New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-28
Local Intelligence.

EVIDENCE IN THE RIVER DISASTER CASE
Messrs Flanders and Moffat yesterday re-.
ceiyed more testimony concerning the burn.
inc of the steamboats, John Kyle, Charles
Bodmann and Exporter. Although the
testimony is not voluminOus it is interest
ing;
ont from the wharf l noticed a large num-
her of people on the bow of the Exporter;
vent out IN skiff to them; when half way
~ the boat saw several persons in the
water: l rescued some; other skiffs were
there also rescuing people; then l saw the
tug Tyler and another tug; called to
those on the Tyler to go to the Ex-
porter's bow and rescue the people;
no response was made: think the
TYLER continued to throw water on the
burning steamer; the Tyler was then about
100 yards from the bow OF the burning
Exporter; think there were from seventy
five to 100 people in the water and more
Jumped from the Exporter; there were
about ten skiffs in the vicinity; the harbor
police boat was active; saw no one drown;
think that about fifteen persons were
drowned; think the Tyler could easily have
rescued those on the Exporter.
+. COlburn-Am master of the tug
TYLER; | was on shore when l heard tho
alarm: Immediately started for the Tyler
but she had gone; saw her proceeding
toward the burning boats; got into a skiff
and pulled down and got on board the
Tyler; saw that all the people had been
picked up; then began to throw water; got
hold of the Charles Bodmann with stern
line: saw no one on the burning steam
boats; before l got to the Tyler saw per-
sons on the Exporter; heard no hail.
Captain A. M. Hutchinson-Was master
Of the steamboat John Kyle at the time of
her burning on the twenty third; witnessed
the fire: was the last but one to leave the
boat; had twenty three passengers regis
tered, but all got Oft before the boat swung
of from the levee; there were but twenty
three persons on board then; all OF them
were saved; told my clerk to save some
valusbles and told everybody to go ashore;
went above to wake two men; when l first
saw people in the water they were about fifty
Yards from the levee and about 200 yards
above where the Kyle lay when she first
took fire. saw no one drown; no one from
the Kyle was lost.
J. &. DavidsOn-I am master aud pilot
Of harbor tugs; have charge of the tug
Tyler during the absence OF Captain Col
burn; on the first alarm started for the fire;
made fast to the Exporter, starbOard; one
man got on board of US; our tug rebounded
and then we backed her stern up against
the Exporter; no one got on board OF us;
flames of the Bodmann and Exporter drove
us of; got no hail from any one on the Ex-
porter, nor did l see anyone on board at
that time; Captain C"lburn at that time got
on board and relieved me; then we saw no
person in the water; saw the tugs Reliance.
Dime and Continental; did not notice their
movements; did not save anybody except
the one mentioned.
The following statements were written Oy
the persons named. and sworn to, and are
now in the possession of the local in
spectors:
Clark Mature deposes that he was porter
on the Charles Bodmann, and after detail
ing some instances which have been repeat
eddy published, states that when the boats
were b. ming the tug Nellie went up and on
the seco d attempt got line attached: the
Nellie saved him, Thomas johnson, Mary
Collins and j. Reese; thinks that, Judging
from his own observations, the Nellle's Off
GERS have been unjustly censured.
George w. Doyle, second steward OF the
Bodmann, swears that he was picked up
out of the river by some one on the Nellie;
would have drowned in a few seconds
more.