Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-17
THE ILL-FATED L
Burning and Total Loss of a
Memphis and Arkansas
River Packet,
One Cabin aud Three Deck Passen
gers LOst-AbOut ESQ Bales
Of Cotton Burned.

The steamer Governor Garland, Capt
Ed Rowland in command, en- route from
Pine Bluff to Memphis, with a cargo o
$50 bales Of cotton, and a lot of sect
and sundries, and 80 people, took FIR,
Wednesday night at Red Fork, forty
miles above the mouth of the Arkanssl
river, and, with her cargo, was consumed
In q few moments. Her books and pa
pers and $4,000 in the safe we're also lost
The destruction by the flames was &c
rapid that the officers of the boats were
unable to AVE their effects; and one
cabin and three deck passengers are
also reported lost.
The Governor Garland was valued al
$25, 900 and insured in Cincinnati Offices
for $4,000. She was comparatively O
new boat and one of the best packets
that ever piled in the Arkansas river.
The Garland was owned by Captain Ed
Nowlasd, Major Hardin aud others apd
was built last summer expressly for the
Memphis aud Arkansas river trade I'M.
der the supervision of Major John Har.
bin. She was a good money-making
boat and proved a success in the trade,
and her loss will be greatly felt by cur
merchants and the people living along
tae Arkansas river. She has brought
out of that river a number of fine trips,
and on one occasion broughot out 1864
bales Of cotton on 81 inches OF water.
The greater portion OF her cotton this
trip was consigned to Memphis.
A duplicate steamer will be built to
take her place, and be ready in sixty
days. Major Hardin will leave for Pitts.
burg in a few days to complete the ar.
engagements for the same. In the mean
time the Belle of Texas, an Al steamer,
will ply in her place. The Arkansas is
q t%reacherous and uncertain stream, and
navigation in it is often attended with
many losses. The Memphis and Arkan.
sas River Packet Line and owners of the
Garland have suffered severe losses in
the past few years, but being men of
trmRess and enterprise have, by their
good managemsn always overcome their
leases. The following is a list Of steamers
lost; Fort Gibson, Legal Tender, Rosa
Miller, Pine Bluff and Gov. Garland.
The officers and crew of the Garland
are coming up OR the Ruth, and will ar
rive here this afternoon.
LATER.
The steward and several Of the band
came up on the Thompson Dean, which
arrived at l o'clock. From the steward,
who he'd not yet recovered from his
fright. we learn that the Garland caught
fire emidships, about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, while under full headway.
The wind was blowing strong, and all
eiisrt7 to snbdueths flames proved futile.
Captain EIish Evans was at the wheel
and he held bis post until he was
burned. He headed her for the bank,
which she struck. and Aoated over to the
bar at Red Fork, Several persons, in
order to save themselves, had to jump
into the river. The passengers and crew
lost all their clothing except what they
had on them at the time of the accident.
Mr.. w. D. Brent, a merchant Of Mud
Lake, Ark was lost. The remainder
of the officers and crew will arrive this
afternoon on the Ruth, when further
particulars can be CLEANED.