Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-15
ANOTHER HORROR.
BURNING OF A RIVER STEAMBOAT
AT NIGHT.
Men, Women and Children Perish
in the Flames, or Drown
Sad Scenes.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE REooED-uN1oS.J

MEMPHIS, December 14th.-The elegant
steamer j. NJ. White, running between
Vicksburg and New Orleans was burned to
the waters edge at II o'clock last night,
while lying at the bank near BAYOU Sara,
and many lives were lost, consisting largely
of women and children. Nearly all the
crew were saved. Among the passengers
reported lost is the Superintendent of the
Vidalia Railroad at Natchez, who, together
with his wife and children, perished in the
disaster. The books of the boat were lost.
These meager details were received here
over the wires of the Louisville, New
Orleans and Texas Railway.
The White was the finest steamer on the
river. She was EN- route to New Orleans
and had a cargo of cotton on board esti-
mated at not less than 1000 bales. The
surviving passengers and crew were cor
veyed to New Orleans this morning.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
New ORLEANS, December 14th. - The
steamer j. NJ. White, from Vicksburg, Miss.
to New Orleans, was burned at 10 O'Clock
last night at Blue Store Landing, Point
Coupee Parish, thirty miles above Baton
Rouge. She had quite number of pas
sengers aboard, 2100 bales of cotton and
$500 sacks of cotton seed. Several lives
are reported lost, but Captain James F.
Muse, who was in command, telegraphs
that only one life, that of the porter of the
boat, is known TO be lost. The boat and
cargo were total loss. The J. NJ. White
was built in 1873, at a cost of 1925, 900, and
was regarded by many as the finest and
fastest boat that was ever run on the Mis-
sissippi river. The boat was owned by
Captain John w. Tobin. She was valued
at 100000 and the cargo at $4,000. The
insurance on the boat is $4,000. The
cargo doubtless was fully covered.
THE CHIEF ENGINEERS STORY.
ST. LOUIS, December 14th.-A special
from New Orleans, alluding to the burning
of the steamer J. NJ. White, says All the
rescued people took the Mississippi Valley
Railroad train for this city, arriving at
noon. NJ. McGreevy, Chief Engineer of
the boat, gives this statement of the disas-
ter:
AT about 1910 o'clock last night, while
landing at DR.. -Terretes place, above Post
office Landing at Point Coupee, at which
place the boat was loading cotton seed, a
fire broke out amidships, just aft and be-
tween the engines, ON the top of some cot
ton. Engineers Barry and Ganny, who
were on watch, gave the alarm and the
pumps were put at work, but without avail.
The watchman gave the alarm by ringing
the bell Clerks Callahan and Bell at once
aroused the people in the cabin. The fire
spread rapidly, and in less than fifteen
minutes the boat had burned to the waters
edge. There were four kegs of powder in
the magazine, and the moment the fire
reached them the flames shot up about 100
feet high. The sight was the most heart
rending one ever witnessed by human
beings.
THE sHRIEKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
FOR HELP
Was awful. He saw the Superintendent of
the Vidalia Route Railroad standing out
side the ladies' cabin throwing his two
little daughters into the water He stood
there and burned TO death with his wife.
There were i'll the cabin nine lady passen-
gers and about eighty men. At New Texas
twenty deck hands were taken on board.
All are supposed to be lost. 1t is learned
that Andrew Pierce, sailor, and Antonio
Rebatta, a fireman, are the ones to whom
all credit of saving The survivors is due
The following officers are known to be
saved Captain Muse; clerks, a. McVay,
o. Bell and Callahan; pilots, John Stewart
and Bob Smith; engineers, VIM. McGree-
Wy, Tom Barry, F. G. Pallison and Steve
Jenny; mates, John Grant and Tom Trim
bells; watchman, Tom Miller sailor,
Andy Pierce; stewards, Pat Ryan and
Nunez. Colonel S. L. James, who was in
a state-room, managed to get ashore, and
had to walk two miles without coat, hat
or shoes, in the chilly winds, before he
could reach n railroad station. He was
taken to his home on his arrival here.
Among those lost are: Lewis, second
cook Oscar, the baker; Amos, the porter:
and Dick Randolph, a fireman. The prize
OK, taken on at Vicksburg, was roasted to
death, and two of five keepers perished."
A PASSENGER WHO THINKS THERE WERE
FIFTY LIVES LOST.
Colonel S. L. James, who is in critical
condition, stated that the sight was hor-
rifying and could not be told. He positive
ly declared that there must have been sixty
persons lost, because out of sixty-fiye in
the cabin he oould only see himself and
four others, among whom was II. G..
Brown, State Engineer E. Denery, bar
Der, Fred Gray, porter, and j. Collins, a
deck watchman.
Denery said he would never forget the
sight he beheld at St. Morris plantation,
when the steamer was enveloped in flames.
He was sure one child had been rescued
and brought into St. Morris plantation.
To his knowledge, of the boats employees
there were two cabin boys, two chamber
maids, one fireman and one stevedore lost,
besides Ed Jsnekson, Amos Moss, Louis
Walker. Piney Walker and another colored
woman named Lucy. II do believe con-
tiuued Denery, " that the boat burnt up in
about fifteen minutes after the first alarm
was given"