The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-15

get the DOOkB ana money. ne lire RaiHeu rap
idly on him and he was compelled TO leave the
Office but not before he had secured sum of
money from the safe. Mr.. McVay then turned
his attention to saving cabin passengers, of
whom there were about fifteen or eighteen, in
cluding eight ladies. He first awoke second
clerk John Callahan, who ran out of his room
in his undershirt and trousers. Callahan and
McVay went to each room and awoke the in
mates. The terrified passengers quickly got
out, nearly all of them in their night garments
Among them was gentleman, name unknown,
but recognized as the superintendent of the
Vidalia Southern railroad. He had his
wife and two children, girls OF nine
and twelve years, with him. He called
them around him and bade them follow him
BY this time the flames had reached the cabin,
through which thick smoke was rolling. The
nanic-stricken passengers quickly made for an
exit some to the stern and the others to the
front The gentleman referred to was among
those that wept to the stern. Upon reaching
the deck he grasped his two children, one at
time, and threw them into the river. Before he
and his wife could follow the flames had reached
them and they were burned to death.
The two pilots on watch, John Stout and Bob
Smith, were in the pilot-house, and were COM
pelled to jump into the river, where they were
picked up. They had narrow escape from
death.
The FIRE burned so quickly that it was impos-
sible to see who was saved and who was lost
The deck was crowded with roustabouts and
deck passengers, thirty of the latter having got
on the vessel at the New Texas landing, just
above where the boat was burned. Nearly all of
these were lost.
While the passengers and crew were escaping
from the boat the steam-pipe blew up and was
hurled three hundred yards in the air. The
force of the explosion caused over twenty bales
of burning cotton to be hurled high in the air.
where they revolved several times and then fell
into the river Immediately after the explosion
shrieks were heard coming from the stern of the
vessel. For an instant two colored women were
seen standing on the gallery just back of the
wheel-house, and the next instant they were
hidden from view by the moke and flames. The
first part of the boat to give way was the wheel
house. It fell into the water, and draft being
created, the flames swept through the center Of
the boat
Those who escaped were taken away from the
scene by the steam boat Stella Wild which plies
between Bayou Sara and Natchez AS the Wild
was backing out four kegs of powder that were in
the hold of the White exploded, and cotton and
burning timbers were hurled in all directions.
This virtually put the fire out, and what was
once q pa1atial steamer was blackeDed
wreck. When the Wild had backed out a loud
cry for help came from the middle of the stream.
A boat was lowered and was quickly pulled in
the direction of the cry. Through the darkness
the crew saw the figure of man grasping bale
of cotton. but before they could reach him the
bale turned over, and, when it was righted, the
man was gone.
Several survivors of the disaster reached this
CILy LO-UHy Dy the NllSSlsSlDp1 NalI0y railroad
from Baton Rouge They had been taken to
that poinSby the steamer Stella Wild, which
came along after the destruction OF the
White. COL S. J. James stated that the sight
was horrfyinR, and could not be told. He posi-
lively declared that there must have been sixty
persons lost, because out of sixty-fve in the
cabin he could only see himself and four others,
among whom was H. c. Brown, State Engineer;
E. Denny, Fred Gray, porter, and j. Collins,
deck watchman
Dappu coid ho vron1d Xhn oh ha
beheld at the St Morris plantation when the
White was enveloped in flames. He was sure
one child had been rescued and brought into st.
Morris plslEstiOn; To his knowledge, of the
boats sTsfkoyes there were two cabin boys, two
cham bermaids, one fireman and one stevedore
lost, besides Ed Jackson, Amos Moss Louis
Walker. Pinrey Walker and another colored wom-
an named Lucy. II Go believe, continued Denny,
THAT the boat burnt up in about fifteen minutes
after the alarm was first given"
The wreck was in charge of Capt. j. F. Muse,
second mate Tom Trembell and watchman Tom
Miller Mr.. McGreavy said that John Breerard,
passenger, was also saved.
Capt. Henry G. Brown, State Engineer, who
was passenger on the White, estimates the loss
of life at thirty-six. He gives the names of the
following persons who were saved. but who were
all llslighty injured:
John Stahl, the pilot; Hortense Smith; Mrs
Smith, of Racine, Wis, AID a gentleman and
his wife from Chicago, names unknown. There
were about thirty cabin passengers and num-
Der of negro passengers in the bureau" The
number of deck passengers is unknown.
MIR. Brown says: Wash Lloyd, formerly
clerk on the Will S. Hays ran thI ough the cabin
calling up the passengers. and nobly lost his life
trying to save others. Captain Muse the com
mander of the White, had been i'll all day, and
was in bed when the fire broke out. The chief
mate was in charge of the steamer had about
ten feet start of the fire, and although 1
ran rapidly forward, when l reached the bank
the fire was within twenty-five feet of me. I had
my underclothing and hat when reached
the bank did not see soul in the cabin as
ran through. The cabin was in full blaze at the
time, and the flames were rapidly eating their
way to the hurricane deck"
The boat and cargo a total loss. The j.
NJ White was built in 1873 at a cost of 1925 0OO
and was regarded by many as the finest and fast
est boat ever run the Mississippi river. The
boat was owned by Capt John W. Tobin. She
valued at 800, 600, and the cargo at 800 000
The insurance on the boat is $4,000, and the
cargo is doubtless fully covered. Fuller partic-
ulars are at this time almost impossible to
be had.