The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-04
THE BURNING OF THE LOTUS.
PARTICULARS OF THE HOR.
RTBLE DISASTER,
Twelve Lives Knewn tn re ros,

| Mr.. Devinney, the second clerk of the I,otus
VINO arrived here Sunday, has obligingly fur
| nlshed us with additional particulars concern
ing the destruction Of that fine boat by fire.
The Lotus with cargo of 1871 bales Of cotton
| and 525 sacks of cotton seed. from Red river for
New Orleans. having reached point opposite
Waterloo was discovered by the engineer to be
on lire in the gangway at the after end of the
boilers The alarm was Immediately given to
the pilot. who headed the boat to the shore
but 80 rapid was the progress of the
flames that the lower deck was quickly
enveloped. the steam pipe burst. and, the boat
| becoming unmanageable, swung around to the
middle of the river. Passengers and crew were
forced to Jump into the river to escape burning.
The stage planks and jack-staff were immedi-
| ately thrown overheard, and were the means of
| the saving OF many lives.
| The steamboat Willie was fortunately within
sight coming uDt the river; whistle, as signal
for help. was blown by the Lotus, which was
| promptly responded to. Had it not been for
this circumstance, the clerk thinks that but very
few persons would have been saved The weather
was extremely cold, and the presence of the
Willie preserved the lives Of many who, having
escaped being burned, were in imminent dan
ger of being frozen or drowned
The cook OF the boat Henry Richardson
was burned to death while holding on to the
stem; Peter Seagreen, deckhand was burned to
death. and Mr.; Henry Loper, the mate, was
drowned; the chambermaid Elanora and eight
roustabouts were also drowned
Ihere were hfteen passengers, not one of
whom was lost though Mrs. Massey, of New
Orleans, while escaping through a window over
to the wheel was badly cut and bruised
Ine DOCKS, papers, money and United States
mail were all destroyed, as well as the entire
baggage and clothing of the passengers and
crew. 7 '10
Capt. Dannals, the commander, was quite se-
Verely scOrched, as were most of the saved
Clerk Devinney and several others were res-
cued by means OF the life floats thrown over
board from the Willie.
The Lotus was valued at s25 900; was insured
for $4,000, half of which risk was in New Or
leans. and the other half In Cincinnati. -
The piloton duty. 81 Gillen, acted nobly. re-
naming at his post until badly scorched bV the
names, ne had to leave to save his life. The en-
glneer, Adolpn Hastienes, is also deserving of
special mention for his cool and daring con-
duct. o'
The passengers and crew of the Lotus ara
emphatic in their praise of Capt Delahoussave
and the crew of the Willie, not onlV for ainost
superhuman efforts to save them from horri
bic death, but for their extraordinary and con.
siderate attentions to the rescued
The sheriff OF Pointe Coupee parish gave a
carte blanche order to passenger to order anV
lief of the saved '1Ao : .
The second mate Of the Lotus, Mat. Reeves
did great service in rescuing several frnp, .
Watery grave. He was left in charoa ~ the q
wreck by Capt. Dannals, who arrived IN the l,
e. u: Lee. The greater number Of those an
tne Lotus came down on the Gold Dnst. the
balance arrived on the Coy. Allen.