American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-10-21
THE SOUTHERN BELLE.
Particulars of the Late Disaster-Eear-
full Loss OF Life.

THE SOUTHERN BELLE.
Particulars of the Late Disaster-Eear
| full Loss of Life.
BATON ROUGE, La, Oct. 10Th
steamboat Southern Belle was burned
about 2 O'Clock this morning, two mile
above Plaquemine, on the west bank
The boat and cargo were totally de
stroyed, and several lives were lost
The steamer Bertha took some of tn,
passengers to New Orleans, and other
returned here on the steamer Katie
Great credit is accorded to the engineel
and pilot Hebert for their efforts to lant
the boat during the burning.
NEW ORLEANS, October 11.-ManJ
lives were lost by the burning of the
steamboat Southern Belle. Among
those known to be lost are VIM. Vor
Phul, Mr.. Drose, Miss Fannie O'Con.
nor, and another lady, all of Baton
Rouge; Mr.. Franks, of Port Hudson
Mr.. Lingom, also Frank, an employee,
and the steward and his crew. 1t is
supposed that nearly all of those who
were sleeping in the after part of the
boat were burned to death, as, after the
fire had once got fairly under way, it
was almost impossible to get at the bow
of the boat-the only way of escape to
shore. The cargo consisted of 500
to 800 bales of cotton. The boat was
new, valued at $4,000; insured for
$50, 1000, mostly in New Orleans COM
panies. Mr.. E. Hebert, the pilot, held
the bow of the boat against the bank
until all who could had escaped. = He
then leaped from the pilot-house to the
lower deck, and was severely injured.
Jas. P. McElroy, captain, and j. c..
Leblanc, clerk of the burned steamer
Southern Belle, with several of the
crew, arrived here to-day by rail from
Donaldsonville. Capt. McElroy is con-
siderably scerched.
Mr.. Leblanc, who narrowly escaped,
says: When the boat landed at Mrs.
to take the lady aboard,
went and escorted her back into the Ia
dies cabin. At this time the boat was
backing out from the landing. went
to the Office to get key of the state
room for Mrs. Marrineaux, and on my
return to give it to her she met me half
way in the cabin, and said, "The boat
is on fire." and to take her off. saw
that smoke was coming up through the
carpets and through the staterooms
land told Mrs. Marrineauxt that
the boat was landing, and to go ashore,
as I was then busily engaged in break
ing in the stateroom doors to awaken
the passengers. After doing this 1 ran
to my own room to awaken young Will
lie Greenhouse, who slept in the same
room. When 1 thought had awaken
ed him 1 ran to the office where my
books and papers were with a view to
saving them, if possible. After mo-
ment looked around and did not see
young Greathouse, and Immediately
running back again succeeded in bring
ing him out of the room and then told
him to 60 ashore, after which I return
ed to the office a second time and was
in the act of trying to recover small
of cash in the drawer when the
flames had nearly surrounded me and I
was forced to leave my books, papers
and other valuables to the flames. I
then rushed out of the Office with my
face and hands scorched. 1 found that
The stairs were in full blaze, and I
jumped from the boiler deck on to
D tier of cotton on the guard,
and from that on to
the stage on shore, where, on turning
round to look at the boat, 1 saw that
she was one burning mass from stem
TO stern. The boats books and papers
we're all burned; in fact, every thing
except what was in the safe. The Belle
had 800 bales of cotton on board and
|, 800 sacks of seed.
The following additional are known
to be lost: A Catholic priest, name I'M
known, from Bayou Sara; A. @. Grit
fifth; Geo. G. Thomas, chief steward,
from Louisville, KY; Gus. Davis, hall
lender; Carter Roam, guard tender of
cabin, and Louis Thorn, texas tender.
The four last named jumped overheard
and were drowned, while Mr.. Won Phul,
Drose, Griffith and the priest are said to
have persisted in the flames.