Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-27
THE GLOOMY SIDE.
Where Christmas Was Marked by
Sorrow Instead of JOY.
TWO STEAMBOAT HORRORS,
One Was ON the Mississippi, and tho
Other on the Coast of Washington
Territory-Fire, Water, the
Pistol and the Knife.


sorrows as well as its pleasures In some in
stances tho day opened auspiciously in homes,
but before night sorrow and death had come
and the once happy household was plunged
in mourning Accidents, TOD, played promi-
nent part and death stalked abroad in many
parts of the country. So that while joy and
festivity We're at their height in thousands OF
homes, in others there was grief and despair,
and many hearts that beat happily at morn
were stilled before the day closed
DEATH ON CHRISTMAS MORN.
The most terrible accident and loss of life
was on the Mississippi river, near Plaque
mine, La The splendid steamer John IL.
Hanna was burned and over thirty lives
were lost Just as Christmas was ushered in.
The steamer had over 100 passengers on
board, and her freight consisted of bales of
cotton. Many of the passengers were seated
in the cabin, having merry time and not
dreaming of the coming horror. Suddenly
negro roustabout cried fire, and the scene
was changed to one of terror. Flames were
seen bursting from tiers of cotton near the
boiler. In less time than it takes to tell it
the flames shot into the cabin and in an
other moment the boat was mass of roar
ing, seething fire. Those who were awake
made frantic efforts to escape. Those who
were asleep were reused by the noise and
confusion and rushed out to meet certain
death. Every effort was made to extinguish
the flames, but without avail.
A HORRIBLE SCENE.
The pilot Capt. Jolies, headed the boat for
the shore, and she soon struck the bank. But
the vessel was doomed. The water was COW
cred with mass of struggling people, each
one fighting for life Some were able to
swim ashore, but most became exhausted
and sank. Brave Capt. Holmes remained at
his post of duty until every chance of saving
the lives of the passengers was gone. Then
he leaped ashore, but he was so badly injured
that he died in half an hour. The names of
those who met death are not known fully,
but this is a partial list of the dead: John
Grafton, carpenter; Joseph Grain, cabin
watchman; Monroe Deck, first cook; Jack
Duff, second cook; Joseph Harvey, cabin
boy; ]. S. Holmes, captain of the boat; Mike
O'Neil, night watchman; Samuel Powell,
chief clerk; Robert Smith, pilot, of Smith
land, La. James Watson, second baker.
ANOTHER STEAM BOAT HORROR.
On Christmas eve five lives were lost by the
burning of the steamer Left Erickson off
Alkali Point, five miles from Seattle, Wash
ington territory. The fire broke out in the
pilot house and was caused either by the ex-
plosion of a lamp or by the breaking of
demijohn of whisky, the fluid becoming ig
nited Thirty-six people were on the boat,
which was then two miles from shore. The
flames spread rapidly and the passengers
sprang into the water. A scene of terror
followed. and had it not been for the arrival
of the steamers Skagit Chief and Noun
taineer all would have perished. A partial
list of the lost is: Nereous, j. H., of the
Nereous Brickyard company, of Sydney;
1 Giddonc Jacly a hai fichay-taan Smith
T., of Smith, Taylor g. Co., of Colby; Toll
ner, Miss Annie, of Sydney; unknown man
and his wife, unknown woman.
KILLED on THE RAILROAD.
An accident occurred on the Mainland rail-
road, near Lime Greek, Colo, in which a fire
man named Robert Martin and brakeman
named Thomas Harlan were killed and the
entire train of freight cars was demolished.
DEATH IN THE WAVES
/ A merry party consisting of Andrew and
Kate Siegel, George Slump and wife, Matt
/ Cox and Mary Morales left San Francisco ON
Christmas morning in sailboat. All went
i well until the boat was off Six Mile house,
when a sudden gust of wind caused the boat
! to capsize. A panic seized the party and
they made frantic efforts to save themselves.
All were drowned except Miss Morales, who
was saved by the crew of a passing schooner.
SLAIN By THE WIRE.
! At Toledo, o., on Christmas evening, Frank
J. Myron, aged Is years, was instantly killed
by an electric shock. Myron was a cook in
/ restaurant, and while endeayoring to close
a shutter in the rear of the building the shut
ter came in contact with an electric wire
running into the restaurant. The weather
was wet and the insulation was soaked
through. An electric shock was communi-
4eI
| to the floor dead.
SAD CLOSE OF A PARTY.
At Danville, Ills, pleasant gathering
was turned into a scene of terror by fire. f.
| W. Smith, Jr., conductor of the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois railroad, invited num-
Der of friends to pass Christmas evening with
him A Christmas tree was one of the fea-
lures, and Mr.. Smith, who took the part of
Santa Claus, covered himself with cotton
batting In lighting the candles on the tree
the batting caught fire and, in a moment,
the man was mass of flame Before aid
could be rendered he was fatally burned
SHOT DEAD.
On Christmas morning man was shot
dead at Norristown, Pa A gang of roughs
were creating disturbance in front of John
Beaner's house, when William johnson, a
colored servant, went out to quell the trouble.
He fired a pistol IN the air in order 10
frighten the roughs but his aim was too low
and the bullet struck James FL. Murphy, who
was passing by at some distance from the
place He dropped dead in his tracks.
KILLED WHILE DRUNK
At Charlestown, w. Va, young man
named Fount Homer imbibed large quanti-
ties Of whisky during Christmas afternoon
and became crazy drunk. he seized large
club and started on run down the street
striking every person he met, severely in
| juring several Edward Aimes was return.
ipg h0n1s when Homer net him and BEGAN