Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-04-26
Steamer Burned in Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, April pa
The steamer City of Sanford burned
five miles above this city about 4
o'clock this morning. The steamer
was on her way from Sanford, when
opposite Point LaVista fire was dis
covered issuing from the forward
hold from among quantity of pine
wood. An alarm was given and the
pursur went through the boat and
aroused the passengers. In order
to prevent panic he told them not
to be alarmed, that there was plenty
of time. This caused some to lose
valuable time. The boat was headed
for shore, and was in few minutes
grounded in three feet of water, but
the fire had driven the engineer from
his post and the engine could not be
stopped. An attempt was made to
rescue the passengers by having them
go aft and jump overheard, but nots
withstanding these efforts, nine per-
sons, and probably more, perished.
Their names are as follows: Mrs.
Oscar Key and child, of this city;
Mrs. Ireland and daughter, of Coma;
Mrs. G.. Ell. Downer, of Norwalk,
Fla; Captain Shortelle, of the
schooner Magnolia, recently lost on
the Mosquito Inlet bar; Charles
Pierce, nephew, and Willie Brooks,
son of the pilot of the ill fated
steamer, and Dorsey Snapper, deck
hand
The steamer, Geo. M. Bird was
coming down the River few miles
ahead of the Sanford. Her officers
discovered the fire, and at once put
back to the scene of the disaster,
took on board the survivors and
brought them to this city.
The remains of the lost were
brought to this city for interment.
Some of the bodies were burned to
crisp. The city is full of mourning,
and considerable excitement pre-
walls.
The coroner's jury is now in ses-
sion.
The steamer and contents are a
total loss. Nothing saved.
New York, April 26.-A Herald
Jacksonville special gives the follow
ing particulars of the loss of life by
the burning of the steamer, City of
Sanford:
By the time the boat had grounded
in three feet water and within thirty
feet of the shore, she was wrapped in
flames, the northeast wind sweeping
them through her fore and aft. The
passengers were up, in various stages
of apparel, gang of five were on the
rear of the deck, where the captain
urged them to leap overheard into
the shallow water. During the brief
discussion Miss Ireland fell over
board, and the stern wheel still turn
ing, caught her dress, and was about
dragging her under its paddles when
the captain Immediately sprung
overheard the deck and extricated
her. Mr.. Ireland, who jumped after
her, was caught in the wheel and
was also rescued by Capt. Roberts.
Mrs. Ireland and her little daughter
and Mrs, Kee and her little son were
| then left on deck. The ladies were
about to jump overheard when the
two children, seized with panic at
the boat and fearful surroundings,
ran back into the blazing saloon, and
e mothers love, stronger than fear
of death, urged the ladies after them,
and the four disappeared in the fiery
furnace and were burned to crisp.
Their remains were found afterward
under their respective state-rooms.
They were but charred and black
ened trunks, grasping the almost
unrecognizable bodies of their
children. Mr.. G. Fl. Down
er Jumped overheard, but
became exhausted before help
reached him and sank while uttering
mournful cry for help.
Captain Shortelle was an expert
swimmer and seaman and he was
drowned, no one knows how. The
stewardess and a cripple named
Smith sprang overheard and fioated
about until finally the stewardess
reached the life raft, and Smith,
when about to sink, was rescued by
the purser, Stead, with gang plank.
All these were picked up by the re-
lef steamer, Bird. Many of the
passenger and crew sprang over
board in shallow water and were
saved, with the exception of two
L.