Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-07
MARINE SUIT.
The Plaintiffs Fail in the Gov.
Garland Case.

An interesting suit was decided
yesterday in the circuit court, by a
jury, in the interest Of the defendants
Mr. John M. Peters, Mr.. R. A. Speed,
Capt. Rowland and others, owners Of
the steamer, Gov. Garland.
The suit was brought by F. NJ.
White & Co., on behalf Of the Home
insurance company Of this city to re-
cover a marine risk of $8480,OO paid
on 2l2 bales of cotton by the insurance
company, the cotton having been de-
stroyed by fire, when the boat burned
in the Arkansaw river. The case has
occupied the attention of the court
for two weeks or more.
The plaintiffs in the case alleged
~carelessness on the part of the boats
officers and crew, as the cause of her
destruction, and it was aimed to make
the owners Of the craft responsible
for the loss sustained.
The Gov. Garland was burned
about sixty miles above the mouth Of
the Arkansaw river, while on her way
to this port, with ZOO bales of cotton
and other freight. The vessel was
one of the finest and best of her class
ever in the Arkansaw trade and was
only eight months old when destroyed.
The mishap occurred on the 18th of
March, 1877. Capt. Rowland, the
commander, and many Of the passen-
gers and crew, narrowly escaped with
their lives. The captain stood on the
forward part of the lower deck of the
burning boat and threw his own chill
dren wei board as the flames began
to scorch him, one Of the deck hands
catching and conveying them safely to
shore. All on board had to take
water to prevent being burned to
death, but all were lucky enough to
reach the shore in safety.
One of the best witnesses on the
stand during the trial, was a colored
man named Manuel, a fireman of the
vessel at the time of the disaster. He
is now a farmer, on his own planta-
ton, some fifty miles below here near
the river. After the Garland fire he
worked on the steamer illinois eight
months, then on the Phil Allin
several months, and after that
he bought a patch and went to
farming on his own account. Some
days ago, he says, he received a letter
from his captain, telling him his evil
dence was very necessary here in an
important case. He at once came up
to the city to give it. Manuel told a
clear, straight and very convincing
story in a very graphic manner. He
vas fireman on the boat, but off duty
and asleep when the alarm of FIRE was
sounded, Reused from his rest, he
caught the fire hose and with En-
Oiheer Darragh's assistance turned
steam on, and began an effort to
1uench the flames in the blazing cot
ton. He labored hard, so did the en-
gineer and others it was of no use,
the fire continued to spread and soon
enveloped the entire boat. Finding he
could not put out the fire, he jumped
overheard and swan ashore. Mr..
Henry Powers was first officer of the
Garland at the time, and was on duty.
He is now i'll at his residence in the
southern part of the city. His testi-
mony, taken in writing, was also of
material Importance. Several insur-
ance and business men composed the
jury. Their verdict relieves the own
ers of the lost vessel of a heavy re-
sponsibility.
Besides the freight on board when
the Garland burned, the safe in the
office contained $4,000 or more, and all
was totally lost with the boat.