The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-29
LE4PING FOR LIFE,
BUT MANY MEET DEATH.

a SEA OF FIRE ON THE WATER
THE NEW ORLEANS DIsAsTER-THREE STEAM
BOATS BURNED AT THE WHARF.-The
HUNDRED PEOPLE LEAP FOR LIFF-TFR
RlBLE SCENES ON THE FATHER OF
WATERS.
Tho Sentinel has published Associated
Press and special reports OF the burning o.
three steamboats, az New Orleans. The fol.
lowing full particulars of the attendant
scenes and incidents are taken from the
Times: At O'Clock last evening a fire
which originated ia the blacksmith sbop on
the stsrboard side of the steamer John
Kyle, lying at the head of Gravier street
resulted in the almost immediate destruc-
ton of that steamer. together wish tbe
Charles Bodmann and Exporter, lying along
side. The moment the alarm va
given, Officer HarrigaD, of the har-
Dor police, rushed on board, and stand
ing at the gangway, prevented the crowd.
which was very great, from passing. A
.caIeIul examination made by several steam
boat men, including the officers of the KYLE.
led them to believe the flames could be ex
tinguiShed, but within eight minutes after
the first discovery they had spread to the
upper works, and were rapidly penetrating
every creVlce: n few on the lower deck
ran ashore, when Mr.. Il. 4. Burch, mate of
the Leslie Taylor, the steamer LAYING along
side but nearer Canal street, seizing an az
cut her head and spring lines. brisk
wind was at the time blowing from the
northwest, and, this, combined with the
strong eddy, forced the fatal steamer against
the Charles Bodmann. News of the disaster
spread with quickness bordering thought
itself
AN IMMENSE MULTITUDE
congregated upon the levee. The wharf of
the Canal street ferry was so overburdened
with their weight that the police, to prevent
second disaster, was forced to drive them
away. Another large crowd rushed on
board the steamer Exporter, and in far less
time than it takes to write the foregoing.
and even less than in which the readers can
peruse 1t the three boats were in flames and
urlIting out into the stream. The scene now,
depicted was sickening. Standing on
pile OF corn at the head of Gravier street.
one OF our reporters viewed the fearful
spectacle, and one more frightfulIy
real and electrically swift in Its execn
tlon he hopes never to behold
again. When within one hundred and tif,v
ieet from the wharf the Kyle, senaratipa
from the other two, drifted down streau9
ana apparently raising herself amidships
broke, leaving her warehouses biph above
her upper works. Before leaving The wharf
Der chimneys went overheard, and simuI
taneously host of people were seen to lean
into the river. Cleared in the stream 2 sea
OF hre, bearing much the resemblance of g
burning island, hoated in her wake. She
quickly disappeared behind the other steam
srs lying at the wharf and was lost to view.
The Bodmann brought into a full rerspect-
one mass of
FIRE FROM STEM TO STERN.
Far aft stood two solitary men. one in tba
act of lowering the other, apparently aged
Dr. very infiTm, into the river A skiff con-
-aining two men were Immediately in her
wake, but the single pair OF oars seemed use
less In stemming the current. In an instant
The seemingly older man fell, and the people
Of the skiff, one of the men in which had lust
some one else, pulled him in. The
tx porter, which at that time was abreast of
bafayet street, was ablaze from her fore |
ca tie TO stern. On the narrow island in
this sea of fire thus made, were huddled
perhaps forty souls. For time
they appeared engaged in FORM |
boards and an empty hogsbead, but in the |
course OF two or three minutes one man
Jumped overheard, then two, and the flames |
sweeping forward all sprsng into the river |
apparently in body. A cry OF horn
arose from the crowd gathered on the sboj
and several shrieked to the commando
othcer of the tug, Nellie, pumping wat
)ne hundred yards from the ill-fated pc
pie, TO steam TO their rescue. The little Z
Dime came promptly to the spot, and in {
course OF very few minutes the river "
.nll OF small boats. The turbid waters
several hundred yards at this time were
DOTTED WITH HUMAN HEADS,
INC the crowd upon the shore wrupg the
lands in anguish at their struggles. Than IS I
however. to the emery everywhere exhib.
ted afleat, the rescue soon commenced. Two
,oats from the Kansas, filed with Uncle
SANS tars (hesven bless themD We're
quickly In the midst of the thTong of vic
ms, and as one alter another were lifted
o, the spectators breathed more freely. The |
ig white barge of the City of Merida wac
lso promptly on hand, and quickly filed (
erself to the gunwaies with drenched
nd shivering passengers. Several
tage planks were sent adriit and
uickly crowded. Ore man was OBJ
erved standing on plank up to his knees
D water, and stripping off his shi t. So
had the work OF destruction bsen |
onsummated that scarcely twenty minutes
lapsed ere scarce vestige ofthe three mag
ificent river palaces remained. The Nellie
tier Time threw overheard NUMBER or
ie- preservers and steamed up. Her officers,
'e hear, state that being a propeller, they
an not extricate her readily, and feared
hat by coming in contact with the burning
teamer, she woold also be consumed. Hall !
n hour more was exhauted in rescuing the
icEims, but by o'clock, although an inn
lense crowd still fingered on the levee, ,
very vestige OF the disaster had disappeared. ,
The reports, heretofore published, furnish a ,
Orrect report of the lost and saVed there |
1re, the names are omitted in this.1 The !
loment persons from the wster were &
rought in they were surrounded by crowds ,
f eager persons, all anxious to hear
EVERY DETAIL OF THEIR ESCAPE.
II. Albert Myrick, the Waterman of the
tesmer Bodmann, was the first whom our
sporter saw. He leaped overheard from
be steamer, and states that at that time
0rty people, a majority deck passengers.
Tere congregated around him. One man {