The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-02
THE LATE DISASTER.
Testimony Of DR.. Brasher Before
the Local Inspectors.

The investigation before the United States
Local Inspectors, Flanders and Mofiatt, was re
snmed yes terday, the first witness being
DR.. x. H. B,astey.-Went on board the steam
boat Charles Bodmann with three daughters
Lille aged 10 years, Alice aged - years, and
Annie aged 0 years, as passengers.
| This was about O'Clock in the afternoon Of the
| Odd OF April. Was on the steamer Willie when
the alarm was given and Immediately repaired to
| the Bodmann Gave instructions to my daughters
to go ashore, the Kyle, lying just b. low was on
fire. Getting to the forecastle OF the Bodmann,
found that the boat was adrift and fifteen or
twenty feet from the wharf. Hearing that there
was communication with the Exporter from the
| wheel.tOuse OF the Bodmann, Went to that point
Immediately, but found the plank had gone over
board, precpitating two negroes into the river.
Thereafter went to the stern OF the boat, ex-
peclinS to find tue yawl, but it was not there.
Went to the starboard side Of the stern and
placed my little girl, aged nine years, on the
deck OF green ting lying there: The men on
board threw her back twice, saying they feared
went off, and saw her no more. Shortly after
this large tug with liSht-colored upper works
and pink or red hull, name unknown, passed
up. AT this time there were twenty or twenty
five persons on the stern Of the Bodmanr, and
we called to the tug to rescue us, ons man say
ing that he would give thousand dollars to be
taken off.
The tug passed without stopping or even slack
ing her speed the people on board paying no
attention to our cries. She was not over forty or
fifty yards from the stern OF the BOdmann. The
crew Of the tug came over to the side next the
Bodmann and saw US. Witness distinctly OBJ
served them looking at himself and companions
on the Eodmans stern Remained on the stern
Of the Bodmann with his children and chamber
maid until every body had left, by jumping over
board, among whom wer, the captain and son
and the Waterman. The captain and his son
passed witness with lie preseryers, as did the
Waterman, who had two wooden life floats in each
hand Asked him to give me one for the use of
my daugh but he replied:
I'D, If | dor Then | dropped my two
Oldest daughters overheard, directing them to
catch spar which was then drifting by. Witness
then jumped overheard with his youngest
daughter, having remained on board as long as
the fire would permit Succeeded in reaching
the spar to which his two daughters were cling
ing. Became separated from the youngest
daughter. Witnesses daughter, Alice, was washed
from the spar and drowned. The youngest
daughter was rescued by coored man in skif.
named Souiie. Remained on the spar with his
daughter, Lille, under the burning guard OF the
BodmanD, until rescued by Mr.. Patrick Fehalty,
Of Algiers, where every attention was paid them
by the ladies Of the Central Hotel.
When the tug left the stern OF the Bodmann,
there was no fire at that point to drive her the
tug) away. Witness remained on the stern some
time after the departure Of the ting.