Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-01
Loss Fully Forty Thousand
Dollars; Insurance Bare
Iy Fifteen.
Full Details of the Great Marine
Disaster - Incidents Of
the Fire, Etc.


steamers, Idlewild and 0sceoIa Belle,
were both totally destroyed by fire
between sunset and dark last evening,
at the foot of Court street in our har.
Dor. y
The flames were first observed in
the deck-rOom of the Idlewild abaft
the wheel-house, and it is believed
they were kindled in the watchman's
locker or lamp room, perhaps from a
match thOughtlessly dropped among
some ihAamable material after light
ing lamp.
Smoke was first seen, by persons
standing on the bluff, issuing from the
side Of the wheel-house, and US it was
generally known that there was no fire
in use on the boat, spectators at once
caught the idea that the vessel was
about to be destroyed.
An alarm was quickly sounded, and
several of the officers who we're seated
on the boiler deck enjoying the cool Of
the evening, sprang for axes and quick
ly ran back through the cabin to the
point where the fire was reported to
be. They were followed by members
Of the deck crew aud several volun-
teers from on shore.
A few blows were struck with the
axes to cut holes through the floor Of
the ladies' cabin SO that buckets of
water could be thrown upon the
flames, but ere the choppers succeed
ed the FIRE burst through and spread
up and down the inaammable cabin
with rapid strides. All attempts to
quench the flames were from that mo.
ment futile, and those who had aided
in the attempt to get the blaze under
control had to run for their lives. The
flames followed SO close in their rear
that several felt the scorching effects
thereof before reaching the fOrecastle
on the lower deck. Happily, all es-
capped to the shore without accident or
injury.
The alarm was sounded as soon as
it was known that the boat was on
FIRE. Itseemed to be q long time,
however, before the city FIRE engines
reached the scene. The harbor tugs
Frank Jones and 0riole we're lying at
their usual places in the upper harbor.
Both had low rate of steam, not
more than twenty pounds pressure.
1t being about the usual supper time,
part Of each crew had gone ashore to
get their evening meal, and a consid
cradle time elapsed before either tug
could move to the rescue. The lines
of the 0sceola Belle we've cut loose
before the tug arrived, and as soon as
the Oriole could hook on she hauled
the Belle out into the stream. As the
latter lay, previous to the FIRE, her
stern tapped over and rested against
the forward part Of the Idlewild some
twenty-five feet. By the time the
Belle was hauled out clear she had
become well fred, and nothing re.
mained but to let her burn. AS she
drilted, it was feared the burning
vessel would lodge against the Anchor
Line wharf boat, but Whit of wind
caused her to verge out toward mid
stream far enough to avoid such a
disaster. The tug remained close to
the burning vessel until she passed
beyond the craft in the harbor, and
was landed near the lower limits Of
the city.
Just below the Idlewild lay the
splendid local packet steamer james
Lee. This fine vessel had a narrow
ecape from destruction. Her forward
stage rigging caught FIRE twice, and one
Of her stages was at one time in blaze
The cotton freight on her lower deck
brought up on her last trip to FRI
ars Point was 50 heated that it smoked
like tar kiln. All this time siren
GUS efforts were made by the crew to
haul the Lee out from the landing
and drop her below to a place Of safe
ty. After what seemed to be an age
to those interested, the tug Frank
Jonesa and 0riole fastened on, and pull
ed her away from the burning Idle
wild. The latter remained chained to
the bank and burned to tho waters
edge, sinking out of sight some time
during the night. This morning moth
ing the Of splendid vessel Of yesterday
remained above water except one Of
her wheels which rested Cd the bank,
and the jack staff. Her engines and
machinery are yet in the hold, but are