Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-31

Frank Stowe caught one, the other one was
caught by deck hand.
BRAVE BOY.
Willie Mckinley, the lad of sixteen, was
found by reporter at the house of Mr..
Mcclure, on Shelby street; he stated:
"When the boat whistled to land, it woke me
up, l put on my breeches and wens to the
state-room window, but didn't see anything
out OF the way. Shortly afterward l saw
blaze under the berth; | went as fast as pos
sible to my graudmother's room and noticed
that blaze was coming out OF the clerks
office. While my grandmother was, as L
thought, following me, che really went back
to the stern OF the boat where there were
number of women wringing their hands.
led my aunt, Miss Iona Mastin, through the
smoke; the fire was breaking through the
state-room as we went by. We went down TO
the barge, and she was afterward brought
here TO Mr.. Mcliuire's. He has treated us
very kindly; he never knew any of us
before, but that made no difference. Ny
aunt has been Frustrated ever since. l came
from the boat barefoo-ed; with no coat or
vest. We lost nearly everything we had on
the boat. We were going to Hawesville, KY.
C. y. HARDING,
one OF the passengers, who is a musician
with w. H. Stoves circus, stated TO the re-
porter that he was walked from his sleep by
The bursting of the steam whistle and he
hardly had time to think before he found
himself enveloped in flames almost. He put
on his pants, and hurried off as fast as be
could. He said it was the most peculiar fire
he ever saw. The animals made no noise,
and were probably sufocated to death. Five
minutes after the boat caught she was in
flames. He did not have time to see any
body hurt.
Pat Haley, another dttoche of the boat
stated 10 the APPEAL reporter that he was
reused suddenly by the cry of fire. He me-
chemically pulled on few clothes and has
tened ashore. He knew that all the ami
| mails of the menagerie were lost.
| Mike O'Donnell, fireman of the boat,
stated that the fire broke out amidships, and
| that though every effort was made to fasten
the boat to the shore, they could not succeed.
| There were not 100 people on board.
A SPEEDY DEPARTURE.
Ben Rushing, Kentuckian, stated to the
reporter that when he heard the whistle he
got ost of there, grabbed his clothes and run
through the town with them in his hands.
One of the pilots had jumped from the stage
and had fallen astraddle of him. He saw a
gambler aboard who had got out of his room
in his baseball suit and had left all his
hard earnings behind.
"Where are you bound to ?" asked the re-
porter.
"Weston, KY"
Kentucky is good State"
81 just wish l was there now"
"DId you get out easy? p
IL consider | done well. haven't got a
scratch"
THE BUFFALO" RoUsTER.
VIM. Harris, colored rouster, known
lovingly as the Buffalo" but not the one
that swan ashore, stated TO an APPEAL re-
porter: 81 was sleeping about fifteen or
| twenty feet from the engine, when l was
walked by the captain OF the watch, Wash
Smith. He shook ME and said "6re."
took my pants and run without asking any
questions. The fire was burning straight up.
jumped on the barge that was cut loose
| with about a dozen men. When the fire
came through the cabin saw the women on
the stern of the boat, cut off by the fire.
They had to jump over or run in the fire.
1 didn't see any jump ouer. / went on down
the river with tie barge till we was tugged
back by little boat"
THE PILOTS SWORN STATEMENT.
This is to certify that L was pilot on the
Golden City at the time she was burned at
the port of Memphis, Tenn, on the morning
of March 30th, at o'clock am. The said
Orleans, La, to Cincinnati, o. Nothing of
importance occurred on the trip until
the morning of said day of March
Both, when opposite the icehouse at Mem
phis | was notified that the boat was on fire,
and as soon possible 1 held the boat for
the Tennessee shore, and before the boat got
to shore she was on fire on both sides from
the midships aft, and when l left the pilot
house the smoke was SO dense that | could
see nothing in front me, and had to feel my
way to find the steps leaiing to the main
deck. When 1 got to the forward deck the
captain and one Charles Ross were trying to
get line fast, which with my assistance was
done. / would further state that the engine
bells were never rung to stop at any time, and
what caused the line to part that she was
made fast with / do not know.
PURSELL.
Subscribed and sworn before me this 3Olh
day of March, 1881. $. s GARRETT,
Inspector of Hulls.