New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-29
Local Intelligence.

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INVESTIGATING THE STEAMBOAT D1sAs.
-se-Messrs. Flanders and Mottet, local
!.anectors Of steamboats,, continue TO taka
,nr;ddence in the case of the burning of the
o,aamboats John Kyle, Exporter and
Charles Bodmann.
william Washington, sworn-I was on
.hs fug Nellie at the time she backed ont
s suv the steamship Cortes on the twenty.
.h,rd instant; after starting the hose was
"ot ready anu played on the Kyle: found It
ss,eIess, SO started for the Bodmann: on
aoinc toward the burning Bodmann many
sssone were found in the river: the Nellie
stamped and began to pick up the people on
10Th sides; on leaving we threw lite pre.
ssrvers overheard; saw twelve persons res
med: do not know how many were saved
.n the starboard side; saw no one drowned.
baard no hail; left the Nellie at the coal
aeet. where two of the burning boats had
drifted: then went to the tug Ella Wood
M. =, and assisted to raise steam; the
neople saved were of both colors; saw skiffs
nickiuc up persons; before noticing the peo.
ple We began playing on the Kyle; on see.
ing the people IN the water We started to
the rescue.
C. P Shinkle-Was captain of the Bod
mann: saw the burning of that boat; my
host took fire from the Kyle about the time
va cast loose from the levee; the Kyle, Ex-
norter and BOdmann were cast off about the
ssme moment; the wind was pretty fresh,
blow,ng from the left bank; as near as can
tell about eighteen of my crew were lost;
nv two engineers were lost; first cook,
assistant barkeeper. two chambermaids.
passengers were lost; certainly there
we're twenty persons lost of the Bod.
mann: nine of these were cOlOred rOust.
sboute: DR.. Brasheer's daughter was
one of the lost passengers; an old
nan from Galveston was lost, but he
had not given his name; when l jumped off
the BOdmann was picked up by skiff: saw
no tugs about; skiffs rescued those near
me; some from tho Bodmann jumped on
the Exporter; we had q pile of life p.eserv.
ers our stream was turned on, but it was
useless to try to extinguish the fire then;
when jumped overheard there we're about
dozen others with me; all were picked up
by skiffs; saw two tugs, but did not see
them doing anything; before l jumped l
heard people hailing the tugs; when the
bow of the Bodnann caught fire tug was
at our stern, not more than fifteen feet
OF; the Exporter was then close to
u.s. and it would have been dangerous for
the tug to have gone in to answer the calls;
she tug passed up, I saw it no more; the
hose and engine on the BOdmann were in
good order; nothing could have stopped the
ire: from the time the fire began until we
were compelled to jump it could not have
been more than fifteen minutes; my face
was burned while was in the water near
the Kyle; my engineers did all they could
20 save the boat.
Mary Collins-Was chambermaid on the
Exporter; was aft of the ladies cabin when
the alarm of fire was made; ran out and
met the clerk, Mr.. j. Reese, and his sister.
Mrs. Musgrove; tried to get the lifeboat
adoat. but the fire prevented rs; Mr.. Reese
took US down to the main desk to the
kitchen, and called to the tug Dime, but
she went off: went forward and called to
slkiffs, but none of them responded; picked
up bit of wood and jumped overheard;
when rose to the surface I was near MIR.
Reese; he told me to take hold OF plank
and not get upon it; he said he had lost sight
Of his sister; Mr. Reese called to the tug
Nellie to save US; the Nellie threw life pre-
servers and we were assisted on board her;
others we're rescued at that time: Captain
tOrdstOok care of me; l was taken on the
tug by skiff and landed in A'glers; the
Nellie tried hard to save lite; Captain Ford
told bis men to save the women first.
H. g. Baldwin, am pilot: was on the
X vie at the time che burned; am satisfied
that no one belonging to the Kyle was lost;
the BOdmann was set on fire by the Kyle
and the Exporter by the Bodmann: think
there were about seventy five people on the
Exporters bow after she was in the stream;
saw no one drown; saw the tug Dime save
many people; saw two other tugs save
people: doubtless the tugs were hailed, but
they may not have heard tie calls: the
noise was great; the Kyle's fire apparatus
was in good order; think it was ten min
utes from the time the fire began until the
three boats were ia the stream
To-day the local inspectors will resume
examination of witnesses. Messrs. Elan
ders and MOffet are availing themselves OF
every point to arrive at conclusion, ana
if thew fail it will not be their fault.