Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-24
NEW ORLEANS.
Burning of the Steamers John
Kyle, Exporter and
BOdman.
From Twenty to One Hundred
Lives Lost. =
A Scene of Wild Excitement and
Confusion.

NEW ORLEANS, April 23.-AbOut p.
/ n, a fire broke out in the blacksmith shop
Of the steamboat John Kyle, which was
I lying at the foot Of POydras street. The
| Kyle lay between the Leslie Taylor below
and the Exporter above. The BOdman lay
above and next to the Exporter. Soon
after the alarm was given, the tug boat Ella
Wood came up and 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. Hepromptlynotihedal on boa d,
as it was apparent from the first that the
boat could not be saved. Capt. Hutchinson
thinks every one on the Kyle was saved.
Wm.. Brown, chief clerk, who opened the
safe and took out the money and papers,
was the last 20 leave the Kyle, which had
IN the meantime been set .irift. In escap-
ing he was envelOped in the flames and
severely, if not dangerously, burned over
the face and hands. His eye lashes and
mustache were singed Off He however
jumped into the river and swan ashore,
and was at once taken 10 the hotel, where
lie 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 Bod
man were tied up. This act proved disas.
trous. The Kyle drifted against the Ex-
porter and BOdman, 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
having no other refuge, jumped on the Bod
man. THIS boat, in less than a minute
after the Exporter, also caught fire and the
three burning vessels drifted together 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
dTifted into the stream, and had 10 jump
overheard. Some Of them were rescued,
but a large number are believed TO have
been lost. The number lost is estimated
at from 20 to 100.
The commander Of the United States
steamer Kansas promptly sent out his
boats, one Of which rescued Is persons.
The jObbing tug boats made no effort 10
rescue those on the burning boats. There
was an excursion party from Cincinnati or
Pittsburg, many Of whom, il is feared, are
lost. The BOdman arrived this morning
and had discharged most Of her cargo.
The Exporter was to leave this evening,
and had about 400 tons of freight on board,
all Of which was lost. Among the
lost is a daughter of Capt. Reese,
Of The Exporter. Capt. Shinkle, Of the
BOdman, was much burned abORt the face
and hands. A son Of Capt. Shinkle is re-
ported among the lost.
The Exporter was owned by Jas. Reese,
Sr., Of Pittsburg. and was valued at S4j,-
900. The John Kyle was owned by Capt.
John Kyle and p. ). and ". F. Davidson,
aud was valued at Sc, 1000. The BOdman
was owned by Capt. o. P. Shinkle and 9th
ers, Of Cincinnati, and was valued a. S75,-
coo. All are supposed to be insured in
Western Offices. -.s-
On board the Exporter was Capt. Reese,
the owner, from PittsbuTg, who with his
family and a number of friends from that
city, were here on a pleasure excursion. |
The ladies Of the party were ashore, except |
Mrs. Reese and daughter and another lady. |
Mrs. Reese and the other lady were saved, |
but the daughter was drowned. It is i'm |
possible tonight to give the names or as |
certain the loss. The huls Of the Ex- |
porter and BOdman were tOwed across the |
river 10 Oyle's coal yard, while tie Kyle |
foated down the river = couple Of miles |
and sunk.