Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-05-01
NEW ORLEANS.
Bu rnisg Of the Steamers Iohn KYLE
Exporter and Bodman.
From Twenty to One Hundred Liyes
I,ozf.
A scene Of wild Excitement and Con.
fusion.

! NEW ORLEANS, April 23.-About
p. NJ, fire broke out in the black
smith shop of the steamboat John
Kyle, which was lying at the foot Of
Poydras street. The Kyle lay between
the Lessie Taylor below and the Ex.
porter above. The Bodman lay above
and next to the Exporter. Soon after
the alafn was given, the tug boat Ella
| Wood came up and commenced throw
ing water on the burning vessel, but
without effect. Capt. Hutchinson, Of
the Kyle, was standing on the front
deck when the fire broke cut. He
promptly notified all on board, as it
was apparent from the first that the
boat could not be saved. Capt. Hutch
inson thinks every one on the Kyle
was saved. VIM. Brown. chief clerk,
who opened the safe and took out the
money and papers, was the last to leave
the Kyle, which had In the meantime
been set adrift. In escaping be was
enveloped in the flames and severely,
if not dangerously. burned over the
face and hands. His eye lashes and
mustache were singed of. He howev-
er jumped into the river and swan
ashore, and was at once taken to the
hotel, where he was attended by o
physician.
Capt. Hutchinson says the .cabin of
the Kyle was enveloped in flames
in less than two minutes from
the time the first alarm was given.
When the Kyle was cut loose the eddy
drifted her up stream, and those on
shore seeing the danger, cast of the
hawsers by which the Exporter and
Bodman were tied up. This aetproved
disastrous. The Kyle drifted against
the Exporter and Bodman, aud all
three boats drifted into the stream.
So rapid was the progress of the flames,
that the Exporter took fire the moment
the Kyle touched her. The people on
board the Exporter having no other
refuge, jumped on the Bodman. This
boat, in less than a minute after the
Exporter, also caught FIRE and the
three burning vessels drifted together
into the stream, where they we're soon
burned to the waters edge. Many
persons who had gone on the Exporter
and Bodman as spectators, were on
board when the boats drifted into the
stream, and had to jump overheard
Some of them were rescued, but 4.
large number are believed to have
been lost. The number lost is estmat-
ed at from 20 to 100.
The commander of the United
States steamer Kansas promptly sent
out his boats, one of which rescued
13 persons. The jobbing tug boats
made no effort to rescue those ca the
burning boats. There was an exear-
sion party from Cincinnati or Pitts
burg, many Of whom, it is feared. are
lost. The Bodman arrived this morn
ing and had discharged most of her
cargo. The Exporter was to leave
this evening, and had about 400 tons
of freight on board, all of which was
lost. Among the lost is daughter of
Capt. Reese, of the Exporter. Capt.
Shinkle, of the Bodman, was much
burned about the face and hands. A
son of Capt. Shinkle is reported among
the lost.
The Exporter was owned by Jas.
Reese, ST., Of lPittsburg, and was
valued at $4,000. The John Kyle
was owned 0y capt. J0nn hyie
and p. s. and W. F. Davidsou, and
was valued at $4,000. The Bodman
was owned by Capt. o. z. Shinkle
and others, of Cincinnati, and was
valued at $4,000. All are supposed
to be insured in Western Offices.
On board the Exporter was Capt.
Reese, the owner, from Pittsburg, who
With his familyand number Of friends
| from that city. we're here on pleasure
excursion. The ladies Of the party
were ashore, except Mrs. Reese and
daughter and another lady. Mrs.
Reese and the other lady were saved,
but the daughter was drowned 1t is
impossible tonight to give the names
or ascertain the loss. The hulls Of the
Exporter and BOdman were tOwed
across the river to Oyle's coal yard,
while the Kyle foated down the river
a couple of miles and sunk.