The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-13
Terrible River Disaster.

| terrible disaster occurred at Memphis,
Tenn, on Thursday morning last, the Both, by
which a number of lives were lost. A dis
patch, dated Memphis, gives the following
particulars laoIl. q
The steamer Golden City, OF the Southern Trans
portation Company's Line, when approaching the
wharf this morning at $3.50 discovered to be
fire. The discovery was made by the second engi-
neef Albert Kelly, who Immediately notified the
Captain. The boats bow at once headed for
the shore, and in four minutes afterwards touched
the wharf the foot of Beale street, where coal
fleet moored. A line hastily thrown and
made fast to one of the coal bages, but the
being swift soon parted and the burning steamer
hoated on down the river of flames, with
many of her passengers and crew on board, who
were unable to reach shore and were lost. i-
The Golden City left New Orleans last Saturday
en- route to Cincinnati She carried crew of about
so. She had on board 40 cabin passengers, 15 of
whom were ladies, and there nine children.
Her cargo consisted of 800 tons, among which was a
lot Of jute The fire is said to have originated in
this combust1b1e material. q.
Marion Purcell of the pilots was in the clerks
office when the alarm first sounded and he rushed
through the cabtn bursting in stateroom doors and
awakening the passengers so rapidly did the
flames spread that within five minutes after the
discovery of the fire, which broke out amtdships,
the after part of the steamer all ablaze. Those
who were saved had to flee in their night Clothes
When the burning steamer touched the wharf the
IRE was communicated to some coal-bargeS and
the tug Orlole, which also burned.
AS nearly as can be ascertained there were twenty
three ladies on board The Inflated steamer, but
of whom, so far as known, are saved.
The Golden City five years old, and cost $54,
900. She was owned by Captain j. D. Hyler W 4
Mcintyre, and s. G. Mcintyre She lies sunk about
three miles below here In chute the Tennes-
see shore. When she foated off from the wharf
about twenty OF her passengers jumped aboard
barge, which foated down the stream, but they
rescued by one of the harbor boats, which towed
the barge TO shore mile below the city.
1t is estimated that thirty five lives were lost by
the disaster, but at present additional can
be learned.
| The fire was caused by the watchman accidentally
setting IRE to lot OF jute which was stored amid
the Waterman went among the deck passengers to
notify them that they were approaching Memphis,
and that those destined for that city must get
ashore when the bottom of his lamp dropped in
some iute, and before the flames could be extin-
guished they had spread all over the deck of the
vessel.
Bryce Purcell made his escape by climbing over
the front part of the pilot-house, the flames then
the wharf the tug Orlole did not burn as at first
reported. Several coal barges and an ice-boat be-
longing to Bohes, Huse 4 Co. caught on fire and
were burned. Billy Hodge, pilot on the Dean
Adams, saved the cook, who jumped overheard as
The boat 1oated down the stream: All the passen-
gers and crew were jointly cared for by Mr.. G. E.
Galloway, who provided them with breakfast
Felix Lehman, passenger, says there was merry
NAMED up Until midnight. One two gentlemen
board played the piano, and they entertained the
passengers with music and singing. The body of
an elderly white woman found floating near the
wreck, but her identity has not yet been proven.
William Mcintyre, clerk of the boat, says the list
Of lost cabin passengers already furnished cor
rect as nearly as he can remember. ..
j. 4. Glenroy, one of the saved, resides in Phila-
delph1a. He has for two years been keeper of the
animals In HoWe's menagerie. He states that he
was asleep under one of the animal cages on the
forward part of the lower deck when the cry Of fire
was given. He leaped forth, looked about but saw
no fire. Then he looked again, and the entire
centre of the boat mass of flames AS soon as the
boat touched the coal fleet he jumped ashore. He
saw the officers of the at work making haw-
sers fast. Then he the lines give way, and the
steamer swing out and drift down. The cage con-
tanning the lion sank down in the middle as the
flame enveloped it. He heard cry from any OF
a bAiDp burned alive
Albino deer, monkeys, and birds. OF the four
horses belonging to the circus aboard the steamer,
three were saved, but celebrated trick-horse,
lnct