The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-07
ROASTED ALIVE.
Steamer Burned ON the Mississippi,
and Upward OF Thirty Human Lives

ROASTED ALIVE.
A Steamer Burned on the Mississippi,
and Upward OF Thirty Human Lives
ExtinguiShed.
The Mississippi river passenger steamer Col
den City, bound from New Orleans to Cincin-
natl, was burned just as she was approaching
the landing at Memphis, at an early
hour on the morning Of the SOth
ult. She carried crew of about sixty
and forty cabin passengers, including fifteen
ladies and nine children. 1t is believed that
at least thirty of the passengers were lost
Most of the officers and crew managed to save
themselves. The story of the disaster, In full,
Is embraced in the appended kilograms from
Memphis:
The Golden City approached the city near
the foot of Beale street and signaled for land
ing. Just then the boat was discovered to be
on fire. She was directed to shore notwith-
standing, and ran into number of coal-fats.
The fire sprerd with the rapidly of lightning
almost and 800 barrels of oil fed it into a fury
in moment. Tine boat triedto attach itself to
the city Gump-boat. but could not succeed in
doing So The flames began in the center of the
boat, and spread both ways, and people rushed
pell-mell out of their sleep and jumped over upon
the dump-boat and coal flats. Efforts to attach
the boat proved unavailing, and she drifted away
down the rlVer, thing of glittering splenGor
Quite number of people were ON board, and
as the whole boat was mass of flame, fed by
the oil, they must all have been burned to DEATH
1t was unlike most fires. 1t was so quick and
deadly in its results that women did not have
time to shrek nor men call for help. Everybody
was paralyzed with horror. A great crowd soon
collected on the river banks and watched the
fire. All sorts of rumors were soon spread about
the disaster. The loss of life was variously
reported from twenty to 100 souls.
The fire was caused by the captain of the watch,
who went through the engine room to see if any
one was in it. Accidentally the bottom dropped
from his lamp into some hemp, which caught
fire Immediately and spread rapidly, and in al
most an instant the boat was doomed. Those
who escaped had to do 80 Immediately, and they
were not very particular how they got away.
Ono individual was seen to leap over upon a coal
fiat in his night shirt holding his clothes in his
hands, When he reached terra frma he was
90 possessed with fear that he ran away up the
levee with the speed of Kentucky thorough
bred. When last seen he had stopped and
was pulling on. his pants. One gentleman
aboard, who had two or three ladies and the
same number of children under his charge,
pitched the children over upon the float, know
ing that they never could get off otherwise,
and then jumped over with the ladies. Several
jumped into the water and were
pulled ashore, or swan ashore, or
were drowned. The condition of those who
escaped with their lives was pitiable in the ex-
treme. The women had but scant clothing on,
and the men were no better off. Many of them
had sustained pecuniary loss. One gentleman
sat alone by himself In his night Clothes SILVER
ing and crying. His wife and children were
lost. He seemed to be totally unconscious of
his plight. For some time so great was the
excitement that no attention was paid to him
but hnd-hearted lady living on Shelby street
sent him her husbands dressing gown.
As the boat was carried away by the current
it was noticed that several women and children
In their night clothing stood in the stern, with
the alternative of rushing into the flames or
jumping overheard. As no one saw them fall
over it is supposed that they were literally
burned to death. Additional fuel was furn-
ished the fames by several tiers OF oakum which
were consumed like finder. Those
on board hardly knew how they were
awakened. The main point was
how to escape. The flames had the
completest possession of the boat in five min.
Ites, and fearful sheets of flame shot into the
air. while immense clouds of smoke envelOped
the scene. The one rope holding the boat was
unable to stand the strain, and the Golden City
began gradually to be drawn into the current.
Down the river she foated, furnishing to those
beauty. The waters cleaned in crimson, and
the Arkansas shore was distinctly drawn in red.
The steamer did pot make long trip to her
doom.
A trail of fire followed her close to shore,
tlen out short distance into the current. All
the time the boat was burning ftiriously and the
fire was eating its way to the water. The boat
drifted off beyond Presidents island. some 800
or 400 yards, and when within 100 yards
nf oh no with
poor, dead bodies, Its catgoand everything, was
imprisoned in the waves, and the fierce ele-
ments were soothed in the twinkiing OF
an eye. 1t is the general impression that those
who died were suffocated to death rather than
Burned. Afterward those who passed the
place saw only part of the debris and a few
chairs upon it. That was the only evidence Of
the wreck. 1t was wonder to most people
that there was not an explosion, and the only
way this can be accounted for is that the
steam PIPE burst, and thus allowed the steam
to escape.
The most horrible feature of the fire was the
death of children. 1t is supposed that several
others in addition to those reported were lost
The little ones were kindly lent q helping hand
The struggle of all classes to get from the
boat resulted in great confusion. Agreat num-
Der of those on board had to leave without
making their toilets.
Stoves circus was taken aboard at Vidalia.
La, and Six cages OF animals and birds, to-
gether with the ticket and band wagons, tents
and horses we're lost.
Marion Purcell, one of the pilots, was in the
clerks office when the alarm first sounded, and
he rushed through the cabin, bursting in state
room doors, awakening passengers So rapidly
did the flames spread that within five minutes
after discovering the fire, which broke amid
ships, the after part OF the steamer was all
ablaze. Those that we're saved had to fee in
their night clothes When the burning steamer
touched the wharf the ire communicated to
the coal-aeet and the tug Oriole, which also
burned.
Az near as can be ascertained there we're
twenty-three ladies aboard the Inflated steam
er, but two of whom, az far as known, were
saved.
Felix Lehman, who was passenger, says
there was merry party aboard, AMI nearly ali
the passengers remained up until min ght.
They had one Or two gentlemen aboard who
played the Piano, and they entertained tue pas
sengers W tn music and singing. lIe was
awakened by having bis sate-ro1m bGrsted H.
ami heard the cry of 9 Fire r. SEEING his
clothes he ran forward and reached the b rgc
just in tine, as the next minute this vessel
hlate down it cam.
Tie books OF the steamer were lost, 80 it
impossible to gather a mplete NJ Of tt !o-
and s.ytd