Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-05-06
THE NEW ORLEANS HOR-
ROR.

Details Of the Burning OF the Steamer,
Kyle. Bodmana aud Exporter Scene,
on the Vessels and ina the Water.
The New Orleans papers contain the
accounts of the recent burning of the
three steamboats, at the wharf in that
city. The Times narrative has the fol
lowing:
AT 4 o'clock las. evening fire, which
originated in the blacksmith shop on the
starboard side of the steamer John Kyle,
lying at the head of Gravier street, re-
suited in the almost immediate destruc-
ton of tina. steamer, together with the
steamer Charles Bodmann and Exporter
lying alongside. The moment the alarm
was given, Officer Harrigan, of the har-
Dor police, rushed on board, and, stand
ing at the gangway, prevented the crowd,
which was very great, from passing
sc A careful examination made by sew
eral steamboatmen, including the officers
of the Kyle, led them to believe the
flames could be extinguished, but within
eight minutes after the first discovery
they lad spread to the upper works, and
were rapidly penetrating every crevice.
A few on the lower deck ran ashore,
when Mr.. f. F. Burch, mate of the
Lessie Taylor, the steamer lying along
side but nearer Canal street, seizing an
ak cut her head and spring lines. A
brisk wind was at the time blowing from
the northwest, and this, combined with
the strong eddy, forced the fatal steamer
against the Charles Bodmann. News of
the disaster spread with a quickness Dor
dering thought itself. An immense mul
ttude congrcgated upon the levee. The
wharf Of the Canal street ferry was so
Oyerburdened with their weight that the
police, TO prevent second disaster, was
forced to drive them away. Another
large crowd rushed on board the steamer
Exporter, and in far less time than it
takes to write the foregoing, and even
less than that in which the readers can
pernse it, the three boats were in flames,
and drifting out into the stream. The
scene now depicted was sickening. Stand
ing on pile of corn at the head of Ora
vier street, one of our reporters viewed
the fearful spectacle, and one more
frightfully real and electrically swift in
its execution he hopes never to behold
again. When within $50 feet from the
wharf the Kyle, separating from the other
two, drifted down stream and apparently
raising herself amidships broke, leaving
her warehouses high above the upper
works. Before leaving the wharf her
chimneys went overheard, and simulta-
neously a host of people were seen to
leap into the river. Cleared in the stream
sea OF fire, bearing much the resem-
blance of a burning island, foated in her
wake. She quickly disappeared behind
the other steamers lying at the wharf and
was lost to view
1.-The Bodmann, brought into full
perspective by the floating away of the
Kyle, was one mass of fire from stem to
stern. Far aft stood two solitary men,
one in the act of lowering the other, APP
parently aged or very infirm, into the
river. A skiff, containing two men, were
Immediately in the wake, but the single
pair of oars seemed useless III stemmine
the current.
SIN an instant tire seemingly Older
man fell, and the people of the skiif, one
of the men in which had just rescued
some one else, pulled him in. The Elk
porter, which AZ that time was abreast OF
Lafayette street, was ablaze from hel
forecastle TO stern. On the narrow
island In this sea of fire thus made were
huddled perhaps forty souls. Fora time
they appeared engaged in forming raft
with some rough boards and an empty
hogshead, but in the course of two OF
three minutes one man jumped over
board, then two. and the flames sweep
ing forward all sprang into the river ap
parertly IL a body. A cry of horror
arose from the crowd gathered on the
shore, and several shrieked to the com
handing officer of the tug Nellie, thel
pumping water about 100 yards from the
ill-fated people, to steam to their rescue
The little tug Dime came promptly t.
the spot, and in the course of a very few
minutes the river was full Of small boats
The turbid waters for several hundred
yards at this time were dotted with hu
man heads, and the crowd upon tn.
shore wrung their hands In anguish a
their struggles. Thanks, however, t.
the energy everywhere exhibited afioat
the rescue soon commenced. Two boat!
from the Kansas filed with Uncle SAM
tars (heaven bless them , were quick,
in the midst of throng of victims, ant