The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-22
FIRE AND FLOOD.
Loss Of Two Steamers The May Lowry
Burned nj Carrelltom Lotus No. 4
Sunk In Lake Caddo Particulars of
the Sinking of the Ililly Hender-
sen-No Lives Lost.



son-Ne Lives Lost.
The May Lowry
was on her way from Jefferson to this
city, her commander, Capt. Braitb
waite, not wishing to risk landing at
the city wharf tied the boat up at Gar
rollton at s o'clock Sunday morning.
intending to resume his voyage at day
break the cotton was carefully covered
with tarpaulins and every one on board.
except the officers who were on duty.
retired only to be awakened In n few
minutes by the roar Of flames and the
cracking Of timbers. Capt. Braitb-
waite, and the clerk, Mr.. j. n. King.
barely escaped with their lives. with
nothing on them but their night clothes.
losing everything they possessed In
the world
The fire was discovered by the watch
man In the cotton anidshp. lust about
fifty feet forward Of the fire doors. and
SO rapidly did II spread. that. as above
stated, those who were asleep had
barely time to escape with their lives
Her cargo consisted of 1880 bales cotton.
9s5 sacks cotton seed, and sundrles. We
are unable to give copy of her mani
fest, as the clerk was unable TO save a
single book or paper from the office.
The May Lowry was built ut Pitts
burg. Pa, in 1871. and rebuilt at Carpp-
delet, Mo, in 1879. She was 425 hons
registered tonnage, and was owned by
Commodore W. j. Kointz and her com.
mander Capt VIM. Braithwaite.
The wreck lies In nine feet water. with
the bow upon the bank just where she
burneD, and II IL safe 30 say that her
hull and machinery viii he saved.
over one-half Of the cargo will no
saved IN q damaged condition. Eight
baies OF cotton were picked tp yestar
day by the Harbor Police and now lie
IN 'front.' OF the police station on tho
levee. :
sinking 0f the LOtus M. ~
From kilograms received on Sunday
we were informed that this steamer. on
route from Jefferson to this port. with n
cargo OF 1000 bales cotton. gCi bales or
which was for this city and the balance
FOR Shreveport, sunk In Lake Caddo. at
Albany polnt, on the 19thinstant.
We have no additional particulars
further than the annexed telegram re-
ceiYed Sunday.
SHREVEPORT, Feb. 40, 1876.
TO Cart Joseph Aiken, President New Orleans
and Red River Transportation Company No.
III Gravinr street:
Col. A. +. Kouns, at Mooringsport.
dlscharging up freight. Send tug Gus,
sic to collect floating cotton (from Lotus
No 81 In the lake. All will be saved
Tell underwriters 10 send tp diver i'm
mediately 10 get cotton out Of the hold.
j. J. DoDD,
Clerk Lotus No. ..
The nifty Henderson,
We make the following extract from
statement OF this disaster. furnished to
the Times of this morning, by Capt, w.
w. Cooley, the owner and commander
OF this ill-fated steamer The boat was
not insured.
The captain states that while en- route
to the city, from Upper Tensas, with n
load OF cotton seed. the Henderson
sighted the John +. Tolle, bound up.
near Port Hudson, about 8 O'Clock ON
h'N'''y .,iVib'uLF nv hittb IviNh hIly
river takes q sharp bend, and the Tolla
was making the cut across the river.
She sounded her signal for tho left, and
the Henderson promptly responding, IL
seemed to be clear sailing for both NJ
them, especially rs the bright moon
light furnished an important accessory
to safe navigation. As the crafts neareJ
each other, those on board the Hendsr-
son were apprehensive of no collision.
whom Of u sudden the ToIle made d.
sheer, and in an instant coming fairly
upon the Henderson, struck her aft the
boilers on the starboard side. and cnt
her down, SO that in an instant she be
gan TO fill.
AS quickly as possible the officers.
crew and passengers, OF which latter
there were three gentlemen, escaped to
the Tolle. not one, however, succeeded
in saving anything Of their personal
effects, except the clothes which they
hurriedly put on.
The Henderson then floating down The
river continued to settle and eventually
sunk In deep water about four miles be-
low tho scene Of the disaster. The books.
papers and money about $3OO-in tho
office Of the boat were oil lost. A col
ored deck hand, Robert Wells, was Miss.
ing after the disaster, and it Is supposed
that he was drowned.