Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-12-23

Slu6-rOOm. IL was DIaCK aS HlSAt VI cnoss
deck, but knew that could get through,
as the flames were aft, and save myself, SO
jumped over the boi1er-deck railing to
the cotton below, and then went ashore on
| the stage. don't think any one followed
behind me- When got out on the cotton
saw large number OF persons forward
on the lower deck, who were trying to get
out on the stage, which had been placed
| on top of the cotton and reach
ing to the banks. Cries of For Gods sake
press that end of the stage and let US get
off, rang out over the noise and din of the
| fire. called on those standing near me
| to stand on the stage with me, which they
did. We braced her, and all rushed of
and were saved. then went ashore and
walked up the bank to get look at the
stern OF the boat and see what
assistance / could be to those aft
Here men, women and children were
screaming: For Gods sake come and save
| u.s. Andy Pierce and his partner cut the
yawl loose and lowered it. Four negroes
leaped into it, cut the painters and
were trying to go off with it when
Andy leaped into the boat-injuring
himself by the act-forced the boat back
and allowed twenty persons to enter it,
and, with his living cargo, landed safe on
shore. He fastened back, and on his
SSSoAAA
number. On his third trip he saved nine,
and on his fourth and last trip, three
By this time all that remained of the j.
M. White was her hull I never beheld
so awful sight before. While at the
stern of the boat MIR. Stafford, with
his wife by his side, slezed his little
girls and threw them into the river,
They sank instantly and never came to the
surface. Why the father and mother did
not leap after the children is mystery.
They did not, and both were suffocated
and burned to death.
'sOne of the sailors burned his hands in
saving a woman who was in the river be-
tween two bales of cotton struggling for
life. I don't think, owing to the intense
heat, any one on the stern of the
boat could live over ten minutes.
The captain of the watch jumped
overheard and was drowned. There
was a man trying to push prize
steer from Nebraska into the river, but
could not, and both man and beast were
crushed to death by the caving in of the
cabin stanchions. Billy McGolley threw
a coat over his face, and, fighting his way
on his knees through the smoke, was
saved" Regarding the origin of the fire,
Mr.. Dolson said that he had been told that
the flames were first discovered abaft the
doctor, about 'midships.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15-From all that
can be ascertained it is estimated that
fully forty persons persisted by the burn
ing of the White. The foil owing white
people were
L. II. Stafford, wife and daughter, OF
Vidalia.
Captain G. W. Floyd, well-known
steamboat man.
Mrs. MURRAY. of NatcheZ.
Miss Agnes McCabe, of West Feliciana
Two other lady passengers, names I'M
known.
Three men and a woman were seen to go
down when the hurricane deck fell.
The following colored people are known
to have been
LOST:
Levi Robinson, captain of the watch.
Two unknown negro women.
Dick Randolph, fireman.
Oscar Landry and Lewis Martin, cooks
Albert Brown, cabin boy.
John Parker and Perry Williams. cabin
boys.
Amos Morse, porter.
Edward Jackson, cabin boy.
Jenny Walker, chambermaid.
Martha Washington, chambermaid
Duncan Forth, cook.
Two negro preachers.
Hickey.
Volsin Bell, laborer.
Two negro women, each with baby.
1t is thought that William Daily, OF Otto
County, Neb., and Mr.. Obcrchain, OF Ken.
lucky. are lost.
Miss McCabe, of West Feliclana, was lost
Her sister made a remarkable escape.
She says Captain Floyd lost his life trying
to rescue the women.
All the white officers of the boat es-
capped.
Mr. j. E. Carew and his wife, of Ottawa,
ILL.,, escaped.
The following were also saved, all slight
ly injured: John Stahl, the pilot; Hortense
Smith and Mrs. Smith, of Racine, Wis; a
gentleman and his wife from Chicago,
name unknown.
The J. M. White was the finest steamer
on the Mississippi. She was built by the
Howard Brothers, of Jeffersonville, Ind,
about two years ago, at cost of about
$250,0OO, and was owned by an incorporated
company, of which Captain John W. Tobin
was president and superintendent.
The White was en- route for New Or
leans, and had cargo of cotton ON board
estimated at 1000 bales.