The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-26
A FURNACEOF FIRE
Twenty-one People Lost ON
a Mississippi Steamer.
A cIGARETrE-FIKSD's CRIME.
A Cotton-Laden Boat Bnrned Near
Piaauemine, La.-Afsieting
scenes on the River.

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. S.--Ihe steam
boat John III. Hanna, from the Qua
chita river with large number OF
passengers, was burned last night Al
Piaquemine, La. II IS stated that q
100 persons on board only II are known
TO have been saved. The John II
Hanna was built in Madison, Ind, in
1876. AMI hai Ell from Louisville, Ky.
She was OF So tonnage. and was vnel
by the Ouaehita River Consolidated
line She was valued ai sls.0a ard
was insured for sl2,o11 in iocGi and
foreign companies. Capt. J. W.
Blancks. president of the company
SAYS that the latest advices he has are
TO the effect that the steamboat LETT
Monroe, La. on Sunday morning al .
o'clock, with 1900 bales Of cotton.
The captain estimated that additional
cotton had been picked up on the
way down 10 make the number OF
bales aeo Upon being questioned a.
to the number Of passengers on the
Hanna. Capt Blaneks thought il vas
small, as there was little travel in Ihis
section al present.
NEW ORLEANs, Dee. 25.--A special
froia Piaquemine to the StGfes saws !;
The burning OF the steamer John A.
Hanna, last night. near this place,
was one OF the most terrible river dis
asters that ever happened in southern
waters. The loss was very heavy.
About 20 persons perished IN the
flames and large number jumped
overheard and we're drowned. Among
the lost are Capt. James ;. Holmes
and First Clerk Samuel L. Powal.
Their bodies have been recovered.
Capt. Holmes body was terribly
burned. One OF the deck hands, who
ESCAPED. SAYS there were about 100
persons on board, and that only ahout
a dozen could he found alive The
engineer and pilot were saved. Al
who escaped we're burned more or less
severely.
COTTON BALES on FIRE.
The boat was but a short distance
above town when a negro roustaDout
from the boiler-room ran out on deck
and shouted, Boat on IRE John
Cullen, stoker was at his place at the
time, and seeing the flames bursting
forth from the big tiers OF cotton near
the engine room. ran TO the
engine room and gave the alarm.
Engineer MerTyman took in the situa-
ton at a glance. and at once sounded
the alarm BY blowing the steam whistle
and ringing the bells.
In IN instant flames shot through
the cabin and over the sides OF the
cotton. eBveloping the entire boat IN
fire. Clerk Powell was up stairs 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. lie
kicked at the doors and in short
time almost everybody was awahSs.
fnen coDlcs on, sorse conIvdnss
appeared, ana the frantic people ran
to the different exits to make their es-
cape. but the boat was piled high nj b
cotton and the sageways were filed
with smoke. Many dropped before
they were able TO get TO the forward
part OF the boat, agd were dead when
the fire was discovered Engineer Mer-
ryman set the steam-pumps working
and tried to battle with the flames. but
the fire swept through the boat like a
blaze on prairie, and the en-
gine-room was soon in flames.
Then, to add TO the CONSERVATION,
steam pipe burst and filed the place
with scalding steam. The engineer
was forced 20 abandon his post, and
he and the stokers and others ran 70
the sides Of the boat and rushed
through pell-mel 10 save their lives.
As soon as the smoke and flames
began Ia start up the sides of the
boat. Capt. Joles. the pilot. swung the
wheel around and headed the boat for
the shore \ full head Of steam was
on. and the boat 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 round, drifting down
stream as she burned. Then Capt.
Juies Jumped out over the cotton bales,
and springing into the river, swan
ashore.
STRUGGLING N THE WATER.
The sight was q weird one, viewed
from the bank, and the town was
aroused. Floating cotton, charred
iimbers and other debris filled the
river. and many people were strug-
Cling desperately in the water for their
lives. Some of them were able 10
swim ashore, but most OF them were
80 badly buried or thoroughly ex-
hausted that they struggled fos q ieW
moment, and sank 20 ri e no more.
As the burning boat struck the
bank Of the river. the crew and pas
peugers, who had been able 10 reach