The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-12
ovarrH or rHs STEAMER la BELLE,


RAPipoEs, RED RIVER, February 9, 1878.
Editor Demurut You ayill Of course, have
been informed. by ,teleetarh pf the sinking Of
HE steamer La Belle, but there are stjthe
scenes and Incidents Of the accident that de-
serve special mention She left Shreveport
Tuesday evening, with the following cargo, as
I learn FROM Capt; Woods viz: 26l4 bales cot
ton seed oil cake, a small lot Of cotton seed In
sacks and ah9ne twenty passengers. She
on eight more passengers.
Shortly a ,i Satk we were nsa ca4 ~ IN
.ere going cautiously down the river, wien
q about Q o'clock Saturday morning, In
making bend neal, the head Of the, Rap.ons
she driited or ran into raft which had col
lptted around SING near the shore II was
not at first thought any damage had been
done Az she struck she turned around and
gotNler head up stream 1t was soon discov
cred that sha was filling rapidly, and the cap
tain rang the bell and she was headed fer the
shore Oh the starboatd side.
Everything was soon in confusion. A line
was pot ashnfe. but II parted She was then
drifting around point In a terrible current.
The stage was swung around. and another
deckhands found that they could reach the
shore they abandoned the line, and ell rushed
ashore At this time the ladies' and children
were ON the lower deck. knee deep IN water.
they were forced to the upper deck by the
u.
passengers and cabih-boys, and made last.
Whether the line stopped her Or not, I don't
know but the boat commence to settle. Be
fore any If the ladies' and CHI laren were got off
the bow was under water and the lights fell
into the water
Everybody was got safely ashore, and the
baggage Of The passengers was all gotten off
befotethe water reaehed the cabin. Onefturth
probably be lost Az she settled, the boat ca
rperrH mitwaitis, and the cotton on that side
driftsd off down the river
Fires were made and mattresses, blankets,
etc brought from the boat, and we were all
made as comfortable az circumstances per-
mitted The pantry and kitchen were ell
under water and we lost our breakfast. We
were so thankful It was no. worse, that nobody
cared for that. At about 10 o'clock the Col
A P. Kpsins reached the wreck. on her way
40. and we were all invited aboard and our
wants supplied by her kind and polite officers
She is now unloading her freight and will re-
turn from here.
La Belle lies in about twenty feet of water
close enough to the bank for her stage to
| reach tho shore Some Of the cotton has been
rolled ashore and all the furniture Of the boat
is safe. The captain informs me that about
one fourth uf the cotton will be saved. and he
thinks as we all do that the boat will be a
total loss. No lives were lost.
Now let me mention some acts Of heToism
deserving Of all praise. Capt Woods had his
wife and three children aboard. but never left
his post on the ROOF until every passenger was
ashore. and he has notoyet ceased for a mo
ment his efforts tn save everything that can
be saved. Capt. Daniels. Of the Inflated 10
tus. carried the family Of Capt. Woods
ashore The pilot William Johnson. stood at
the wheel until after the boat had sunk, and to
his bravery is due che rescue Of US all from
watery graves. q
Leonard Hartiens the engineer on watch.
deserves a place beside Grace Darling and
"Jim Bludso, of the Prairie Belle" for his
herosm and devotion 60 duty. He stood to
his engine until the water had risen to his
breast aud SURROUNDED on all sides with cot
ton, with the hurry and scramble for life
going on around and above him. he stood to
his post and made the last turn Of the throttle
valve when the water reached his armpits.
He then came ashore dripping with water and
was received with hearty cheer No pluned
knight ever did deed more worthy Of
knightly honors. and the Cross of the Legion
of Honor never rewarded q more heroic self
sacrifice than that Of Leonard Hartiens, the
engineer OF La Belle.
Yours truly, PASSENGER