The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-08-29
MISCELLANY.
THE PAT ROGERS DISASTER.

Scenes ON the Burning BOat-DrOWn.
Straws-The Captains Statement.
A Cincinnati dispatch of the 9th gives
the following particulars of the burning
of the steamer Pat Rogers on the Ohio
River near Aurora, Ind, on the morning
of the 9Th:
The greatest misfortune consisted in the
fact that the fire occurred in that particular
part of the river, for just there the river
was at such stage that it was impossible
for her to reach shore, drawing as much
Wnter 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 starboard
side, only thirty yards distant, buta
WALL OF FIRE
intervening on the larboard side, the land
was long distance. The wind was blow
ing toward the nearest shore, and drove
the flames in that direction. Many of
those who got nearest shore are disfigured
for life, the exposed part of their bodies
being actually roasted by the excessive
heat. One of the most thrilling and most
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 a gentleman in throwing over
board crate of peaches and leaped in
after it with life-preseryer. When she
attempted to cling to the crate. however.
it revolved like reel in the water. For
two terrible hours she struggled with the
refractory box, and had just closed her
eyes in despair, when she was drawn into
skiff by Mr.. Huff, who rendered such
signal services in half dozen other cases.
Miss Rowden, of Louisville, jumped
from the boat toward the Indiana side and
the hungry tongues of flame. licking along
the surface of the water, horribly burnt
her head and face. She had no life-pre-
server, and only secured one end of a
plank by clinging to the pantaloon leg of
a man who swan past her. She says that
while moving in the water, several gasp
ing, drowning wretches extended their
hands toward her, some even grasping her
hair and tearing out handfuls in their ter
ror.
THE LAST LIVING THING
seen on hoard the boat was little child
three or four years of age, running about
screaming with fright, surrounded by
flames, its legs, arms, and face exposed to
terrible heat.
The negro crew behaved badly. hurry
ing off the boat before there was any i'm
minent danger. and one white man rowed
away in life boat that could have been
made to convey twenty or thirty persons
ashore.
THE LOST AND THE SAVED.
The number on board, all told, is supposed
to have been from seventy-two to seventy
five persons. Her exact list cannot be
had. Reports of the lost have ranged
from sixteen to twenty-eighG people.
Probably twenty-five is the number near
est the facts. Citizens and passengers dc
not attach blame to the captain and ofl-
GERS. At all events, it has not been ex'
pressed. Suspense and uncertainty as to
the fate of the missing has added intensl-
ty to the painful interest felt in the calami.
ty here, At this time forty-fve persons
are known to be saved.
CAPTAIN BAKERS STATEMENT.
1--WE had about fifty cabin passengers or
board, including eight ladies, at the time
of the disaster. | am of opinion that fOul
of the eight ladies were saved, including
Mrs. Williams and Miss Emma Bowden
from Louisville, and Mrs. Eastman anG
Mrs. Sturges. of Hanover, Ind. was OF
watch and asleep in my room IN the lex
as when the alarm of fire was given.
hastened down stairs into the cabin, which
was enveloped in flames nearly to tht
Office, ana QlSCOVeTeQ tildL all INC hiO-
servers had been taken from the available
rooms forward, and procured mattresses
passing them to the forecastle below
where I'll the passengers were huddled to
gether. the flames driving all to that por
lion of the boat. I told Mrs. Smith, o
Madison, and young lady whose name
could not learn 1.-THE balance of the passen
gers having been provided for, o.
gone overheard with doors, mat
tresses and other life-preserving articles)
to lump into the river, after had thrown
a mattress for them, but they failed to rise
or at least | did not see them again.
umped overheard, grabbing the mattres
as rose to the urface Of the water. On
of the cabin boys also caught hold OF tn
same mattress, and after we had hoate'
and SWAN down the river some SIX or sev
en- hundred yards, we made shore, com
pletely exhausted. The heat from tn
flames was too great to make the inside o
Indiana shore, and L, with the majority
those on hoard, leaped into the river o.
the outside of the boat, as the wind wa
blowing the flames to the shore. A youn
lady from Covington, returning from
visit to Warsaw, KY, was lost. She leape
overheard with Mrs. Smith, and dld nc
see them afterward.