Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-18
TORNADO OK a RIVER.


steamers OseoOiR BeIIe, PM AIIin.
COahOmh aud Other kOats RIown
from their Mornings az the Land.
ing WhAFTbOat Damaged
ana Loses staging COmmOtiOn
Among q Fresh Water WINNER
on Yesterday.
A severe and sudden storm came up
the river last evening about six o'clock
which made things lively at the landing
for a few moments. The wind was quar-
tering up the river, and was so sudden
and unexpected that the boats in port
we're unprepared for it. 1t first struck
thea. j White and parted her breast
line, but she was held fast to her moor
ings By extra head lines. The Coahoma
next parted her lines, and was blown
out into the river, suffering no other
damage than the parting of her lines.
The Illinois came next. She also parted
her lines and aoated down below the
elevator, but was towed to the bank be.
low the ice house by the tug DeSoto.
The Illinois raised steam and came back
to the landing. She was uninjured.
The Osceola Belle, which arrived from
The upper coast only a short time before
the storm, caught the full strength Of it.
Her breast line was parted aud she
swung around under the stern of the
wharf boat. She was held up by her
headline for a few moments, when Capt.
Andrews succeeded in cutting it, or else
she would have been swamped by the
water, which was running over her lower
deck from four to FIVE feet deep. Her
jack staff was blown down, both of her
chimneys were blown away, one over
board and the other falling ON the roof,
MASKING part Of it in. She also had
several knees hroken, and her guard.
chains carried away, by coming in con
tact with the wharf boat. The wind
blew SO hard that it ripped up the can.
vas roof over the barber shop. When
her headline parted she swung into the
river, Strengthened up and hoated down
to the Arkansas point, opposite the city,
where she was stopped and anchored
by the pilot Mr.. Dad Boice, and three
other men who were on board at the
time, The damages to the Osceola
Belle are estimated at $500.
The tag DeSoto towed the Belle back
to the landing this morning, where shs
will be repaired Immediately and will be
ready to resume her regular trips We'd
nesday next. Captain Andrews has char.
tered the Aggie to make a trip in h.r
place. She leaves this evening Tor Ash
port in place Of the 0sceola Belle, carry-
ing the mail and doing all way business.
Captain Glenn's wharfboat suffered
also. Her stern line parted and the wind
carried her out into the river, losing
two OF her stages, which were new, thew
having been finished Saturday last. His
loss will be $500. Had it not have been
for the extra cables she would have been
carried away again. The wharf boat ia
back in her place to day and doing BUSH
ness as usual. Mr.. Butler, chief clerk
on the warl boat, says it was amusing to
see the people, and especially the loun-
gers on the wharf boat, making for shore.
When the line parted a prominent ND
town merchant in his haste to get ashore
got on the second stage and went into
the river with it, and was fshed ont
after getting a good ducking.
The swapping of the lines and crash
on the steamers caused a CONSERVATION
among steamboatmeu and lovee folks.
Above the wharf boat there was no dam.
age done,