New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-30
AUCTION SALES THIS nav
Local Intelligence.

Local Intelligence.
FURTHER EVIDENCE IN THE CASE OF THE
RuRNED STEAMBOATS,. - Local Insnectors
Flanders and Motfat yesterday resumed tho
taxing of evidence in the case of the bnrn.
ing of the steamboats, John Kyle, Exporter
and Charles Bodmann, which misfortnna
occurred on the twenty third instant,
p. j. Russell swOrn-1 was a Steamboat
mate on the Kyle when she burned: was
forward when the alarm was first given:
ran att and threw hay overheard; pu thirty
bales over board; the hay was under ths
storeroOm; smoke and fire drove me awav.
the wind was fresh and blew the flames
across the boat; in less than five minutes
the boat was mass of flames; all ex.
cept the clerk and q deckhand went
ashore on the stage plank; the lines
of the Exporter aud Bo0mann were cast
of about the same time as those of the
KYLE; when the Exporter got out in
the stream about 200 feet, seventy or
eighty persons crowded on her bow Jaw
them Jump overheard, the fire forcing them.
Jaw no one on the BOdmann at that time: saw
eight or nine skitfs rescuiDg people from the
river; all the people in the water at that
time we're either picked up or drowned be-
fore any tugs arrived; when people Jumped
OF the Exporter, noticed the tugs Tyler
and Nellie on the weather side of the Bod.
mann throwing water on the BOdmann, l
think the tugs could not have seen the
people on the Exporter just then, though
those on shore could see them; heard peO.
pie on the BOdmann call for help; there was
confusion on shore, and much noise: we
had portable fire extinguishers on our boat
but they could not be used because the
flames spread so rapidly; in three minutes
after the alarm felt compelled to give the
boat up as lost.
George Smith, was lamp trimmer on
the Exporter at the time of the dis
aster. and was on board; we used
mineral sperm oil; jumped into the river
when others did; had plank. and was in
the water ten or fifteen minutes; the tug
Nellie picked me up as it did James Reese
and the chambermaid of the Exporter; the
Nellie picked up ten or fifteen persons in
that vicinity; knew eight of these; the
Tyler appeared to be assisting people;
heard people call for help.
NJ. lver-I am master of the tug Cont.
mental; witnessed the burning of the steam
ers; was towing a stave boat at First street
when the alarm was given; landed the boat
and started for the scene; on arriving at
Poydras street saw the Nellie and skiffs,
apparently lying still; the Nellie was then
200 yards from the levee; saw nobody in
tUo IlNcI. WHO'LL uT6t oAW tu0 ~ I0E Su0
was backing away from the burning steam
ers; while we were throwing water on the
wreck saw the tug Reliance coming up the
river; did not know that human lives had
been lost until Captain Ford told me.
j. X. Hattrick-i am q mariner and have
been many years; am deckhand on Il. D
tug Tyler; was on her and witnessed the
burning OF the steamboats,: when the alarm
was given we started from the head of St.
10 t<>< ho h,,rn atoov,
went to the stern of boat, which think
was the Exporter: another boat was nea:
the Exporter; the flames were blown toward
u.s. our tug struck one of the boats so hard
as to recoi: we then backed our stern up:
we at that time saw nobody, nor we're we
hailed: remained until the neat drove US
Oft: looked around for people in the water,
but saw none: the captain told me to do
nothing but try to save lives; after reaching
the Algiers side we began playing on the
burning boats, and thereafter paid but little
attention to anything else; saw people get
ting off the Exporter; the Tyler was
handled well during the temporary absence
OF Captain Colburn; Davidson is a strictly
temperate man: he can handle tug as we'll
az any body; we did not touch our hose until
all the people were OIt of the water; there
was a strong smell of coal oil; saw it burn
ing on the surface of the river; played
not know where the coal oil came from.
r. Shawl am an engineer; am employed
on the tug Tyler and was on board OF her
at the time of the disaster; when the
Tyler arrived near one of the burn
ing boats we laid to the leeward, con.
seuuently we could not see the people on
the windward side of the boats; smelled oil
burning and think it was coal oil burning:
Captain Davidson handled the tug as we'll
as Captain COlburn; the crew is a sober
one.
REPUBLICAN PARISH EXECUTIVE Con-.
Mr1rEE.-rhe committee met last night
pursuant to call. President Lewis in the
chair, and seventeen members were present.
Commune atoms from the first ward were
received in relation to the organization OF
the central club. IT was finally determined,
by vote of l6 to l, to recognize the folIoT'.
ing named officers: President, T. w. Wick
ham: vice presidents, Henry Washington,
j. J. Ambrose, p. II. Emerson, Lawrence
Scott, Richard Thornton, William Jones,
Henry Bell, Samuel Ambrose, Joseph HaI'
ris, j. j. White: recording secretary, J. B.
Smith corresponding secretary, j. ii. Nell
leur: marshal, William Gordon; sergeant
alarms, Louis Davis.
Communications from other wards were
received and laid over.
The President was instructed to appoint
a committee to prepare an address TO tine
Republicans of the parish. The following
named gentlemen were appointed:
II. B. Stamps, W. K. Fish. j. w. Edwards
William VIgers, John Barrow.
The president, Hon. James Lewis, was
added and made chairman OF the commit
tee.