The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-04-07
ROASTED ALIVE.


ExtlnguishoA.
The Mississippi river passenger steamer Col
den City, bound from NsS Orleans to Cincin-
natl, was burned just - she was approaching
he landing at Memphis, at an early
hour ON the morning Of the sOth
ult. She carried q crew Of about sixty
and forty cabin passengers, including fifteen
ladies and nine children. 1t is believed that
at least thirty Of tho 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 a number of coal-fiats
The fire sprerd with the rapidity OF lightning
almost, and 800 barrels OF oil fed it into fury
in q moment The boat tried to attach itself to
the city dump-boat but could not succeed in
doing 30. 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 sue drifted away
down the river, thing Of glittering splencor.
Quite a number OF people were on board, and
as the whole boat was n 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 to 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 II 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 10 leap over upon coal
fat in his night shirt, holding his clothes i'll his
hands. When he reached terra frma he was
so 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 on otherwise,
and then jumped over with the ladies. Several
persons who were about to be left
jumped into the water and were
were drowned. The condition of those who
escaped with their lives was pitiable in the ex-
IRENE. The women had but scant clothing on,
ana the men were no better of. Many OF them
had Sustained pecuniafy Toss One gentleman
sat alone by himself IN his night clothes, shiver-
ing and crying. His wife and children were
lost. He seemed to be totally UNCONSCIOUS Of
his plight. For some time 80 great was the
excitement that no attention was paid to hlm |;
but knd-hearted Sady 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
this alternative Of rushing into the flames or
jumping overheard. AS no one saw them fall
over 1t is supposed that they were literally
burned to death. Additional fuel was furn-
isbed the flames by several tiers OF oakum which
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.
utes, and fearful sheets OF flame shot into the
air. while itmense clouds Of smoke enveoped
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
on shore picture Of unrivaled and fearful
beauty. The waters cleaned In crimson, and
the Arkansas shore distinctly drawn in red.
The steamer did not make long trip to her
doom.
A trail OF fire followed her close to shore,
then out short distance into the current. All
the time the boat was burning furiously and the
fire was eating its way to the water. The boat
drifted OF beyond Presidents island. some 800
or 400 yards, and when within 100 yards
of the Tennessee shore the vessel with its
poor, dead bodies, Its cargo and 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 sufocated 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 TO accounted for ~ that the
steam ripe 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 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 Vidala,
La, and Six cages OF ANNALS 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. 80 rapidly
I'D 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 were saved had to flee in
their night clothes. When the burning steamer
touched the wharf the lire communicated to
the ooal-fleet and the tug Orlole which also
burned.
As near az can be ascertained there were
twenty-three ladies aboard the Inflated steam
or, but two Of whom, as far as known, were
saved.
Felix Lehman, who was passenger, says
there was merry party aboard, and nearly all
the passengers remained up until midnight
They had one or two gentlemen aboard who
played the piano, and they entertained the pas
sengers with music and singing. He was
awakened by having his state-room bursted in,
and heard the cry Of !" Seizing his
clothes he ran forward and reached the barge
Just in time, as the next minute the vessel
hoated down stream.
The books OF the steamer we're lost, so il il
impossible to gather q complete lls OF tie lost
and saved.