The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-06-25
Ashland Store, June %, 1881.

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THOS. MILLER
Tho Whisper has resumed her semi
weekly trips between New Orleans and
Plaquemine, and looks as pretty as Il
picture after The thorough overhauling
she has received at the hands of machin-
lists, carpenters and painters. Capt. Geo.
NJ. Woods, the first clerk of the Whisper,
has gone to Frankfort, KY, to visit his
family, and his place is temporarily
filled by MIR. Charles Dean, second clerk
Our estimable young friend VIM. S.
Mavor occupies his old position as rccciv-
ing and discharging clerk.
The Clara $ and Jewel colided at Red
Church, ten days ago, breaking the
Jewels pitman and cylinder.
The United States snagboat Thos. B.
Florence, with Capt. George j. Florence
i'll command, is at work removing OBJ
strnctions from the mouth of Red river.
1t is reported that Capt. W. F. David
owner of the new st. LeHis boat Gem
City, has covered the bet of $lO,O 900 that
the J. NJ. White can beat any boat Oh the
river, and an early trial ofspeed between
the White and the Gem City is looked
for.
Trains are again running on the Shrcvc-
port and Vicksbnrg railroad, the water
| from the Alsatia creyusse having rccedetl
from the road-bed.
Capt. Hemp. Pharr, who has COM
manded steamboats, on the Bayou Tcche
for many years, died at Pin Hook, Yer
million parish, on the 9th inst, at the age
Of 46 years.
Another Of the men injured by the
Hanna explosion has died since our last
report, making eleven victims in all out
Of the fourteen hurt. Two of the sur
vivors have entered damage suits of
$4,000 each against the owners Of the
Hanna. The Coroncr's jury has COM
pleted its Investigation of the catastrophe
and returns finding that the explosion
was entirely accidental and that 10
blame attaches to the officers of the boat.
1t has been discovered that the tlue was
defective ut the spot where the collapse
took place, the iron being thinner there
than in any other portion Of the boiler.
There seems to be no evidence to prove
that the Hanna and St. John were ra-
cing-on the contrary, the engineers and
tirenen assert that the Hanna was run
ming at her usual speed and that the
pressure of steam was less than the boat
was allowed to carry. Tho government
inspectors have not yet concluded their
inquiry into the matter.
Two weeks ago, while the steamer D.
Stein was at Point Pleasant, on Bayou
Bartholomew, three Of the colored roust-
abonts suddenly died. The cansc of
death was alleged to be drinking ice
water while overheatetl, but one Of the
crew has reported in New Orleans that
the three men were beaten to death with
brass knnckles and Il stick by Charles
Hawthorne, mate of the Stein. Mr.. Ed
Evans, clerk of the boat, publishes card
emphatically denying this statement and
asserting that the men died from sun
stroke. This matter should be set at rest
by an immediate and searching investi-
cation on the part of the authorities of
the parish in which the deaths occurred.
We learn that the deck hands en-
ployed on the steamer st. Mary struck
for higher wages just as Che boat was
preparing to leave the New Orleans
wharf last Monday evening. The figure
demanded was $45 per month, an adj
vance of IS over former rates. The boat
was compelled to succumb to tho de-
mand of the strikers, and was detained
at the landing until o'c.ock getting a
crew.