The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-26


the sides OF the boat Capt. Jolless,
the pilot, swung the wheel around
and headed the boat for the shore. A full
head of steam was on 1t the time and the
boat was soon run in to the bank. Before
she did so, however, she was doomed. All
OF her timber was then furiously burning.
When the Hanna struck the bank she
bounded away again and,swung around,
drifting down rs she burned, when Capt
Jolless jumped out over the cotton bales
and springng into the river swan ashore.
(, THE slGur WAS WEIRD ONE,
viewed from the bank and the town was
aroused. Floating cotton, charred timbers
and other debris filled the water, and
many persons were struggling desperately
in the water for their lives. Some OF them
were able to swim ashore, but most of
them wetS so badly burned or so thor
oughly exhausted that they struggled but
few moments AMI sank TO rise no more.
AS The burning boat struck the bank of
the river the crew and passengers who
had been able 10 reach the forward end of
the boat sprang ashore, some OF them with
scorched faces and bruised limbs and
many OF them with scarcely any covering.
Among those who managed to yet oil were
Capt. Holmes and Bob Smith, the unfor-
tunate pilot OF the ill-lated White, who was
a passenger. Both men were burned nigh
unto death and the story OF the
manner in which they suffered is most
hcartrcnding. When the Captain jumped
ashore he vas burned horribly, and in his
frantic desire TO be relieved from the pain
he WIS suffering. he buried his face aud
hands in the soft mud aud begged most
piteOusly for some one 10 help him. Smith
was just behind and was laid out by the
side OF the dying Captain. Nothing could
be done for the suffering men aud tie two
died together on the river bank. Plaque
mine was not slumbering when the fire
broke out and when the discovery was
made that the Hanna was burning. almost
the entire town focked TO the river bank
and watched the vessel burn.
run STRUGGLING uNFomuvATEs
who reached the shore were taken care of
and doctors and others came to their as
sisiancc and tried to alleviate their suffer
ings The City and Central Hotels and
private houses threw open their doors TO
the Inflated people, aud fed and clothed
them until this morning. The survivors
teegraphed accounts OF the disaster 10
their homes. No one saw Clerk Powell,
who displayed much heroism in waking
up the passengers, after he had mpped at
the doors, and II is quite positive that
he was burned 10 death and went
down with the steamer. No at
tompt was made 10 save any
Of the steamers books or papers. and
everything. together with the clothes Of
the crew and passengers, was lost. The
boat burned rapidly after she reached the
bank, and In very short time after the
alarm was given she had burned 10 the
waters edge. The hull sank and nothing
was lett Of the Hanna but floating timber
aud burning cotton.
The crew Of the boat were ]. S. Holmes,
Captain; Samuel Powell and James Jor-
dan, Clerks; Lew Rawlings and Henry
Jones. Pilots J. II. Handler aud j. &.
Mcrrinnn. Engineers, ~. Carol, Steward;
sam Bryant, First Mate; Mike Cusick,
Second Mate; John Gibbons. sailor, Ben.
Du Cl0~c and Willie Higgins, barkccpcrs;
two chambcrmaids, Mnz. Dcmorrc aud
Mu. Hunt; jim. Handler and Charley
Thompson, hrumcn; John Rocker aud
Tom Culicn, slokcrs.
ANoNo THOSE rHArwERE lost ARE
Capt. J. 5. Holmes, Master OF the boat:
Samuel Powell, Chief Clerk; Bob Smith,
pilot, from Southland, La; Mike O'Ncill,
Night Matchman; Joe. Crane, Cabin
Watchman; Monroe Deck, Firt Cook:
Jack Dull. Second Cook; Joe. Harvey,
Cabin 10y; Jim Watson, Second Baker;
John Grafton, Carpenter.
Among those who were seriously injured
were Dan Carol, steward; Jim O'Ncill,
deck hand; John Gibbons, sailor man:
Louis Welsh, rouslabout, and a number
Of Others.
Coming down on the boat as passengers
were a number OF the cruw Of the steamer
josie W, all Of whom Wccsayed. The sur
yyors were all warm In praise Of the pco-
pie Of Piaqucminc, who spared neither
pains nor money 10 assist thc unfortunate
people.
The general impression as 10 The cause
Of the ilrc Il that some careless smoker
throw n cigarette among the cotton bales.
and thereby caused the disaster.
The death Of john Grafton, tho clrpcn-
ter, was a sad one. lie was IN the upper
portion OF the boat struggling 20 got near
the front end Of the boat The flames
were twisting aud sweeping all about him.
lie tucd nobly 10 reach the bow but he
dropped aud burned 10 death before the
ewes Of the people Who were not able 10
render him any help. The second bar
keeper OF the boat mid Mr.. Powell was
standing near him when they both
jumped into the water. Powell who |
could not swim climbed on 10 floating
cotton bale, but two deck hands also
jumped on the bale, turning II over and
throwing Powell into tho water, when be
disappeared
The boat was about fifteen yards from
the shore when great many pcoplo
plunged into The riyor, and several Who
reached the bank in safety bnclmo begged
IN the soii mud, aud ~ Intense was the
heat oi ihc burning boat that they were
burned 90 death bglow they could climb
up th1 steep bank b. the lcyccs. Tho
nn was 20 rapid that before tho pilo, had
finished sounding The alarm whistles, thc
entire boat was from steam 10 stom
ROARING MASS 90 FLAMES
and the scene that onsucd was terrible In
the extreme. Men yelled aud ran about
the decks oi the burning steamer like
maniacs, iald Othcm screaming nt the tops
Of their voices, throw themselves into the
dark waters and Wuro Lost 10 sight In tho
tuinkling Of an eye. Tho second bar
keeper said that several persons near him
struggled in tho water aud begged pitiiully
for help. but ao could not render them
any assistance because the water chilled
him 10 the marrow aud his clothing
cloggcd his every movement A cabin
boy who was an assistant Of tie steward,
said the crow who we're In the "tcxas"
were aroused from their slumbcrs by the
fumes which roarcd over them, and they
wore compelled 10 dive boadlong iiom the
root oi the boat into the river, and many
,f fhnu. ,,ero burnod ia heath while la