The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-24
Three Steamers Burned at
the New Orleans LeVee.
FIFTY LIVES SACRIFICED.
Distressing Scenes Among the
Women and Children.
HEROIC ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE.


boat John Kyle. then lying at the foot OF Gravier
street, along with steamers Charles Bodman and
Exporter, in close juXtap0sltion. Almost before
an alarm could be given the whole boat was In
names. Time was, however, afforded 10 rescue
few lady passengers and others before she was
pulled out into the stream. The fire almost Imme-
diately caught the Bodman, whose passengers ana
people on board nearly all escaped to the
Exporter. AS soon as the fire was discovered the
lines OF the boats were cast loose from the shore
and steam tug pulled them out into the stream
The day was unusally clear, with q strong north
wind blowing. AS as the boats cleared the
eddy, about 200 yards from the shore, they were
struck with the lull force OF the wind and were
almost instantaneousy wrapped in flames, driving
the helpless passengers into the river. The scene
from the crowded leVee was heartrendlng III the
extreme.
THE SCENE ON THE BoDMAN.
From the Bodman men, women and children.
shrieklng aud crying for help were seen TO jump
into the river and drown, while the spectators on
shore were powerless to help them. The Exporter
did not catch FIRE until out In the river, and her
forecastle was at the time crowded with people,
the number being estimated by witnesses of the
catastrophe at from 100 10 100. AS the huge sheet
OF dame swept down upon them they were seen 10
Jump overheard like a startled nock OF sheep,
when number were rescued by sKifs and tugs,
which had put out to their assistance; but the
great majority were drowned.
THIRTY WOMEN AND CHILDREN LOST.
Albert Mynck, the Waterman or the Bodman,
who was saved with its captain. reports about
twenty-five or thirty women aud children as lost
upon that boat, and the same proportion were
estimated by spectators to have been among the
frantic crowd upon the Exporters forecastle. In
thirty minutes alter the fire broke out the Kyle
Uaa orr m ~
edge. and the wrecks OF the huls OF the other two
boats had dritted to the Aisiers shore. where
they still shoulder.
THE RESCUED.
About twenty OF the rescued among whom are
several ladies' were provided for upon the steam
boat Louisville, and just as your correspondent
LETT the leyee two more ladies' were landed
from a skill Some OF the rescued are badly
burned. Both the Bodman and Exporter only ar
rived last night, the latter with an excursion
party on board. among which was the family or
her owner Captain Reese, OF PittsDurg.
Fortunately most or the passengers were up in
town when the fire occurred. but Mrs. Reese and
her daughter, win another lady. remained on
board. or these two were sa7ed by skiT but
MISS Reese is supposed TO have been LOST captain
Shinkle OF the Bodman also lost son, four teen
years Of age.
TIE INSURANCE.
The Kyle was worth about $4,000, and was in
sured Tor ABOUT $50, coo in Pittsburg onices. The
Bodman was valued al about $4,000; insured in
Cincinnati; and the Exporter at SO, 900; insured
in Pittsburg. Tie calamity has cast a
gloom over the city. and the conduct or
those upon tugDoats IL somewhat severely
criticised by several lof the eye.witnesses, who
charge them with being more interested in saving
other steamboats, than saving lives. Ia this, how
o. mi mi At ha III IN vctta-
ment The casualty was so swift and horrible as
10 almost paraiyze any efforts.
THE LOST.
IL win be very difficult to ascertain the names
OF all the lost. Among them many spec
tors from the shore. VINO went aboard the burning
boats TO assist In putting out the fire. Ere they
could return they found themselves ont In the
stream, euvelopel In flame. one case OF he roism
Is reported. Two women who sprung overheard
succeeded in grasping rlngbot upon the hull or
the Exporter, wnere. partly sheltered by the
guards or the boat, they chung for about fifteen
minutes in full view OF all snore In the mean
while three sklfrs made repeated but Intellectual
attempts to reach them, being eacn time driven
back by tue intense heat In the flames. Just as
the hundreds or GREATNESS spectators were upon
the point OF abandoning hope. long lead col
ored skin with single rover approached and
dashed IN 10 their side. In lew minutes it
emerged In safety having succeeded In rescung
both from waiery graves. This gallant action was
rewarded with a spontaneous cheer from the
crowd lining the river bank. The latest estimates
reduce the loss to about nty sous The burning.
hull OF the Exporter IS now being towed down the
river by 4 tugboat.
Captain Hutchinson. or the Kyle. reports all
saved upon his boat, though himself the clerk
and one or two others are somewhat badly
burned. He says that in less than three minuses
from the time or discovering the IRE that mis-
boat was one sheet or name from stem TO stern.
10 adopt an expression used by an old darkey
witness OF the sad atIair-"They all burned like
broom corn.u
BURNING or THE THREE BOATS.
It now appears that all the three boats were tied
20 the same rtngbot upon the levee, aud that on
endeavorlng TO cut the Kyls's moorings all three
were unfortunately severed at the same time.
The river makes rapid eddy at that spot and
they at once drilted out together thus commune
eating the lrc TO each other. The tGgboats,
Ella Wood, Nellie and Dome and another
were In the immediate neighborhood. The two
former, IL is said, lost both time ana opportunity
for saving Lie in vain endeavor to extinguish the
fires Oy throwing water upon the burning boats.
STORY or AN EYEWITNESS.
Another ere witness 10 the catastrophe, an old
merchant, says ne arrived on tee leNee just az the
boats had drlfted out The iorecastles OF the Bod
man and Exporter were then crowded with
people, who Just at that moment seemed for the
first time to realize their danger and became
panic stricken. Ia Short time, he SAID
no saw over a hundred people struggling
in the water. Some jumped over with
their trunks, others with barrels and pieces OF
freight. The skis, OF which some hair dozen had
been attracted 70 the spot. Immediately dashed In
and commenced rescuing these people. Some
we're saved In THIS manner, others swan 60 noat-
ing spars and logs, but he saw, he thinks, upward
OF forty or iuy, among whom he distinctly recol.
Iects two women, VINO were drowned. There
was a iamentaOle want Of ordcr in man aging
the tugDoats, otherwise, In his opinion. many
more might have been saved. The scene he de-
scriDes az moss horrible IN the extreme, botn By
It's suddenness and its terrible nature.
OIL ON BOARD.