The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-29
TIE BLANCHE PORTER.
A Graphic Account Of the Disaster
by One of the Victims.
A Hard Time Returning from a Pleasure
Excursion-List Of Passengers.

on Saturday last a pleasure party. consisting
of Administrators Marks. diynn. CheVhley
Mealey. several excursfonists and some NOM
bers Of the press. left for Grand Isle on the
steamer Blanche Porter at the Invitation OF her
owner. Capt Kranz. This being the first trip Oh
the season. Capt. Kranz had resolved to make 1t
ma pleasant and agreeable as possible TO MS
guests How pierce the trip proved INC
aanuel will show. It was intended to return on
Monday evening, but the Porter WAS detained
near tho mouth Of Bayou Lafourche by adverse
winds unpropitious weather and rough sea-
THE LATEST REPORT
yaaterdav morning was TINT the whole party
was in the best of health and relieved the mo-
notonous hours during the detention of the boat
by INDUCING In merry conversation. counting
sundry chips and enjoying good fare. Yester-
day evening startling rumOr circulated like
wildfre through the town. that the Blanche
Porter had been wrecked. burned down. and
that the passengers barely escaped terrible
death BY flre and water. Such an announcement
naturally created great deal OF excitement. as
all who were on the boat belonged to the best
class OF our citizens. Later In the evening II
wae ascertained that the passengers Of tho Por-
Ter would arrive BY the Morgan Railroad.
A REPORTER OF THE DEMOCRAT
Immediately repaired to the depot at the foot
Of st. Ann street and saw ths victims o. 1ne nc
Way 10 the levee. They oil looked 80 tired out
and dispirted that the reporter had not the
courage to tackle any one Of the gentlemen Tor
..full particulars Of the accident" but postponed
his intRviews
UNTIL LATER IN THE EVENING. q
Administrators Marks was the first ono seen.
Calling ut that gentleman's r. ldence, or f9ey
open and there. In the hall. reclining uncon-
cernedly In an easy chair. surrounded 6y o. nls
family and lay 1hi, nni.ad tha reno%ter ia
L supp ose you want, to interview mo" said
Htep into the parlor and you will hear my
~ Following Mr.. Marks. our reporter. entered
the salon, and taking ID scat prepared nlnlSeli W
80 AT THIS MOMENT
two or three children came in and nestled
gracefully side by side on a large sofa opposite
the reporter evidently to listen to the converse
ton and also, Judging from their looks. with
the intention OF seeing how .hn RI tbe n
trioats process OF interviewing.
When Mr.. Marks began 81 aking they sal
very quiet and demure now ana thsn Rihhelng
depicted on their countenance, whist the de-
ecrlption gradually became. as II were, Ora
| matte,
You must know" said Mr.. Marks. that we
left on Saturday by the Porter for Grand lsle nj
the invitation OF Capt, kranz. You nave peen
we'll posted as TO our doings until we reached ned
point near the mouth of Bayou Lafourche,
where we were weather bound; We arrived
there Oh Sunday. and intended 70 process 4. az
soon as the sea should become Gamer: nd Te go,
ciably as 1t was possible. and enjoyed ourselves
very much. On Tuesday morning. at bout
| daybreak lit may have been O'clock. got Ut
| from my bed as / heard q noise on the boat as
| il she was preparing to start Putting on m y
| pants and coat and taking also my Watch and
pocket book.
| and learned that Capt Kranz had given orders
| to raise steam and make head Tor Grand BIZ.
Capt. Ottendorfer In charge OF me DoaR' ane
| the pilot also, demonstrated with Capt hranI
| and said that the sea WAS too rough ana tne
wind too strong to venture out. but they were
sienced and had TO obey orders OF ne owner
ON THE HURRICANE ROOF
to SEQ the boat go over the bar. and when she
was out OF the bayou 1t seemed to me that int
the craft swayed TO and fro over the, waves
/ Whom we were about II quarter Of mile IRON
land the wind freshened. the waves began &C
assume larger volume and the boat rocked q, {
| little too much. Presently l got down to INT
deck and heard crash the hog chain hac
parted, and the Porter was at the mercy 81 tht
| wind and waves. The passengers began 70 GO
| alarmed; some ran for lite pres rvers. others
gathered in groups aud discussed excltesdly tht
| situation. when all Of a sudden the cry OF
FIREl
| was raised and dense volumes of smoke ISSUED
from the cabin deck. Some parties lumpets9
| overheard others sald nothing, but stood Still
and awaited the course OF events. The fireman
| of the boat. with commendable cooness ant
presence of mind extingushed the fire in TIL
| furnaces, and JUS then ono Of the steam pipes
bursted; Tue whistle then began TO bl9W con
| tinuously; large volumes Of steam and smoK'
intermiugled poured forth. whilst tho flames
SPREAD WITH RAPIDITY.
The boat, Fortunately, was drifting toward
tho shore impelled by the western wind. an
those who were aboard including myself. m
brother Administrators and few other passen
gers, finding the heat intolerabe jumped over
board when the vessel was twenty live yard
from the shore. and safely reached the land
WHILST THE BOAT
was In flames there seemed to be no order 0
discipline aboard. Capt. kranz was the first T.
enter the launch followed by "a little colore
boy and several OF me d ereW ~ me eavy sW wye
down. The little negro boy never rose again
| lie was probably stunnedby striking some part
selves easily except Capt. Kranz. who sank twice
and would have been drowned if he had no
been pulled by. the arm by, parties on raj
fl ating hear him. II the wind had not beel
westerly and driven the boat ashore there
no telling If one of US would have been able
, save himself
1 LOST SMALL. yALIsE
containing a few articles Of clothing. but wa
fortunate In saving my watch and pocket-booE
! which. as have already said. / had put into N
pocket when left my cabin.
On reaching the shore the first question
which was unanimously put, was How are "
going, to reach New Orleans Here We ar
no prospect Of relief before some days" w
espied two luggers moored. one on the easter
aud one on the western side Of the bayou. Th
latter boat was loaded and was awaiting tn
} end of the storm. in order to venture out.
THE OWNER OF THE OTHER BOAT
was approached and negotiations began as t
the price he would charge to take the part
ttwenty-nine in alb to Raceland He eyed U
. critically and mentioned a very high prize
Evidently It was his intention to take advantag
OF our position and to squeeze all be could OF
of US After a long discussion he Reluctant