The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-30
THE LATE DISASTER.
Continuation of the Investigation
Before the Local In.
spectOrs.

United States Local Inspectors, Flanders
and Moffett, yesterday resumed the inves-
tigation into the late steamboat disaster. The
first witness called was
p. j. Russell, mate of the steamboat John
Kyle-Was on the forward part Of the boat at
the time the fire originated, engaged in taking
aboard some freight When the alarm was
given went Immediately to the fire and Or
dered the hay stored under the storeroom,
thrown overheard. Threw overheard about
thirty bales, leaving possibly three or four
bales under the said storeroo4. The fire
spread rapidly and drove witness and his
/ lab0rers away.
The wind at the time was fresh and blew
the flames across the boat, and within five
minutes the steamer was entirely ablaze
Every one on board escaped by the stage,
with the exception of the clerk and q deck
hand, who made their way to the Exporter.
Finding the boat adrift. witness made his
| escape from the boat, and noticed at the same
time that the steamboat Charles Bodmann
was on fire. Did not notice what became of
the crew of the Bodmann.
1t appeared as though tho three boats were
cast loose about the same time, and drifting
| eating from one to the othsr, until they were
all ablaze. When the Exporter got out into
the river, about two hundred feet, saw about
seventy or eighty persons crowded on the
forecastle, all of whom we're forced overheard
by the fire. The Bodmann was about the
same distance from the sh IRE es the Exporter,
but witness saw no one on board Of her. In
very short time, eight or nine skitfs appeared
in the vicinity Of the burning boats and en-
gagged in rescuing people from the river.
All the people in the water were either
picked up by skiffs or drowned, before any
other boats or tugs arrived on the scene.
Saw no one on the Exporter who did not
jump overheard. At the time the people
were jumping from the bow Of the Exporter,
saw two tugs, the Nellie and Tyler, on the
weather side of the Bodmann throwing water
on the steamer.
Witness thinks it probable that from the
position Of the tugs and owing to the dense
smoke, the people on the Exporter could not
be seen from the tugs, although it may have
appeared otherwise to those on shore At
this time the Kyle was further ont in the river
than the other boats. From where witness
stood could not see the stern Of the Exporter.
Witness does not think any one standing
in his vicinity could have seen more than he
did.
The people on the Exporter called loudly
for help; witness heard them plainly. The
Kyle was provided with portable fire extin-
guishers, out the fire spread so rapidly that
they could not be used. Did not notice any
other tugs but those already mentioned. At
the time witness was driven from the work of
throwing the hay overheard l had succeeded
in getting the hose from the Lessie Taylor.
George Smah-Was lamp trimmer on the
Exporter at the time of her destruction by
fire, on the 23d Of April Was on the boat
when she took fire. Witness was among those
who jamped from the bow of the Exporter
after she had drifted out into the river. Was
in the water ten or fifteen minutes before
being rescued. Was saved by catching hold
of hatch, from which, with Mr.. Rees and
the chambermaid of the Exporter, was taken
by the tug Nellie.
The Nellie picked up ten or fifteen persons
in that vicinity. While on the Nellie saw the
tug Tyler, which appeared to be rendering all
the assistance possible, as was the Nellie,
under the circumstances. When witness
jumped from the Exporter he left Charlie
Lott, one of the berth-makers, standing Just
forward of the steps. He was the last person
witness saw on the boat. He was lost. Doesn't
know whether he was drowned or burned.
There we're distressing cries for help on every
hand.
H. lrer, Captain of the ting Continental
Witnessed the burning Of the steamboats,
Kyle, Bodmann and Exporter, on the 23d
inst. when the alarm of fire was given was
at the foot of First street with stave boat in
tow; Immediately landed the tow and pro-
ceeded to the fire; when witness arrived
abreast of the Water Works on his way down
observed two steamers in the middle of the
river; arriving at the foot of Poydras street,
rounded to under port helm; at this time the
Nellie was lying in the river, abreast of Canal
street, surrounded by great number Of
skiffs.
The Continental was distant from the Nellie
about three hundred yards. The Bodmann
and Exporter were by this time in the eddy
on the Algiers side, and witness proceeded to
them with his tug. First saw the Tyler near
the two steamers named as they neared the
Ayers shore. The tug Dime was near the
Tyler About this time observed the tug Re-
lance steaming up the river Was not aware,
at the time, that any lives had been lost.
j. Il. Hattrick-Is q mariner by profession.
Has been seaman for thirty years. Is at
present deck-hand Of the tug Tyler. Was
on board of the Tyler on the 23d inst, and
witnessed the burning of the steamers On
the announcement of the fire, was living at
the foot of st. Joseph street. Tho Tyler I'M
mediately backed out and went to the burn
ing steamers Went to the stern Of the Ex-
porter, the steamer on our starboard side
being on fire at the time. No one called on
rs, nor did any one come near u.s. aud the
heat became SO great that we were compelled
to leave.
We looked around, but could see no one in
the water. Witness proceeded to get the
pump ready to play upon the burning boats,
but was told by the mate, who was acting
captain, that he desired to save life rather
than property. Ten or fifteen minutes sub
sequent to this Capt. Colburn came on board,
at which time we were within about one hun
dred yards from the Algiers side and in close
proximity to the burning steamers Bodmann
and Exporter: We were then playing upon
the burning boats, and paid very little atten-
ton to anything that transpired. Saw two
or three people get from the Exporter to
stage or plank. but we were then at the stern
off were on the bow Of the Exporter. Saw no
one on the stern Of the Bodmann and Ex-
porter. Did not see any other tugs at this
time. as they must have been on the lower