Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-23

an instant two colored women were seen
standing on the gallery just back of the
wheel house, and in another instant they
were hidden from 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 center of the
boat. Those who escaped were taken
from the scene by the steamboat Stella
Wild, which plies between Bayou, Sara
aud Natchez. AS the steamboat Stella
Wild was backing cut three kegs of gun
powder that were in the hold
exploded and the cotton and burning
timbers were hurled in all directions. This
virtually put the fire out, and what
as once a palatial steamer was now
blackened wreck. When Wild reached
the river, loud CRY for help came from
the middle Of the stream. The boat was
lowered and was quickly pulled in the di
rection of the cry. Through the dark
ness the crew saw the figure of a man
graspirg bale of cotton. but before
they could reach him the bale turned over
and when it was righted the man was
gone.
Col. S. L. James was taken to his home,
L y
where he is in critical condition. He
stated that
THE SIGHT WAS HORRIFYING,
and could not be told. He positively de-
clared that there must have been sixty
persons lost, because out of the sixty -fve
in the cabin he could only see himself
and four others, among whom was FL. G.
Brown, state engineer, E. Denery, a bar
Der, Fred Gray, porter, and j. Collins,
deck Waterman.
Denery said he would never forget the
sight he beheld at st. Morris plantation,
when the White was enveloped in flames.
He was sure one child had been rescued
and brought into st. Morris plantation.
From his knowledge of the boats en-
ployes, there were two cabin boys, two
chambermaids, one fireman and one steve
doer lost, besides Ed. Jackson, Amos
Moss, Louis Walker, Piney Walker and
another colored woman named Lucy. II
do believe" continued Denery, s'that the
boat burned up in about fifteen minutes
after the alarm was first given"
Captain Henry G. Brown, state engi-
neer, who was passenger on the White,
estimates
THE LOSS OF LIFE AT THIRTY-sIx.
He caves the names of the following per-
sons who were saved, but were all slightly
injured and were not left at Mr.. Bur-
geois': John Stahl, pilot; Hortense
smith, Mrs. Smith, of Racine, Wis, and a
gentleman and his wife from Chicago,
whose names are unknown.
There were about thirty cabin passen-
gers and number of negro cabin pas
sengers in the bureau" The number Of
deck passengers is unknown. Brown
says: "WaIsh Lloyd, formerly clerk on
the Will s. Hays, ran through the cabin
calling up the passengers, and nobly lost
his life trying to save others. Capt. Muse,
commander of the White, had been i'll
ell day and was in bed when the fire
broke out. The chief mate was in charge
of the steamer. | had about ten feet the
start of the fire, and although I ran
rapidly forward, VIXEN I reached
the bank the fire was within twenty five
feet of me. had on my underclothing
[ did not see a 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"
Pilots Stout and Smith say that from the
number of persons they saw around
them in the river, fully
FORTY MUST HAVE Persisted.
Mrs. Wade, of West Felicion, had an
almost miraculous escape. She speaks
| in glowing terms of the heroic and gal
liant conduct of Capt. Floyd's son, who
sacrificed his life in trying to save the
| lady passengers. All of the officers of
| the White were saved. Among those who
| escaped were J. e. Carew and wife of OF
| tawa, Ills.