The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-04-30
THREE STEAMERS BURNED.

burning OF the Steamers John Kyle,
Exporter and BOdman--From Twenty
to One Hundred Lives LOst--A Scene
OF Wild Excitement and Confusion.
At New Orleans, on the 23rd inst, a
fire broke out in the blacksmith shop of
the steamboat John Kyle, which was
living at the foot of POydras street. The
KYLE lay between the Lessie Taylor be-
low and the Exporter above. The Bod
man lay above and next to the Exporter.
Soon after the alarm was given, the tug
boat Ella Wood came upaud commenced
throwing water on the burning vessel,
but without effect. Capt. Hutchinson,
of the KYLE, was standing on the front
deck when the fire broke out. He
promptly notified all on board, as it was
apparent from the first that the boat
could not be saved. Capt. Hutchinson
thinks every one on the Kyle was saved.
VIM. Brown. chief clerk, who opened
the safe and took out the money and
papers, was the last to leave the Kyle,
which had in the meantime been set
adrift. In escaping he was envelOped
in the flames and severely, If not dam
gerously, burned over the face and
hands. His eyelashes and mustache
were singed off. He, however, jumped
into the river and swan ashore, and was
at once taken to the hotel, where he was
attended by physician.
Capt Hutchinson says the cabin of
the Kyle was envelOped in flames in
less than two minutes from the time the
first alarm was given. When the Kyle
was cut loose the eddy drifted her up
stream, and those on shore seeing the
| danger, cast off the hawsers by which
| the Exporter and Bodman were tied up.
| This act proved disastrous. The Kyle
drifted against the Exporter and Bod
man, and all three boats drifted into
| the stream. 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 hav-
/ ing no other refuge, jumped on the Bod
man. This boat, in less than minute
after the Exporter, also caught fire and
| the three burning vessels drifted to-
! gether into the stream, where they
| were soon burned to the waters edge.
Many persons who had gone on the
Exporter and Bodman as spectators,
were on board when the boats drifted
into the stream, and had to Jump over
board. Some of them were rescued
but large number are believed to have
been lost. The number lost Is estimat
ed at from 20 to 100.
The commander of the United States
steamer Kansas promptly sent out hi
boats, one of which rescued 13 persons
The jobbing tug boats made no effor
to rescue those on the burning boats.
The Bodman had discharged most O
her cargo. The Exporter had abOu
400 tons of freight on board, all O
which was lost. Among the lost is
daughter of Capt. Reese, of the Elk
porter. Capt. Shinkle, of the Bodman
was much burned about the face an,
hands. A son of Capt. ShinkIe is re
ported among the lost.
The Exporter was owned by Jane
Reese, Sr., of Pittsburg, and was val
ued at S45, 600. The John Kyle wa
owned by Capt John Kyle and P.
and W. F. Davidson, and was valued a
$50, 900. The Bodman was owned b
Capt o. P Shinkle and others, of Gin
cinnati, and was valued at S75, 600. Al
are supposed to be insured in wester
offices.
The hulls of the Exporter and Bod
man were towed across the river t
Oyle's coal yard, while the Kyle fiOate
down the river a couple of miles an
sunk.