Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-15

Yearly all Of them IN their night.garmenfs.
Among them was q gentleman, name M
known, but recognized - the superls-
i.ndcnt Of the vidalia Southern railroad.
lie had his wife and two children (girls oil
NH G and twelve years. With him. He called
them around him and blde them follow
him. By this time the flames had reached
the cabin, through which thick smoke was
rolling. The psnic-stfickcn passengers
quickly made for M eDtfance-some 10 the
stern. aud otben to the front. The gen.
tleman referred to was among those that
went 10 the stern. Upon reaching the
deck he
THREW HIs CHILDREN INTO TIE RIVER.
Before he and bis wife could follow the
flames had reached them, and they were
burned TO death. Two pilots on watch
John stout and Bob Smith-were 10 the pi.
dollhouse, and were compelled to Jump into
the river, where they were picked up. They
lad narrow escape from death. The lire
burned 30 quickly that II was impossible to
see who was saved and who was lost. The
deck was crowded with rousiabOutS and
deck passengers. thirty OF the latter having
got on the vessel at New-TeXls landing.
Just above where the boat was burned.
Nearly all Of these were lost.
W NlIt tue titN Ntlt
escaping from the boat the steam. pipe blew
up, and was hurled three hundHd yards in
the air. The force OF the explosion caused
over twenty bales Of burning cotton - be
buried high In the air, where they reyolyed
several times and then fell into the river.
Immediately after the explosion shrieks
were heard coming from the stern OF the
vessel. For au instant two colored women
were seen standing in the galley Just back
Of the wheel-bouse, and the next instant
they were hidden flom view By the smoke
and flames. The first part OF the boat to
give way was the wheel house. 1t fell into
the water, and, a draft being created, the
flames swept through the centre OF the
boat.
THOSE WHO ESCAPED
were taken away from the scene by the
steamboat Stella Wilde, which plies between
Bayou Sara and NatcheZ. As the Wilde
Was backing out four kegs OF gunpOwder
that were In the hole exploded, and cotton
and burning timbers were hurled in all
directions. This virtually put the fire out,
and " hat was once paatial steamer was
now a blackened wreck.
\ loud cry for help came from the mid
die Of the stream. A boat was lowered
from the Wilde and was quickly pulled In
The direction OF the cry. Through the dark.
ness the crew saw the figure OF a MN
gIa.ping bale OF cotton, but before they
could reach him the bale turned over, and
when IL was righted the man was gone.
Captain Henry G. Brown, state Engineer,
who was a passenger on the White esli.
mates the loss OF life at thirty-siX. He
gives the names OF the following persons
who were saved, but were all slightly in.
jured. and were left at Point Coupe:
John Stohl, pilot; Ilortense Smith and
Mis-. Smith, OF Racine, WIS, and gentle.
man and his wife, from Chicago, names I'M.
known. There were about thirty cabin
pas engcrs, and a number Of negro cabin
passengers In the bureau" The number
Of deck passengers Is unknown.
Dir. Brown says: "Wash. Lloyd, for
mcrly a clerk on the Will. 5. Hays, ran
through the cabin calling up the passen-
gers, and nObly lost his life trying to save
Others. Captain MuZ, commander OF the
White, had been i'll all day, and was in bed
when the fire broke ou', and the chief
mate was in charge OF the steamer. | had
about ten feet start OF the fire, and although
ran rapidly forward, when | reached the
bank the fire was within twenty-five feet Of
me. | had on only my under clothing
Whon | reached the bank. did not see
soul in the cabin as | ran through. The
ca in vas In full blaze at the time, and
tLc flames were rapidly elting their way to
the hurricane deck