Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-27

/ -0ver 400 People Jump Into the
RIver-MOst OF the victims Were
CoIored People.
MEMPHIS, Dec. 24.-The elegant passen-
ger steamer Kate Adams running as semi
| weekly packet between Memphis and Ar
kansas City, was burned yesterday morning
near Commerce, Miss, 40 miles south Of
this city. She was en- route to Memphis,
and had about 200 people aboard, lnclud-
ing her dock and cabin crew Of 80. rs cabin
and 90 deck passengers, and 200 colored
cabin passengers.
near the forward end Of the boilers, was
discovered about O'Clock. The passengers
were at breakfast, and when the alarm was
given they all made q rush for the forward
deck. At the time the steamer was about
800 yards from the Mississippi side Of the
river, and her bow was at once headed for
the shore. Pilot j. A. Barton was on watch,
and he remained heroically at bis post until
che was safely landed.
~ Harry Best the second clerk, who was
seated &C the table When tho alarm was
given, had brought all the ladies and chill
3dren forward and assisted them ashore.
Captain Mark Cheek, who was on the hurri-
cane deck, remained there giving his COM
nands until the stage plank was safely
lowered.
The fire by this time had spread all
through the cabin and he was compelled to
retreat to the rear and climb over the rails
and descended to the cabin. Here he
found Chief Clerk W. @. Glanker, who had
made an effort TO save the money and
papers OF the steamer, whioh were In the
safe. He managed to grab the money, but
was cut or from the bow and forced back
Into the cabin. AZ he was cropping his way
aft he stumbled and fell over some chairs
srdlost all the valuables he had secured
land II was with great difficulty that he sue.
ceeded In reaching the rear through the
binding smoke and flames which Allied the
cabin. Captain Cheek seized a life pre-
server and placing It on Chief Clerk Gionker
helped him overheard into the water. He
fioGted down about three miles before he
was rescued.
Captain Cheek assisted several others In
securing life preseryers, and, whom Il was
y no longer possible for him to remain with
L out being burned, he, too, jumped into the
river and swan ashore.
2 There were about rs eolored cabin pas
sengers who were saved along with the
white passengers. On the lower deck. how.
ever, = fearful panic seizad the crew and
deck passengers. Those who were cut off
from escape from the bow we're compelled
to jump overheard TO save their lives.
The stern OF the burning steamer had
swung out Into the river, aud In the effort
made TO launch the yawl 1t was eaps'zed by
the crowd which Allied it, and many of It's
occupants were drowned. They were mostly
oolored men, but there were three or four
women In the crowd.
THE DEAD,
The lost, go far as can be learned, are;
George Corbet, third clerk, aged 80 years,
who had launched the yAwl aud was trying
10 save the colored woman on the lower
deck. He leaves a wife, who resides Ia st.
Louis. joe Porter, Andrew Rses, Monros
Jackson, Jim Nelson, Senator Coleman and
billiard Horton all OF the colored cabin
u mi nd all al
roustabouts.
10 addition, about Is deck passengers,
four OF whom were white men, were also
drowned. 10 this list OF unknown were
three eolored women and two children.
They were coming to Memphis to spend the
holidays, The whites had been working
on the levees, and their names and destina-
tons are unknown.
The burning steamer dr!ited away after
laying at the bank for 20 minutes and
hoated down the river, her hull sinking at
the head Of Peters Island, four miles below
Commerce.
A PAssENGER's STORY.
Col. j. M. Hunter OF Loulsyille, solicitor
Tor the New York Mutual Life Insurance
Company, who was passenger on the Kate
AdamS, gives q thrilling account Of his ex-
perlence on board the steamer. When the
alarm waa Owen he VEalss 81 breakfast, and
hastily rennired to his stetsroom 70 save his
ll 3SLs.
BY the time he had gathered his yal!se he
found that his escape by way OF the bow Of
the boat was cut OF by the flames, which
had spread with lightning-like rapidity,
and he made for the stern OF the boat. The
distance to the stern was fully 100 yards,
and he saw at a glance that 1t was to be
death or swim. so he disrobed himself
and. securing life preserver, prepared for
the struggle.
ltHe remained aboard until almost suffo-
Gated by the smoke, and as the pilot house
OF the steamer fell In be jumped overheard,
and, after a truggle in the water OF 10
minutes, succeeded in reaching shore. He
had nothing but his uaderclothes on, and
was provided with pair OF trousers from a
white man who had been rescued from the
water, but who altsrward died. A negro
man also gave him coat and hat, and With
these coverings he came to Memphis.
Colonel Hunter says that while he was in
he rear OF the cabin he saw a colored
woman throw her three children into tbs
liver, then Jump In herself, and all foul
were drowned.
1t is reported that o negro murderer, who
was being brought back here for trial, per
tshed on board the steamer. He was hand
cuffed, and the officer In charge made biz
escaps and left the negro In his helpless
condition, and he was burned to death.
II Is impossible tC definitely ascertain
how many lives we're really lost, hut 4 con
sentative estiuuAte places the number az no
less than 50. 1t may poasiblg reach So.
The Kata Adams was owned by tue Mem
phls h Vlcksburg Packet Company, 3
which Major John D. Adams o. Little .R7cl
Is president. She was tuiit hv James Rae
slO3 ooo, She vas re gpsst and ~ +, ~. NJ
steamer OF her tyre, and nor owners TIL
summer spent 800, go in repairing her q
Paducsh. Hsr cer,o consisted 81 t.lGt
bales OF cotton, l,9N sacks Of cotton seed