The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-24
NOTES OF TIIE DISASTER.

The statement Of Elisha Evans n well
known pilot, but passenger ON board Of
the Adams, is in effect that the boat was
an hour aud a half burning After every.
body had been gotten ashore, the boat
swung oil into the river, floated about
four miles down stream and sank in
twelve feet OF water on the head OF Peters
Island, forty miles below Memphis. The
ladies were at breakfast, he says, when the
alarm sounded, and a number OF people
ran TO save them, several gathering up
the little ones aud carrying them ashore
in safety. Nearly all OF the passengers
were up aud dressed at the time the fire
broke out. There were n few male pas
scngcrs in their rooms, but they lost no
time in getting out.
JouN WooD HAuRIs. a commercial trav-
clcr, and working for Messrs. Fader, Frank
& Co., was badly injured by lcaping from
the stage while Il was swinging from the
boom and before II was lot down. lie,
with Others, ran out on II, but Mr.. Harris
lcapcd some thirty feet before the lines
were cut, and the fall injured him 50 seri-
ously tina, II is feared he will not recover.
Mr. Harris was met at the depot upon his
arrival by Mr.. Frank Gray. his son.in.law,
and he was nj once conveyed TO the resi-
dcncc Of that gentleman ON Jcssamino
street, where medical relief was extended.
Cart. CnEEK states that there was ut
the time Of the fire some 5000 la money
Ia the boats s~ic. A portion OF this be.
longcd TO the passengers. The clerk, w.
G. Blanckcr, opened the safe with view
u securing H. contents. lie was COM
PEELED TO get out In hurry, but closed the
door of the safe, he thinks, then hurried
toward the stern Of the boat by way Of tho
ladies' cabin lie fell down as he ran
and lost a considerable portion Of the
money he had, aud the entire sum he
saved was less than 500.
Cart. CmEK reports that l07 per-
sons came 10 this city from Robins
sonyillc, TO which point they made
their way from Commerce, whore
the boat burned. seven miles away. IL,
caused all to be- brought TO this city at his
own expense, and an extra coach was pro'
yidcd for them by the railway company
They arrived In the city shortly aitol
I o'clock In the afternoon. and eight houn
after the boat burned
TnE tclcgraphic Office, Robinsonvllle
from whence the Grst news came, Is scycn
miles from tie scene of the disaster, an,
the news was carried from the wreck
across the country 10y Elisha Evans, wei
known river pilot who took massage on th'
Kate Adams at Concordia, $50 miles be
low Memphis. and little moro lian lO'
miles below the place where tho boa
burned.
GrondE Conner, the boats sccon'
clerk, who fell out Of the yawl and wa
drowned. was about twcnty-cight or thirt!
years Of age, and he leaves wife, residini
in ~. LOUIS lie was for number o
ycars connected with the Anchor Line o
steamers plying between 81. Louis ans
Nicksburg
TtE statement Of Capt Check Is that
not more than fifteen lives were lost, ans
all but one OF these were colorcd. Tire
colorcd men we're rescued from the TiVc
chilled through, aud 20 chilled and ex
hausicd that they died a few minutes ale
being taken from the water.
Another IMPORT was current ycsierda,
that there was bridal party ON the III
iaicd vessel, but this was erroneous