The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-11-25
stalking OF the steamer En,pire
rnfRrY-FIvE PERSONS SUPPOSED LOST

New ORLEANS, November II
The regular lower coast packet EN-
pire, Captain Jeanfrau, sunk to her
texas ut about four O'Clock this morn
ing, at her landing at the foot OF
Cont Street.. She arrived about
1920 O'Clock "A. NJ, heavily laden
with sugar, molasses, rice, &c. Sew
eral passengers left the boat on her
arrival, otherwise the loss Of life
would have been very large. As it
is, fourteen passengers and many Of
the crew are believed to have been
drowned.
Five bodies have been recovered,
including the Captains eldest daugh-
ter, about seventeen years Of age,
and Mr.. Frisbie, a well known plan
tation engineer. Captain Jeanfrau
lost four children, including his wife
and baby, who with him were sleep
ing in the texas. d. r. Perrett, a
passenger who escaped from the
sinking steamer, gives, as his opinion
that the boat was overloaded and
parted in the centre.
Captain Jeanfrau states that the
Empire had only a fair cargo; was
not overloaded that the guards
were well above water at the time
of sinking; that he vas awakened by
a great noise and confusion; caught
one of his children and swan with
it to the shore saw his wife stand
ing on deck with her babe in her
arms as the boat went down; that
she chung to the wheel house of the
Bradish Johnson, which stood along
side, but a violent shock wrenched
frem her grasp her child, which fell
into the water and was drowned.
John Dublin saws: Am mate of
the Empire. We arrived last night
about twelve O'Clock, and tied up;
went to my room and almost immedi-
ately went to sleep. Between four
and FIVE O'Clock heard a tremendous
crash thinking we had been run
into | rushed on deck seeing that
she was shaking | shouted to every
body to get life p%reservers, and rush
ed along forward shouting to wake
all | could intended to run into the
cabin, when the boat, almost 10 a
seconds time, seemed to sink and ]
was thrown into the water. ! swan
until | could catch hold Of something
and saw myself.
Eugene Durable, the pilot. saws
that when the boat sunk be was in
bed heard a crash and thought they
were run into. He was thrown into
the water. He thinks the boat
broke in two, she sank SO suddenly.
Five bodies have been found. The
number of lost is uncertain, as no
one is positive of the number who
left the boat Immediately upon her
arrival he.e.
Captain Jeanfrau thinks there
were about thirty-fve lost-four of
his children, Fanny, seventeen years;
Johnny, twelve years Ada. eight
years, AID Walter, seven months.
He is overwhelmed with grief and
can scarcely realize the sorrows of
last night. The bodies of Fanny
and Walter and Mr.. Frisbee, engin-
eer of Magnolia Plantation. and two
children of Mr.. Kemple, have been
recovered. The bell boat Osage will
attempt to raise the wreck tomorrow.
when the bodies OF the drowned per
sons will pfopably be recovered.
NEW ORLEANS, November Ia
Twenty-three lives in all were lost
by the disaster to The steam packet
Empire. Upto this time no bodies
except those Of Captain Jeanfrau's
daughter. aged eighteen. and u
young boy, with three others. have
been recovered Mr.. d. r. Perrett.
q passenger, gives the opinion that
the boat was overloaded and parted
in the centre.
New 0sLEsSg, November 10.
The divers 81 the bell boat Usage
examining the wreck of the Fin.
pre- this morning, saw wedg.d in The
on deck sonic ten or Twelve
deck hanas.- Tbe divers we're una.
10 gain admission into The state
rooms on aeeount Of the obstructinns
by freight. 1t is now believed that
he loss of life will reach between
and forty. One body was
'ecnvered to-day, that of a deck /,