The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-04-24
burning Of Three Scssels-Larsc q
Number of Lives Lost.

New ORLEANS, April 23.-Ab bout four
o'clock to-day fire broke out in the back
smith shop Of the steamboat, John Kyle,
which was living ut the foot Of Poydras
street. The Kyle lay between the Bessie
Tuvlor and Exporter, and TIE Bodmann
lay next to the Exporter Soon after the
alarm was gwen the tow boat Ella Wood
came up and commenced throwing water
on the burning vessel Captain Hut
crimson, of the Kyle was standing Oh
the front deck when the fire broke out,
and promptly notified all on
board to leave, as it was
apparent from tie first that the boat
could not be saved. Captain Hutchinson
thinks every one on the Kyle was saved.
William Brown, the chief clerk, who
opened the safe and took out money and
papers. was the lust to leave the Kyle
which had in the mean time been set
adrift. In escaping, he was cnvelopcd in
/ flames and dangerously burned.
/ One side of his face and hands were burn
| ed. and his oyelashes and mustache We're
singed oil, He jumped into the river and
| swan ashore and was at once taken to
/ a hotel were he was attended by pnysi-
clans.
Captain Hutchinson says the cabin Of
( the Kyle was cnvcloped IN flames in less
/ than two minutes from the time the first
alarm was giycr. When the Kyle was
cut loose the edGy drittcd her up stream,
and those on shore seeing the danger east
/ oil thcshawsers by which the Exporter
. ,0l uRf
proved disastrous, The Kyle driited
against-the Exporter and Bodmann and
[ the three boats drifted into the stream.
1 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 ret
uge jumped on board the Bodmann. This
/ boat in less than mlnut after the EX-
porter also caught fire and the three
burning vessels driftcd together into the
| stream, where they will soon burn
to the waters edge Many persons
who had gone on the Exporter and Bod
man AS spectators, We're on board when
/ the boats drifted into the stream, and had
/ to Jump overheard. Some OF them were
rescued, but larger number are believed
to have been lost. The number lost are
estimated at from 90 10 100. The Com
mander of the United States Steamer,
Kansas, promptly sent out his boats. one
of which rescued Is persons. The job
5ing, tub boat, made no effort to rescue
those on the burning boats. There wa>
an excursion party from Cincinnati or
Pitts burgn, many of whom if Is feared
were lo.t. The Bodmann arrived this
morning and had discharged most OF her
cargo. The Exporter was to leave TINS
evening. and had about four hundred
tons of freight on board, all Of which was
lost. Among the lost is daughter OF
Captain Reese, of the Exporter Capt
Shinklc, of the Bodmann, was much
burned about the face and hands.
and Il son of Captain ShnEle Is
reported among thl ost. The Exporter e
owned by james Reese .Sr, OF Pitts
burgh and is valued at $4,000; John
Kyle is owned by Captain John Kyle ard
p 5. and W +. Davidson. and valued at
$50 600; ChaS. Bodmann i owned by
Captain o. p. Shinkle and others Of Gin
cinnati. and is valued at $4,000. All