Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-04-29
DISASTER IN NEW ORLEANS EAaBoR.


New ORLEANS, April 23.-About
P. NJ fire broke out in the black :
smiths shop of the steamboat John
Kyle, which was lying at the foot of
Poydras street. The Kyle lay between
the Lizzie Taylor below and Exporter
above The Bodman lay above and
next to the Exporter. Soon after the
alarm was given the tugboat Ella
Wood came up and commenced throw
ing water on the burning vessel, but
without effect. Capt Hutchinson, of
the Kyle, was standing on the first
deck when the fire broke out. He
promptly notified all on board to leave,
as it was apparent from the first that
the boat could not be saved. Capt
Hutchinson thinks every one on the
Kyle was saved. William Brown,
chief clerk, who opened the safe and
took out the money and papers, was
the last to leave the John Kyle, which
had in the meantime been set adrift.
In escaping he was enveloped in flames.
and severely, if not dangerously burned
over the face and hands. His eye
lashes and mustache were singed off
He, however, jumped into the water
and swan ashore, and was at once
taken to hotel, where he was attended
by a-physician.
Captain Hutchinson SAYS the cabin
o. the Kyle was enveloped in flames in
less than two minutes from the time
the first alarm was given. When the
Kyle was cut loose the eddy drifted
her up stream, and those on shore
seeing the danger cast off the hawsers
by which the Exporter and Bodman
were tied mp. This act proved disas-
trous. The Kyle drifted against the
Exporter and Bodmln and all three
boats drifled in the stream. So rapid
was the progress Of the flames that the
Exporter took fire the moment the
Kyle touched her. The people on the
Exporter, having no other refuge,
jumped on the Bodman. This boat IN
less than minute after the Exporter,
also caught fire, and the three burning
vessels drifted together into the stream,
where they were soon burned to the
waters edge.
Many persons who had gone on the
Exporter and Bodman as spectators
were on board when the boats drifted
into the stream, and had to jump overs
board. Some Of them were rescued,
but larger number is believed to have
been lost The number lost are esti~
mated at from twenty to one hun
dred.
The commander of the U. S. steamer
Kansas promptly sent out his boats,
one of which rescued thirteen persons
The jobbing tugboats made no effort
to rescue those on the burning boats.
There was an excursion party from
Cincinnati or Pittsburg, many Of whom
it is feared were lost. The Bodman ar
lived this morning and had dis h,rgcd
most of her cargo. The Exporter was
to leave this evening and had about
four hundred tons of freight on board,
all of which was lost. Among the lost
is daughter of Captain Reese, of the
Exporter.
Captain Shinkle, of the Bodman,
was much burned about the face and
hands. A son of Captain Shinkle is
reported among the lost The Ex-
porter was owned by James Reese, ST.,
of Pittsburg, and valued at $4,000.
The John Kyle was owned by Captain
John Kyle ard p. S. & w. Il. David
son, and valued at $4,000. The
Charles Bodman was owned by Cap,
tain o. P. Shinkle and others, of Gin
cinnati, and valued at $4,000 All
supposed to be insured in Western
offices.
THE LATEST.
On board the Exporter was Captain
Reese the owner, from Pittsburg, who
with his family and number of friends
from that city were here on a pleasure
excursion. The ladies of the party
were all ashore except Mrs. Reese and
daughter and one other lady. Mrs.
Reese and the other lady were
saved, but the daughter was drowned.
1t is impossible to>night to give the
names of the lost. The bulls of the
Exporter ard Charles Bodman were
towed across the river to Coyle's coal
yard, while that Of the John Kyle