The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-24
SAD DISASTER.
Three Steamers Burned at New
Orleans.
MANY LIVES LOST BY DROWNING.
The Number Estimated at from 20 to 100

NEW ORLEANS, April 23.-About four
o'clock this afternoon fire broke out in black
smith shop of the steamer Jno. Keyle, lying at
the foot of Poydras street. The Keyle lay BE-
tween the Jessie Taylor below and the Expor-
ter above The Rodman lay above and next to
the Exporter Soon after the alarm was given
the tug boat Ella Wood came up and com
memo d throwing water on the burning boat
without effect. Capt. Hutchinson OF the
Keye, was standing Oh the first deck when the
fire broke out. He promptly notified all on
board to leave, as it was apparent the boat
could not be saved. VIM. Brown, chief clerk,
who opened the safe and took out the money
and papers, was the last to leave the keyIe,
which had In the meantime been set adrlft. In
escaping he was developed in the flames and
severely burned, He however jumped into the
river aud swan ashore.
Capt. Hutchinson says the cablE OF the heyie
was enveloped in flames in less than two MN
utes from the time the first alarm was gwen;
When the Keyle was cut loose the eddy drlfted
her UP stream and those on shore seeing the
danger, cut off the hawsers by which the Ext
porter and Rodman were tied up. inns ac'
proved disastrous.
The Kyle drifted against the Exporter and
Bodman, and all three boats driftej into the
stream. So rapid was the progress OF the
flames that the Exporter took fire the moment
the Kyle touched her. The people on board
the Exporter having no other refuge jumped on
board the Bodman. This boat, in less than
fire and the three burning vessels drlfted TO-
gether into the stream, where they were soon
burned to the waters edge.
Many persons who had gone on board the
Exporter and Bodman as spectators, were on
board when the boats drifted in the stream and
had to jump overheard. Some of them were
rescued, but a large number are believed to
have been lost. The number lost is estimated
at from 20 to 100
The commando. of the United States steam
er Kansas promptly sent out his boats, one OF
which rescued thirteen persons The jobblng
tug boats made no effort to rescue those on the
burning boat There was an excursion party
from Cincinnati or Pittsburg on one of tn the
Rodman had arrived this morning and had dis
charged most Of her cargo The Exporter had
about 400 tons of freight on board, all of which
was lost. Among the lost is the daughter of
Capt. Reese of the Exporter. Capt Shinkle of
the Rodman was badly burned about the face
and hands. His son is reported lost.
The Exporter was owned by James Reese,
Senior, of Pittsburg, and valued at $40, 900.
The John Keyle was owned by Capt Keyle
and p S. and W. +. Davidson, and valued at
$4,000. The Chas. Rodman was owned by
Capt Shinke and others of Cincinnati, and
valued at $4,000. All the boats are supposed to
be insured in Western companies
Ga board the Exporter was Capt. Reese, the
owner from Pittsburg, who with his family
and a number of friends from that city were
here on a pleasure excursion. The ladies of
the party were all ashore except Mrs. Reese
aud daughter and one other lady. Mrs. Reese
and the other lady were saved, but the daugh-
ter was drowned. 1t is impossible tonight to
give the names of the lost. The bulls of the
Exporter and Charles Rodman were lowed
across the river to Coyl coal yard, while that
of the John Keyle foated down couple of
miles and sunk,