Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-17
THE WRECK OF THE JOSIE
HARRY.
Iiu condition on Yesterday.

The wreck Of the burned steamer Josie
Harry still lies where Il drifted and sunk,
at the head OF Cow Island, Ia less than
from the shore. The three steel boilers
still stand on the main deck Of the hull,
which did not bnrn through in that part
Of the boat sufficiently 10 let the boilers
fall, and they will DO taken off but little
injured by the wrecking steamer Eckert
with little difficulty, as they are not under
water. The after deck burned through
and let the engines into the hold. They
are under water out Of sight, and will not
be worth much when taken out The
electric light engine, put In at a cost Of
$500 week or two before the disaster,
also went through the lower decks, and of
course will be ruined. OF 20 bales OF
cotton slowed in the vessels hold 1t is be-
lieved that as much rs 100 bales may be
saved without serious damage, though
much that was in the hold is known 10 be
so badly burned or charred that II will all
have to be re-picked, and 1t viii not be
worth much.
The boats fine bell was meltd by the
hot FIRE, and ten pound lump OF II was
brought here on Saturday by Captain
Phin Star, the boats mate, when he
brought the safe. The latter was taken
out Of the wreck on Saturday morning by
Mr.. Frank Mcconnell, the hospitable
gentleman who was SO kind 10 the boot'i
crew and passengers, after the mishap.
He found it on the forward part OF the
wreck, and with several Of his colored
hands had il placed in a skiif turning il
over promptly TO Captain Starr on his ar
rival at the wreck toward Saturday
noon In this connection It
may be well to mention an
act Of bravery performed by one Of the
two ilremen, a colored man named Whit
Winson, Of this city, and by which act
any loss Of life was ayertcd. When the
boat struck the shore the swinging stage
became deranged so that neither end
rested on the boat, and the passengers, in
GLIDING many ladies, could not have gotten
ashore without jumping from the cotton
four tiers high, out into the water and mud
under the bank where some would doubt.
less have been burned to death before
they could have been rescued The mate
called on the fireman Whit and said
Partner, il looks bad, but we must 60 L
the forecastle and hoist that stage or these
people will burn to death" The two wen
together down the front stairway through
the dense smoke and handled the ropes oil
fall, and arranged the stage so that all gol
of on II, except Whit, who was com
PEELED TO 60 overheard. The greaser
or apprenticed engineer, and WIFI
were both compelled TO take water, TO sayt
themselves. Among the last TO leave tn,
boat was Mate Starr and the ropes which
held the stage 10 the swinging boon
burned in two, moment after, letting
the blocks overhead drop. The burn
ing wreck swung of, leaving the stag
and one Of the blocks on the river bank
and all hands safely ashore. The Mat
Starts trunk, with clothing and jewelrJ
in II worth several thousand dollars, wa
carried ashore by other members Of thu
crew and he had no hand in that part 0
the business, though be was much graft
fed TO find it safe on the bank afterward
The baggage Of the passengers was nearly
all saved, and a portion Of the wardrob
Of Captain Harry's family was also car
ried out, though the Captain himself los
| half dozen or more fine suits of clothing