The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-29

l.
Moffett.
William Washington, colored-Was on The
tug Nellie when she went to the burning
boats from the steamship Cortez. The first
thing that was done after she left the steam.
ship was to get the hose out to play on tbs
John Kyle. Finding no good could be done,
she backed off and started for the Boardmann.
The Nellie left the Kyle because the fire
was SO far advanced that it was useless to at
tempt to extinguish it. The Kyle was at this
Bodmann was lying or drifting about one hun
bred feet from the Kyle, and was also about
the same distance from the wharf as the Kyle.
The Bodmann was on fire on the starboard side
about midAhips.
The Nellie went to the Bodmann for the
purpose OF playing on the fire. Finding q
number of people in the water, we stopped
to rescue them. Can't say positively how
many were rescued by the Nellie, for they were
taken in on both sides of the tug. On the
side ON which witness stood about twelve
were drawn from the water. Can't say how
many were taken in on the starboard side;
possibly as many as on the port We saved
all in that vicinity. Saw no one drown. The
Bodmann had by this time drifted nearly
across the river, and the Nellie went over to-
ward her.
The Kyle had drifted some distance down
the river, and the Exporter was in close prox-
unity to the Bodmann. When the Nellie,
after rescuing the persons mentioned, left for
the BodmanD, we saw no one in the water.
The chambermaid aud clerk of one of the
boats, probably the Exporter, were taken on
board our tug. Saw no one on board the
burning boats.
At the time Of onr arrival they were all in
the water. Quite q number OF skiffs were
plying in the vicinity, engaged in the work OF
rescue. There were several other tugs out,
but witness did not observe what they did.
The Tyler was on hand, but cannot say
whether she rescued any one. There was d
fresh wind blowing at the time.
Deposition Of
Mary Collins, chambermaid of Exporter
Was att when the alarm of fire was given.
Shortly after met Mr.. Jas. Rees, the clerk,
and his sister, Mrs. Musgrove. We tried to
get the life-boat on the boiler deck afloat,
but the fire prevented US. We then went to
the main de tx through the kitchen, and we
called to the tug Dime, but she went away.
We then went forward and called to skiffs
which were near. but none came:
gathered a small piece of wood and
Jumped overheard. When l came to the sur
face was near Mr.. Rees, took hold of his
arm when he said let go, Mary, you will
drown us both. He told me to hold on to
the plank to which he was clinging; he said
he had lost sight of his sister, Mr.. Rees
called to the tug Nellie to save US aud they
threw life preservers to u.s.
They then threw us line by which I was
drawn on board; Mr.. JAS Rees, Jr., Geo.
Smith and Ed. Hardcastle, of Exporter;
Clerk Mann and Geo. Doyle of the Bodmarn,
and Thomas johnson, prter of the Kyle,
were also taken on the Nellie.
When went aboard the ferryboat in Al
giers was taken into the englne-room where
it was warm. Some one on the ferryboat
gave me chair and brought some whisky.
saw. the tug Nellie use every exertion to
save life, and am positive that the crew did
not pass any one, but picked them up as fast
as she could. 4 If the Nellie had not came
over and rescued MS we would have been
drowned. Capt. Todd called to the men to
save the women first. The wind was blowing
hard and the river was rough.
r. &. Baldwin, pilot of the steamer John
Kyle, was on board at the time Of the fire on
the Esd inst, and ywitnessed tie burning
of the boats. The fire originated in the store
room of the blacksmith's shop. Strenuous
efforts were made to suppress it, but without
avail; is satisfied that no one belong lng to the
Kyle was lost
Every one on board at the time the fire ORR
ginated, with the exception of the captain and
clerk, got off before the steamer was cut
adrift. The Bodmann was set on fire by the
Kyle, and the Exporter by the Bodmann.
There must have been from seventy. five to
one hundred people on the Exporter after the
three boats had drifted out into the stream.
Saw none on the Kyle and Bodmann, for
those who were originally on these boats were
driven to the Exporter. Saw no one drown.
but saw q good many saved. Saw several
tugs in the river, none Of which was recog-
nized by witness but the Dime. The Dime
saved q great many people.
They all appeared to be engaged in res
cuing people from the water. Does not know
that any Of the tugs were called upon by the
people on the Exporter for assistance, and
failed to comply.
Touching the action Of the tugs and the
manner in which they were handled, the
officers ON board are certainly the best
judges as to whether they were handled
to the best advantage.
The fire apparatus on board the Kyle was
in perfect order. During my connection
with the Kyle, which was about nine months,
she took fire several times, but the flames
were invariably quickly suppressed. From
the time the fire broke ont on the Kyle, not
more than five minutes elapsed before the
Capt. 0. p. Ninkle-Was Captain of the
steamer Charles Bodmann, at the time Of her
destruction by fire on the 23d instant The
Bodmann was fired by the steamer Kyle. The
Bodmann was cast loose from the wharf be-
fore the steamboat Kyle. Thinks the Ex-
porter was fired BY the flames from the Bod
mann. The three boats, having been cast
loose, drifted into the stream together. The
wind at the time was blowing off shore.
think there were about eighteen Of the crew
Of the Bodmsnn lost-the first and second
engineers, first cook, second bar-keeper, q
white deckhand, two chambermaids, two fire.
men, two white passengers. and, witness
thinks, about nine colored ''rousters. These
..rousters' were evidently lost because they
have not applied for their pay. The two pas
sengers lost were Miss Brasher and an old gen.
tleman from Galveston. Quite number OF
pe ple who were on board the Bodmann went
to the steamboat Exporter.
Witness, the Waterman, and several others
who jumped into the river from the stern !. OF
the BodmAnn, we're picked up BY sklis'
Er..- ~roS ,oo6o nv tha officers OF the