standing with
hor haol nd IF f,ark
was saved by the same yawl that saved me-
STATEMENT OF JAMES o'BRIEN, wArcHNAN. n
TIE steamer at IL O'Clock landed at the wharf
with the lar gest load she ever carried. 1t blew
very hard during the night and rained from the
time the boat landed until she sunk. g,
About 10 minutes to o'clock was talking4b
Patrick Ryan, Waterman OF the steamer Freak
Morgan, lying ahead Of us. I talked with hin
about S minutes. I then went on the boiler deck,
cut open a bundle OF sacks and commenced
covering sacks of rice and hogsheads Of sugar
to keep them from being damaged by rain.
On looking down the matches and finding
| everything all right, went upon the boiler
deck to rest myself. While sitting down, heard
her listing to starboard. I jumped up and ran
to the passenger accommodation stage leading
from the boat to the wharf, and saw the boat
sinking rapidly. ran at once to the cabin door
and gave the alarm, shouting cut, I" The boQf Is
sinleing!" I then ran for the hurricane ROD to
wake the officers in the texas, and saw the 8te
and several others jump overheard. -Es
1 stood on the roof not knowing whether to
jump overheard myself or not, for fear if did
| could not make shore, and if I should stay on
the boat that the current would take me down.
ran the risk at last and leaped into the water,
and made for the Bradish johnson, and then to
her yawl boat. got in the yawl and proceeded
to save those in the water. picked up the
mate and the pilot then went to the captains
assistance, took him and his daughter
into the yawl, xnd then picked up two pas
sengers, whose names I do not know !;
all were put on board the Bradish johnson. l
then asked the men on the johnson to pass me
line, SO that I could run over to the Empire and
assist the passengers ashore. They passed me
chain instead Of line, and finding 1t too heavy
worn out by previous exertions, resigned the
yawl to the charge Of other persons who
were dry and anxious to render service.
When left the yawl suggested to the men
Of the Bradish johnson the Propriety Of launch
ing stage, to save some Of the passengers on
the Empire, and this WAS promptly done by the
mate. Mr.. White. was not asleep at any time
during my watch, and did not notice anything
unusual until the peculiar 'surge" have re-
ferred to. The steamer was loaded to the guards,
but had no reason to think she was in any dan
ger. She sunk so rapidly that it was impossible
to get the ladies and gentlemen out Of the ca bin
I didsnOt even have time to get off myself, and
lost what clothes had on board. II
In the few moments occupied by the steamer
in sinking tho screams of the ladies were fearful
and the screams of the captains wife recog-
nized above them all, she being on the upper
deck. 1t was too dark to see much, and could
not even tell at first who the parties were that
picked up in the yawl. I have been on the
steamer since the LIST Of last May, and have al.
ways done my duty. have been called by the
mate of the boat at all hours of the night, and
have never been found asleep or negligent, al
ways answering to his calls