St. Landry democrat., 1882-04-22
4 RIVER HORROR !!
Turning of the Steamer Golden City
Twenty-Five Persons Perish i'll the Flames
Flood.

MEMPHIS, ENN., h;llcH hu-
At4 80 O'clock this morning, just after the
steamer Golden City had sounded her whistle
rs ii signal OF her intention of landing at the
Whalf. fire was discovered among al lot of jutc,
and within five minutes the flames had
spread with such lightning rapidity that the
vessel was ahlazc almost her entire length.
There are several stories current us to the
origin Of the fire. but after the most careful
inquiry and investigation it is safe to say that
tie fire was caused through the carelesSneSs
OF Wash Sn it'll, the cnored captain of the
watch. few moments before the flames
were seen leaping upward, he was back i'll the
dcck-room OF the steamer with II lamp, and it
is stated that he removed the burner from
the lamp for the purpose of picking the wick,
and spark falling on some jute, ignted that
colnbustible material, which soon mounted
mp to and enveloped the cabin of the steamer.
Brlce Purcell, ST, WAS the pilot on watch at
the time. The first intimation he had of the
danger shouted to him by the second en-
gineer John Kelly, who was on watch. He
called up through the trumpet, '"The boat Is
on fire; head her for shore, and, for Gods
sake, be quick about it"' The boat at this
time was close to shore, ana Purcell imme-
diatey headed her for the bank. Within four
minutes aftcrward she struck the coal fleet
that was InOOrcd at the foot of Bcale street,
Just below the Anchor Line COmpany's wharf
boat. She came with such force, the engineer
having turned on full head of steam, that
she struck the tug OriOle, sunk that craft, and
ran afoul of several coal bargcs. 4 line was
thrown and made fast to one of the barges
but from some unknown cause soon parted
and the steamer began drifting down with
the current, which is very swift at the point
where she was landed.
When the vessel struck the coal fleet all Of
her PASSENGERS and crew who had been
aroused and were able to reach the for
ward part of the boat made their escape by
jumping Oh the coal bargeS, but there were
many still aboard the burning vessel who had
been cut off by the flames from reaching the
forward part, and a portion of the deck pass
engcrs aud crew had sought safety by going
aft. OF these but two we're saved. All the
others were either drowned or sutfocated, as
the wind blowing the flames i'll that di-
rection, and it was this that caused so many
of the cabin passengers to be lost. SO far as
definitely ascertained the following list en-
braces those lost:
Dr. Monahan and wife, of Jackson, Q.
Mrs. Crazy, of Fairmont, near Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Miss Luella Crary, Morton Place, near Gin
cinnati, 0.
w. II. Stowe, wife and two chldren-a boy
of and girl of ;.
Obey Wood and wife, Amelia Wood, of Hen
derson, Ky.
Mrs. Anna Smith, of Massachusetts.
Mrs. Helen Percival of TOWNSVILLE, Ky.
Mrs. L. T. kountz and her three children.
Miss Campbell, a relative of Mrs. kountz.
aged about II.
John Kelley, the second engineer OF the ILL
j. H. Cronk, who owned the side show of
Stoves Circus.
j. c. Combs, of Henderson, Ky.
Mr.. Milam of Alton, Ind.
Three colored deck-hands, John Jones, Mar
shall, and Wood.
The wounded are: Levi Fisher, barber,
hand and leg scalded r. Weaver, porter.
hands burned; John Devouse, wife and three
children, deck passengers, all slightly
burned; Simon Block, deck passenger. hands
burned.
The burning steamer, as she drfted down
stream in early gray of the dawn, a mass of
flames, presented sight beautiful yet AWFUL
in its grandeur. The wreck floated aboutTonr
miles and finally sunk in the chute near the
shore.
The only men of the crew known to be lost
are John Kelley, the second engineer. and
three co,ored men, who were crushed be-
tween the coal barges when the boat first
touched. John Kelley could easily have saved
himself, but he stood to his engine until the
boat had been landed, and then it was too
late. One of the crew saw him for an instant
rs he stood at the post of duty, with the fierce
flames burning all around him. His form
seemed a mass of fire, and then sank down
never to rise again.
Charles Myers, the third cook of the steam
ar, was tished out of the river by William
Bierce, cotton clerk, " no went in a skif to
the rescue of those who might be aboard the
burning vessel as she floated from the wharf.
VI. J. Whelan the second baker, was rescued
IN like manner by Billy Hodge, pilot on the
Dean Adams. Brce Purcell, Jr, son of the
pilot was in tine clerks office when the alarm
was first given. Taking in the situation, he
ushed down the cabin knocking and kicking
1t every stateroom, and shouting FIRE." as
1e ran along. He it was who aroused the
sleeping passengers and saved those who
we're able to get out in time Bryce Purcell
ST., remained in the pilot house until the boat
vas landed, by which time the flames had al
most enveloped him, and he was compelled
% make his exit over the front of the pilot
louse.
Capt. Mcintyre, as soon as aroused ran
Town stairs to awaken the passengers but
vas driven back by the flames, which seemed
o burst up from underneath in dozen diff
erent parts of the boat at once. Going on
leck he threw line on the coal barge, and,
assisted by the second mate, John Hill, made
t fast 1t was while the boat was thus being
leld in that all those on the bow of the steam
It made their escape.
Some say the rope which held the steamer
burned, while others say the stanchion to
which it was tied gave way. At all events
he did not remain fast longer than three
The Golden City was valued at $4,000, and
vas insured for 100000 in Cincinnati compa-
lies. She was built in 1876, and was one OF
he best equipped steamers plying between
fincinnati and New Orleans. The Govern
nent inspectors say that she was eX-
well equipped with every