The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-05
THE NARY BELL.
4arther Particulars Of the Burn
ing Of the Inflated Steamer.
{Mempliis Avalanche.1

{Mempiis Avalanche.1
From Mr.. B. Hicks, son of the captain of
Sne Mary Bell, who, With some fifty passen-
- ascertained that the origin of the fire is I'M
knovn, and is supposed to have been purely
accidental. Mr.. Hicks first gave the alarm,
0ASlng discovered the fire beneath the for
~axd cabin steps. This was . little after two
O'Clock in the afternoon. Mr. Murray HICKS,
&Ae boats engineer and captains brother, en-
Favored to put out the fire with the steam
l0ose; but in the haste to prepare the hose
we're burst, after which go much time was re-
s4uired TO repair that the flames spread too far
TO be subdued.
The engineer burnt his arm severely in his
'enKts to quench the fire, and worked faith
10lly until the boat was burning amidships.
The passengers were hurried ashore as quickly
- possible, and q number of the children
were cast from the cabin guards down to the
steamers Tallahatchie and Yazoo which
Aay near. others standing ready to catch them
~ the fell The cattle were on the after
xuards and were
BURNED TO DEATH
% they stood. Efforts were made to cut the
railing and let them overheard, but the fire
spread aft aud drove the workmen away
Capt Hicks Was out driving through the city
at the time OF the calamity, and the distress
whistle blown by his son called him to the
scene.
OF 240 registered cabin passengers. rs were
Eadies, the after. occupying state-rooms all
salong the cabin and in the tex IS. Some fifty or
more people registered at vicksburg not in
4eluded in the foregoing, and while many were
not on the boat themselves, had previously sent
their baggage aboard. and Of course It was lost
II Is estimated that not less than $5O, 900 worth
"a baggage was burned, as all Of the people
dad their best garments. So quick was the
work of destruction, that number of ladies
Eost their hats which lay on chairs and sofas
IA the cabin. Among those who came up yes
s8erday was Mr.. Frank Smith, one of the boats
officers, also Mr.. Hicks, the engineer. Both
ssIved their baggage. The money in the office
was rescued, but the books were lost. Capts.
sGrissom and Hicks both lost their baggage.
Mr.. Hicks states that the insurance against
Gre on the interests of himself and Capt.
Grissom was S35, 600, and there were $25, 900
worth of policies covering the interest OF
Capt. Jesse K. Bell; also that the boat took
ON 500 sacks of oi!-cake at Helena, and had
at the time she burned 5000 slaves and IS
barrels oil on board, in addition to the freight
mentioned above. The Mary Bell landed at
Vicksburg with 400 bales cotton and 1000
sacks seed, and had added 800 bales when
she took fire. The boat lay at the landing,
and not at the elevator, as was reported. The
escape of many people on board was very mar
row.
There were four bridal couples on board of
the Mary Bell at the time she burned, three
from this city and one from Louisville. All
lost every vestjge of their baggage, fine jew
elry and new clothes. The names of the par
ties were Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. Truehart, Mr..
aud Mrs. W. I. Baggett, Mr. and Mrs. John
Campbell and Mr.. and Mrs John Turner, the
last named being from Louisville. The Mary
Bell left here last Wednesday about dark with
nearly ninety cabin passengers, also large
freight At Helena about seventy five people
and 1000 bales of cotton were added.
At Terrene, opposite the mouth of White
River, 48l bales of cotton, brought out Of
Arkansas and White Rivers on the last trips
of the Legal Tender and Ruth, were added,
land when met by the Dean, 100 miles above
Vicksburg the Bell had about $50 cabins pas
.sengers, With 1900 bales of cotton and $500
sacks of seed. The dispatches say that nearly
5000 bales Of cotton and 1000 sacks OF seed
vas the cargo destroyed. This in value, sums
up an aggregate OF s26O,O0O. which, added
ito $40, 600, which is the estimated value Of the
vessel, makes the
TOTAL LESS 100000.
exclusive OF the losses of private property,
baggage. ETC., by the passengers.
The M Try Bell was new boat. having been
completed at st. Louis in October last and
having arrived here on her first trip south on
the Gath of that month. She was on her
tenth consecutive trip when burned, and the
prospect Of its profit, had she arrived safely
at New Orleans, was not less than $4,000.
Since the Mary Bell began her trips she has
cleared some $40, 900.
The boat was valued by the insurance COM
s,enies at $14O, 900, and was covered accord
ing to q statement made by Capt. Hicks, her
commander, during his last visit here. with
a,olicies summing up 5O,O00-hardly one
third of the valuation-and supposed to be
chiefly in Cincinnati and st. Louis Offices.
The Mary Bell was owned by Capt Frank
Hicks, Mr.. ALT. Grissom, her clerk, and Capt
Jesse X. Bell, of New Orleans. 1t was in
compliment TO the wife Of the latter that the
boat was named.
THE INSURANCE.
The losses sustained by the local Insurance
Accompanies of Memphis were about $l8 500,
divided as near as could be ascertained, as
follows Phoenix, $500, on cotton; Mer-
chants, $4,000, on cattle; Washington, $1375,
on oil.meal; fernando, $1240 and $1,000, on
a04 bales OF cotton shipped from Hopefeld
and insured in the agencies Of Messrs. Greene
and Lucas. Captain John Harpman, agent
for the under writer's, left last evening for
Vicksburg to save anything that may not be
totally destroyed. As all of the Memphis
shipments were stored iE the hold, it is be-
lieved that Q fair amount will be rescued. Or
course. the New Orleans companies will
sszifsr heavily BY the fire.
The supply and coal dealers OF this city
have some $4,000 worth Of accounts against
tho steamer Mary Bell
Mr.. .John Tanner owned the bar OF the
steamer Mary Bell when she burned. He
Maid $450O in advance for one year.
The following Cincinnati companies held
risks on the Mary Bell: Enterprise $4,000, Ma.
,tional $500, Commercial $4,000, Farmers
:$25O0, Ena $1,000.
WHAT HAS THE SENATE DONE There is
The Senate of the United States With major
rity of Republican members, and President
and Cabinet at its back. What has it done
What is il doing? The Democratic House Is