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

And the Fire SWEEPS Through t2cr
Like a Haze On n Prntric-A brave
Clerks Death-rhe Captain and
Pilot Die Together.
New OnLnANs, Dec. 26.-The steam
boat John Il. Hsnnn, from Oueohita
river, which left Monroe, La, early on
Sunday with number Of passengers and
q cargo OF 500 bales OF cotton on board,
was burned on Monday night Of Pisque.
mine. Il Is stated that of the persona on
board at the time Of the disaster only IL
are known TO have been saved. About
80 persons periahsd, large number Of
whom jumped overheard and we're
drowned.
As soon as the FIRE was discovered En-
gineer Merffman sot the steam pumps
working, but the FIRE swept through the
boat like blazs on prairie, and the
engine room was soon IN flames. Thep a
steam pipe burst and Allied the place with
scAlding steam. MerrimAn was forced to
abandon his post, and he and the stokers
and others ran to the sides OF the boat
and rushed through pell-mcll in order to
save their lives.
Captain Jolles, the pilot then headed
the boat for the shore. A full head OF
steam was on at the time, and the boat
was aoon run into the bank. When she
struck the bank she bounded away egaiu
and swung around, drifting down as she
burned. Then Captain Jolles jumped
out over the cotton bales and, springing
into the river, swan ashore.
Floating cotton, charred timber and
other debEis filled the river while many
people were struggling desperately In the
water for their lives. Some were able to
swim ashore, but most Of them we're SO
badly burned or SO thoroughly exhausted
that they struggled but few moments
and sank to rise no more.
As the burning boat struck tho bank OF
the river the crew and passengers who
he'd bsen ablo to reach the forward end
of the boat aprang ashore, some Of them
with seorohed faces and bruised limbs
and many Of them with scarcely any
covering. Among those who managed to
get of were Captain Holmes. lie was
horribly burned, and in his frantic de-
sire TO be relieved from the pain he was
suffering lao buried his face and hands in
the soft mud and begged most piteously
for some one to help him. Pilot BOB
Smith was iust behind him, ard was laid
ont 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 struggling untortunates who
reached the shore were taken care Of Dy
the citizens of Plaquemins, and doctors
and others came to their assistance and
NwSaA en- al Nhatr HnA n
City aud Central hotels and private
houses threw open their doors to the i'll.
fated people and fed and clothed them
until this morning.
CLERK Powell, who displayed much
heroism In waking up the passengers By
rspping OF the state-room doors, was
burned to death and went down with tbs
steamer. No attempt was made to cave
any Of the steamers books or papers, ard
everything, together with the clothes Of
the crew and passengers, was lost.
Among the crew who were lost were
Captain Holmes, master Of the boat
Samuel Il. Powell, chief CLERK; Boil
Smith, pilot from Smithland. la; Mix,
o'Neil, night watchmsn; Joe Crane
cabin wAtchmsH; Monroe Deck, frs
oooA; Jhoh Ouui hSDulu CuOk; JOt
Harvey, cabin boy; dim Watson, secont
baker; John Grafton, carpenter. Among
those who are badly burned are Dai
Carroll, steward; Jim o'Nsil, deck hand
Ie'sa G!tSons, sailor; L5ris w.,
ioustabput
The JaAn H. Hanna was bail. L. Lad.
son, Iud., in 1876, and hailed from Louis
vile, Ky. She was of 377 tonnage, an,
was owned by the Ouachita River ConRol
idated Line. She was valued OF Sl8, 200
and was insured for ST., 600 in local an
foreign companies.
The officers of the boat were Rs 70
lows: Captain j. 3. Holmes, master; /
Il. Powell, first clerk; James Jordan, SCI
ond clerk; Henry Jones' and Louis Rsv
lings, pilot1; William Hanley, frat Ell
gineer, and Daniel Carol, steward.