The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-05

IHHE RAOKEx GOEDEN CITY BURN
ED AT MEMPHIS.
A Terrible Scene and Tremendous
Loss Of Life.
MEMPHIS, March 80. The steam
Ter Golden City, of the Southern
transportation company's line, when
approaching the wharf this morning
at 4 81 o'clock was discovered to be
on fir. The discovery was made
by Second Engineer Albert Kelley,
who Immediately notified Captain
Bryce Purcell, Sr., the pilot on
watch. The boats bow was at once
headed for the shore, and in fou-
minutes afterwards she touched the
wharf at the foot of Beale street
where the coal fleet is moored. A
line was hastily thrown and made
fast to one of the coal barges, but
the current being too swift, it soon
parted and the burning steamer
foated down the river 4 mass OF
flames, with many of her passen-
gers and crew on board, who were
unable to rech shore and were lost.
The Golden City left New Orleans
last Saturday on the way to Cincin-
natl. She had on board fifty cabin
passengers, fifteen of whom were
ladies and nine were children. Her
cargo consisted of 800 tons, among
which was a lot of jute. The fire is
said to have originated in this COM
bustible material.
All the officers of the steamer, ey-
cept Second Engineer Robert Kel.
ley, escaped. After he gave the
alarm of fire he remained at his
post of duty until cut off by the
flames, the fire having spread with
lightning rapidity, and thus he sac
rificed his life to save others.
Stoves circus was taken aboard
at Vidalia, louisiana, and six ca.
ges of animals and birds, together
with the ticket and band wagons
tents and horses, were 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
and awaking up passengers. So rap
idly did the flames spread that with.
in five minutes after the discovery
of the fire. which broke out amid.
ships, the after part of the steamers
was all ablazee. Those who were
saved had to flee in.their night clot
hes. When the burning steamer
touched the wharf the fire commu.
nicated to the coal barges and the
tug Oriole. which was also burned.
As nearly as can be ascertained
there were twenty-three ladies on
board the ill-fated steamer, but two
of whom, so far as known, were
saved. J. III. Crink, connected with
Stoves circus, is missing, supposed
to be lost John Devouz, his wife
and three children, were saved and
and are at the hospital; also Simon
Black. Mr.. Devouz is slightly burn
ed on the hands. The Golden City
was five years old; cost $4,000
She was owned by Captain ]. d. Hy.
Ter. w. F. Mcintyre and S. c. Mcln-
tyre She lies sunk about three
miles below here. in the chute, near
the Tennessee shore. When she
foated off from the wharf about
twenty of her passengers and crew
jumped aboard a barge which fioated
down the stream, but they were res
cued by one OF the harbor boats,
which towed the barge into the
shore one mile below thescity.
1t is estimated that thirty-fve
lives were lost by the disaster, but
at present no additional names can
be learned. Robert Kelly, second
engineer, and three roustabouts are
the only members of the boats crew
that are known to be lost. John
Dreffer, the steward Peter Dreffer,
the cook; John Lamb, second cook
Betty Luxford, pastry cook Mart
Whalen, mess room tender; John
Hill, second mate; Charles Harvey,
second watchman, and a passenger
named Bloomfield were saved.
The fire was caused by a watch
man accidentally setting fire to lot
of iute, which was stored amidship.
The steamer had Just whistled to
land and the watchman went among
the passengers to notify them that
they were approaching Memphis
and that those destined for the city
must get ashore, when the bottom
of his lamp fell in some jute, ahd be-
fore the flames could be extinguished
they had spread all over the deck OF
the vessel. Bryce Purcell, the pilot,
made his escape by climbing over
the front part Of the pilot house, the
fire being then in the rear. When
the steamer touched the wharf the
tug Oriole did not burn, as was at
first reported, but was sunk by the
burning steamer in making a land
ing. Several coal barges and an ice
boat belonging to Bahlen, Hughes &
"a caurhf On fro opd wara hurrod