The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-24
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
THREE STEAMBOATS, BURNED
TO THE WATERS EDGE.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
list OF THE LOST AND SAVED.
STATEMENT OF SURVIVORS.

Our river front last evening was the scene
NJ a most heartrending disaster, one that will
he long remembered by the hundreds who
we're spectators and owerless to render the
assistance necessary to rescue from terrible
death numbers Of their fellow beings. De.
tails of the event. as far as could be learned
amid the confusion incident, are herewith
siyen. but the actual loss of life, it is feared
will never be ascertained.
Near 4 o'clock yesterday evening fire
broke out in the blacksmith shop Of The
steamboat John Kyle, and in an incredibly
short time enveloped the whole boat in flames.
Immediately upon the alarm being given,
and the rapidity With which the fire was ex-
tending ascertained, the danger to boats in
the immediate vicinity was appreciated. and
B. F. Burch, mate of the Lessie Taylor, which
was lying Just above the Kyle, cut the lines OF
the latter, when the eddy carried her up for
about two hundred feet, until she struck
the Bodmann, which boa. quickly caught on
fire.
This BOAT was Likewise cut loose, and the
two Aoated directly against the steamer Ex-
porter, to which the flames were communi-
Gated, whereupon some one, who is deserving
ing the severest censure, to put the matter in
it's very rildest form, severed the mornings
of that boat, and the three boats, all ablaze
from stem to stern, were blown by the high
wind prevailing to the middle of the stream.
When tho Kyle and B)dmlnn were cut
loose three persons on them rushed to the
Exporter as soon as that boat was touched,
hoping to escape thence to the landing, but
some one, in the excitement of the moment,
cut her loose with about one hundred people
on DO ,rd, who drifted out into the stream on
the burning vessel.
In spite of every exertion the three boats
continued to burn, the Bodmann and Ex-
porter drifting over to the Algiers side, and
the Kyle rapidly floating down the river about
two miles, when she sank.
The unfortunates on the burning steamers
were forced by the flames to jump into the
river, and most narrowing sight YVES pre-
sented to the view Of the Thousands Of spec
tators who lined the levee. A number OF men
were seen clinging to the bows and sterns OF
the Bodmann and Exporter, while the surface
of the river was alive with human beings
struggling for existence.
There is no idea Of how many persons
we're lost as the excitement was SO great that no
definite inform ticn could be o tanned. The
whole river was covered With skiffs, which
were trying to save those who W re overheard.
Many stood hopefully huadled on the bow OF
the Exporter, thinking that relief would be
extended them by the tugs that were plying
in the immediate vicinity, but when the mid
die of the. river was reached the fire became
20 hot that the half crazed creatures had to
take to the water and many went down, while
some few we're saved by the exer.ions of the
skiffs.
On board of the Exporter was Capt. Reese,
the owner, from Pittsburg, who, with his
family and number of friends from that
city were here on o pleasure excursion. For
tunately, the ladies Of the excursion party on
board Of the Exporter, were all ashore. except
Mrs. Reese and daughter and one other lady.
va
by skiff, but the daughter was probably
drowned.
On the Bodmanr there was an excursion
party from Cincinnati, great many OF whom
we're in the city, visiting the sights.
Capt Shinkle, of the Bodmanu. was severely
burned about the hands and face.
When Capt Hutchinson, of the Kyle, dis
covered the boat burning, he rushed into the
cabin and told the people to rush ashore. He
then ran to the texas in search of his wife, but
she had already gone on shore. He was then
surrounded by fire and was obliged to slide
down burning rope into tho water, where he
was rescued. .... .-.
The Bodmann arrived this morning and
had discharged her freight.
The Exporter had about three hundred tons
of up-river freight on board. All lost
The passengers on board of the Kyle were
saved bv the promptness OF Capt. Hutchinson
in giving the alarm.
The Kyle while floating down just grazed
the United States steamer Kansas.
When going to press the Exporter was being
lowed down the river by q tug.
The steamboat John Kyle belonged to W.
F. and p. +. Davidson, of St. Louis, and
John Kyle and Capt. A. NJ. Hutchinson,
and Messrs J. B. Woods 4 Co. are the agents.
She has been running to St. Louis, was very
large boat, and hiss always been tavorite and
prosperous boat
The Bodmann is valued at $40, Co., and in
sured for $4,000 in Northern and Western
companies.
The Exporter, valued at $4,000, is insured
for $4,000 in Cincinnati.
The loss of life would not have been half SO
great had not number Of persons boarded
the steamer Exporter for the purpose Of view
ing the burning boats on the outside. all OF
whom when the lines were cut drifted help
lessly into the stream on the burning steamer.