The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-24

Orleans and Texas railroad tram at fODll-
sonville, which station is eight miles dis
tant in the interior from where the disaster
occurred.
WILLING HANDS.
The citizens of Commerce rendered the
passengers and crew every assistance in
reaching Robinsonville, conveying them
there in wagons and every conceivable
vehicle that could be procured There
were l67 from the Inflated steamer that
came to Memphis, Capt. Check defraying
the expenses Of all those who did not have
funds.
NOTHING SAVED.
The passengers and crew lost all their
clothing and effects, and some made their
escape to the shore from the burning
steamer en- diShdbille, but were provided
with clothes by the kind citizens Of Com
merce.
Three of the colored cabin crew who
were rescued from the water died after
ward. Their names appear in the list
already given. The water was very cold,
which benumbed the limbs of those who
jumped overheard, and to this is attributed
the greatest loss of life.
PRAISE FOR THE OFFICERS.
All speak in the highest terms of the
coolness and bravery displayed by the
officers. The captain, Gle ks, pilots and
engineers, all remained at their posts until
the last, and it was through their efforts
and courage that all the lady passengers
were safely taken ashore.
John Woods Harris, who was a passenger,
jumped from the stage plank before it had
been lowered, and was internally injured.
A woMAN's PAINFUL FALL.
Mrs. DR.. Harris of Laconia sustained a
sprained ankle by falling from cotton bale
in descending from the cabin to the lower
deck
Capt. Elisha Evans, who is an old steam
boat pilot, was passenger on the steamer.
He was in the pilot house with Barton when
the fire was discovered, and aided in safely
landing the steamer. He came down and
assisted Clerk Harry Best in getting the
women and children ashore.
THE BOAT THAT NEVER CAME.
John D. Adams, the principal owner of
the steamer, arrived early this morning
from Little Rock. He was on the bluff
about noon, looking for the boat to arrive,
when Informed that she had burned at
Commerce.
AN INSURANCE MANS STORY.
Col. j. M. Hunter of Louisville, solicitor for
the New York Mutual Life Insura ce Com
pany, who was passenger on the illfated
vessel, gives thrilling account of his ex-
perience on board the steamer. When the
alarm was given he was at breakfast, and
hastily repaired to his stateroom to save
his effects. By the time he had gathered
his valise, he found that his escape by way
of the bow of the boat was cut off by the
flames, which had spread with lightning
like rapidity, and he made for The stern of
the boat.
SINK OR SWIM.
The distance to the stern was fully 100
and ha at a ola IA NrDC
to be death or swim, SO he disrobed himself,
and securing a life-preserver, prepared for
the struggle He remained aboard until
almost suffocated by smoke, and as
the pilot house of the steamer fell,
he jumped overheard, and after a struggle
in the water of ten minutes, succeeded in
reaching shore. He had nothing on but his
underclothes, and was given pair of pants
taken from a white man who had been res
cued from the water, but who after ward
died. A negro man also gave him coat
and hat, and with these coverings he came
to Memphis.
MOTHER AND CHILDREN DROWNED.
Col. Hunter also says that while he was
in the rear of the cabin he saw a colored
woman throw her three children into the
river and then jump in herself, and all
four were drowned
Mrs. Harry Fields, one of the lady pas
sengers, said to an Associated Press
reporter that she boarded the
steamer at Friar's Point, Miss,
about 2 o'clock ain the morning, and in
structed the chambermaid to awaken her al
10 O'clock. Instead, she was aroused at Z 80
o'clock, and was seated at the breakfast
table when the cry of fire was heard. She
paid little attention to it at first, but when
she saw smoke filling the cabin she ran to
the bow of the steamer, which by this time
had touched the bank, and tried to jump
ashore. She failed and fell to the lower
deck.
SAVED BY A NEGRO.
A negro, who was close behind her, fol-
lowed her example, and, like her, failed to
reach the shore, but fell near her, The fire
was scorching hot where they were, but the
negro took her in his arms and took her to
the bank, and thus saved her from being
burned t. de lth as she was unable to move
after having fallen from the boiler deck.
PLANTER PERIsHED.
Mrs. Fields is positive that w. A. Gov
ington. a planter and merchant Of Rose
dale, Miss, perished in the flames. She
thinks he must have been suffocated In his
stateroom, as he was, aboard and nothing
has been seen or heard Of him since the dis
aster
Billy Hodges, one of the pilots, was in the
barber shop getting shaved when the alarm
was given. He rushed to the stern of the
boat, and, providing himself with life
preserver, jumped overheard. While swim
ming to shore he found Samuel Robinson, a
passenger, struggling in the water, and as
sisted him to land
MURDERER LOST.
It is reported that negro murderer, who
was being brought back here for trial,
perished on board the steamer. He was
handcuffed and the officer in charge made
his escape, and left the negro in his helpless
condition, and he was burned to death.
The greatest excitement prevailed in
Memphis wnen the first news Of the disas-
ter was received here. IL came out noon
in the shape of private telegram from
Robinsonville, and said that l5O lives had
been lost. Later accounts were reassuring,
and large crowd Of citizens were at the
depot when the train arrived, bringing
those who had succe ded in escaping.
THIRTY-FIvE TO FIFTY LOST.
1t is impossible to definitely ascertain
how many lives were really lost, but a
comparative estimate places the number at
not less than 35, and it may possibly reach
so.
When the fire broke out many bales Of
cotton were dumped overheard, aud during
the stampede great many negroes threw
themselves in the water and fioated away
on them.
Alexander Harris, his wife and several
children lcolored) from Bolivar Landing,
are said TO have been drowned.
-, a.