Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-26
THE WORST CONFIRMED.
The Most Terrible River Disaster
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The Most Terrible River Disaster In
Southern Waters.
New ORLEANS, December 25th.-A spe-
cial from Plaquemine to the States saws:
The burning of the steamer John H.
Hanna last night near this place was one
OF the most terrible river disasters that
ever happened in Southern waters. The
loss is very heavy, about thirty persons
perished in the flames and a large number
jumped overheard and were drowned.
Among the lost are Captain James s.
Holmes, and First Clerk Samuel r. Powell.
Their bodies have been recovered. Captain
Holmes body was terribly burned.
One of the deck-hands who escaped SAYS
there were about 100 persons on board, and
that only about a dozen could be found
alive. The engineer and pilot were saved.
All who escaped were burned more or
less severely. The boat had reached but a
short distance above town when a negro
roustsbout near the boiler room ran out on
the deck and shouted that the boat was on
fire. John Cullen, stoker, was at his
place at the time, and seeing the flames
bursting forth from the big tiers of cotton
near the boiler, ran TO the engine-room and
gave the alarm. Engineer Merriman took
IN the situation at a glance, and at once
sounded the alarm by blowing the whistle
and ringing the bells. In an instant
FLAMES SHOT THROUGH THE CABIN
And over the sides of the cotton. envelop-
ing the entire boat in fire. Clerk Powell
was upstairs at the time, and when he saw
the flames he heroically ran through the
smoke, which filed the cabin, and tried to
arouse the sleeping people. He kicked at
the doors, and in short time almost every
body was awake. Then confusion worse
confounded appeared, and the frantic peo-
pie ran to the different exits to make their
escape, but the boat was piled high with
cotton, and the passage ways were filed
with smoke. Many dropped before they
were able to get TO the forward part of the
boat, and were dead when the steamer
went down.
BATTLING WITH THE FLAMES.
As soon as the fire was discovered engi-
neer Merriman set the steamers pumps
working and tried to battle with the flames,
but the fire swept through the boat like a
blaze on q prairie, and the engine-room
was soon in flames. Then, to add to the
CONSERVATION, steam-pipe burst and filled
the place with scalding steam. The engi-
neer was forced to abandon his post, and
be and the stokers and others ran to the
sides of the boat and rushed through pell-
nell to save their lives. AS soon as the
smoke and flames began to start up the
sides of the boat Captain Jolles, the pilot.
swUnp tho Ivhaol around au1 laeIaJ IL, q
boat for the shore. A full head of steam
was on, and the boat soon ran into the
bank. Before she did so, however, she was
doomed. All her timber was furiously
burning.
When the steamer struck the bank she
bounded away again and swung around,
drifting down the stream as she burned.
Then Captain Jolles jumped out over the
cotton bales, and splinging into the river,
swan ashore.
WEIRD AND AWFUL SCENE.
The sight was a weird one, as viewed
from the bank, and the town was aroused.
Floating cotton, charred timbers and other
debris filled the river, and many people
were struggling desperately in the water
for their lives. Some of them were able to
swim ashore. but the most of them were
so badly burned and thoroughly exhausted
that they struggled but few moments
and sank to rise no more.
As the burning boat struck the bank of
the river the crew and passengers who had
been able to reach the forward end sprang
ashore. some of them with scorched faces
ana bruised limbs, and many with scarcely
any covering. Among those who managed
to get OIL were Captain Holmes and Bob
Smith, the unfortunate pilot, and an i'll
fated white passenger. Both men were
burned nigh unto death, and the story OF
the manner in which they suffered is most
heartrending.
TERRIBLE SCENES OF SUFFERING.
When the Captain jumped ashore he was
horribly burned, and in his frantic desire to
De relieved from the pain he was suffering
he buried his face and hands in the soft
mud, and begged most piteously for some
one to 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, and the two died together
on the river bank.
THE VICTIMS CARED FOR
The town of Plaquemine was not yet
slumbering when the fire broke out, and
when the discovery was made that the
Hanna was burning almost the entire town
tiocked to the river bank and watched the
vessel burn. The struggling unfortunates
who reached the shore were taken care of,
and doctors and others came to their as
sistance and tried to alleviate their suffer
ings. The City and Central Hotels and
private houses were thrown open to the
ill-fated people, and fed and clothed them
until morning. The survivors telegraphed
accounts OF the disaster to their homes.
BRAVE MANS FATE.
No one saw Clerk Powell, who DISPLAYED
much heroism in waking up the passen.
gers, after he had raped at the doors, and
it is quite certain that he was burned tc
death and went down with the steamer.
No attempt was made TO save any of tht
steamers books or papers, and everything
including the clothes of the passengers
was lost.
The boat burned rapidly after sh,
reached the bank, ard in very short tim,
after the alarm was given, she had burned
| to the waters edge. The hull sunk, anC
nothing was left of the Hanna but hoatin!
timber and burning cotton.
NAMES OF THE CREW.
The crew of the boat were ]. S. Holmes
| Captain; George Powell and James Cor
| don, clerks; Lew Rawlins and Henr,
| Jolies, pilots; J. H. Handley and ].
Merriman, engineers; Daniel Carroll
steward; Samuel Bryant, first mate; Mix
Cassatt second mate; John Gibbon, sailor
Ben Duciose and Willie Higgins, bar
keepers; two chamhermaids, Mrs. Demsr
! and Mrs Hunf. Timnia Hapdla-y an