Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-22

over a staging from a vessel lying
along the wharf.
While we were going up the river,
Captain Annable was telling us about
two explosions of the towboat Phoenix,
which he had commanded, from both
Of which he had escaped unharmed;
on one occasion flying missile tore
away the back of his coat, and on an
other the portion Of the deck from
which he had just moved was blown
up.
1 thought this was a safe man tc
stand byin case of an accident. Other
gentlemen were relating anecdotes o.
a similar character. Captain j. P
Barnett said he had been on a pleas.
ant excursion in 1886 and broke one
of his legs. He had not been on
trip since, but went on the Anglo.
Norman to see if he could break the
other leg. Well, Captain Annablt
was killed by the explosion of the
Norman and Captain Barnett got .
fracture Of the leg.
But this is anticipating somewhat
the end of the story. WeWent up the
river as far as the Red church, and
then came down strerm. The vessel
was under full headway, and making
about ten miles an hour. A fine
dinner was served at ! O'Clock, and a
number Of the guests we're in the
cabin at the time of the accident
while others were on the boiler deck
forward Of the pilot house. J was
among those in the cabin eating din
ner. When we were passing the lower
line Of Carrollton, about 2 O'Clock,
heard crash, aud simultaneously all
the forward part Of the boat was blown
to atoms. Captain Seras, who was
near me, had a tumbler in his hand at
the time, which cut off the fingers of
his right hand. We were all more or
less stunned and dazed by the shock.
but few people in the cabin were
seriously hurt. Those in the front
part OF the boat we're blown into the
river or covered by the debris.
The boiler went straight up in the
air to an immense height, and no rem.
nants of it were left in the vessel
There was a cry of fire, and flames
broke forth from the hold, but were
soou extinguished, and everybody set
about saving the people in the water
and caring for the wounded.
Two little coast steamers, the
Naniope, Captain Castillo; and the
Creole, Captain Delvaille, came to our
assistance, and took the wreck of the
Anglo-Normln in tow, alter picking
up all the bodies in the water.
1T was never known how many per-
sons were killed Some gentlemen
who were on deck Immediately over
the boilers, and among them Mr.. Fla.
lumsden, Of the Picayune, Mr.. Mark
ligney, Of the Delta, and Mr.. H. A.
Kidd, editor of the Crescent, had a
remarkable escape, being thrown
about fifty feet into the air and de-
posted in the river, whence they we're
rescued with slight injuries.
There was the widest excitement
in the city, as there were many well
known citizens on the Anglo Norman.
"You MAY know Biguey. He has
something to do with some newspaper
in New Orleans now, and the last time
[ saw him he didn't look a day older
than he did that afternoon Ask him
some time, and he will tell you all
about the explosion. He used to be
very fond Of talking aboutit
81 have been on a number of boats
when accidents have occurred, during
the last thirty years, but none of them
stirred me up more than the one
which | have just been telling you
about Those were the days Of steam
boat explosions, and about one occurs
now to ten or fifteen then,
1T was only three days after the
accident on the Norman that the
Knoxville blew up at her landing,
foot of Poydras street, killing several
people, A man runs as little risk
now Of losing hIs life on a steamboat
as by any other mode of travelling"