New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-24
THREE STEAMBOATS, BURNED
MANY PEOPLE DROWNED
Exporter, John Kyle, c. Bodnann.


those on board had bu: little time to save
themselves, let alone trying to rescue any
property. On one side Of the Kyle was the
| Lessie Taylor, and or the other the Ex.
porter
As soon as an alarm was sounded, people
ran to the scene, and not less than one
hundred and fifty went on board the Ex.
porter to look a. the scene. As soon az
possible the Kyle was cut loose and the
eddy foated her up stream. At that time
Ii. +. Burch mate OF the Leslie Taylor,
fearing thai his vessei would be burned, cut
the Exporters cable, which was the most
unfortunate thing that could have been
done. The Exporter, crowded with people,
most of them citizens, drifted after the
| burning Kyle, and the moment she touched
was in blaze, quite a distance from the
shore. In an instant those On board the
Exporter became aware of their perilous
| situation, and had d choice Of two alterna-
tives-either to take the chances OF the
water or remain and be burned. As far as
is known all jumped into the river, having
| thrown the stages and such things over
| board. Many were so badly frightened
| that they did not know what to DO, and
acted without Geliberation. There We're
several women on board and it was difficult
to induce them to go into the water, even
when it was plain to all Of them that the
boat would SO certainly be destroyed. A
passenger took his sister and by force threw
her into the river, close by stage. She
grasped it, but there were go many on it as
to load it down. Nearly all of those were
saved, but tho lady disappeared and it is
supposed che was drowned. Captain Con-
way was on board at the time and had his
family with him. lie did all he could to
save life.
1t is Impossible TO tell bow many lives
were lost, and those who were saved are
unable to make an estimate. Several por.
sons were severely burned. The Exporter
was to have started for Pittsburg to-day,
and had some freight and passengers on
board, but no names were obtained last
evening, except that OF Mrs. John Mus
grove, who is probably drowned. The
vessel was burned almost to the watar.
She was insured for $4,000 in Western
Offices, and was owned by Captain Reese.
There was rnmor that one of his daught-
crs was lost in the boat, but slch was not
actually known as a fact.
On the Kyle the disaster was not so great,
as there were not many people on board.
However, the scene and incidents were ter
rible. All on board were compelled to
inmY, rbcopI Init ~ ic known bny
many were saved or how many lost. She
was in charge OF Captain 4. NJ. Hutchinson,
who was on the upper deck when his son
informed him that the beat was on fire. He
too had his family Or board, and it is re-
ported that he acted like hero.
Sergeant Moon, in the river police boat
succeeded in rescuing a gentleman and ibis
wife from the Kyle, and afterward saved
sixteen persons from drowning. The police
men gained great credit for their conduct,
and Captain Lawlor assisted TO the
extent Of his ability. He pro-
cured carriages Tor those who were
wounded to send them home and to hospi-
tai. Those who were chilled by an involun-
tary bath, and not sons OF temperance, were
offered doses Of liquor, and as a rule they
accepted the invigoratcr. When the police
men who pulled the skifis finished their
LAHORE, their hands were blistered and their
bodies exhausted. There are five large
trunks at The harbor stationhouse, AID one
of them has a card on which is written
Rosetta A. Colt, cswego county, New York,
the others are not marked. and it is not
known what boat they came from. Mr.
Brown, clerl. Of the Kyle, was injured and
sent to the City Hotel.
The Charles EodTann. Captain Shinkel,
was also burned. She arrived here Thurs.
day night, from Cincinnati, and had taken
out most Of her cargo. There were several
people on her, among them pleasure party.
DR.. Brashear, or Brazier, and family were
il the excursion, and i. was believed that
he ard others were lost, but he was saved
though person asserts that he is positive
one or moro persons were drowned. Cap
tain Shinl.el's face and hands were burned,
as was CAPTAIN Stein. Captain Shinkel's
son and family were on board, and there
was rumor that the son was lost.
The boats burned 10 total wrecks in less
than half an hour, and were towed down
the river as soon as possible.
Citizens, generally, OF the levee, ex-
pressed great Indignation about the conduct |
Of those in charge of the .ugboats. 1t is |
asserted that these beats preferred to save |,
before trying 10 rescue drowning |
people. 1t appears to be tue that while |
men and women were fioundering around |
in the water no one on the tugs made |
single effort 10 save human life.
Only d few names OF those who were |
saved were obtained: Dick Wagner, Mrs. |
Il. G. Coyle, Louis Francois William Heath,
A. j. Marion, George Smith, Mary Bun |
drom, William Mccullough, Albert Large, |
Ed. Harcastle, Charles Porter, Belle Kahn, |
V. Tabb, DR.. Erashear and family. and Cor
nelius Brown. IL the great hurry and ex
element few persons thought OF asking or |
the river hurried of. but too glad % escape |
with only an Involuntary bath.
One OF the burning boats drifted close to
the United States steamer Kansas, and Tor |
a few moments that vessel was endangered |
Nj Burch, mate of the LESSEE Taylor, |
that be cut the Exporters |
cable. Captain Lawlor arrested him and
Judge Evans afterwar,i released him on
bonds.
Robert Maxwell, engineer OF the Charles |
Bcdmann, broke one of his legs.
The Bodmann was insured for iGn1 in |
Western Offices
Il r y,