Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-12-26
Burning Of a Steamer.
THE MISSISSIPPI BOAT KATE AID.
ANS CONSUMED By FIRE.
THE LOSS OF LIFE GREAT.
The Passengers Become Panic-stricken
aud Many Jump Overheard and Are
bravery of the oficers
"A Fatal Collision.

lower Mississippi steamer, Kate Adams.
was burned ut 3 o'clock Sunday morn
ing near Commercial Landing, and
thirty of the 200 people on board lost
their lives. The boat left Helena at /
o'clock in the morning, loaded to the
guards. Besides ], 200 bales Of cotton.
the lower deck had forty passengers,
while over 100 passengers found quarters
In the cabin. Many were a~hAreakfast
when Peters Island was reached. Ten
minutes later q column of smoke was
discovered from the cotton piled on the
boat. The first bale torn aside disclosed
a widespread confiagration. The alarm
was given, and First Pilot Burton, who
was on duty at the wheel, turned tbs
bow of the steamer toward the Missis-
stppi shore, The vessel burned like
powder, and in a flash the flames had
taken possession of the forward
part of the cabin and spread
along the rails toward the rear. The
passengers rushed around in a state of
panic impossible for the captain to
check and the officers were powerIess.
Many of them leaped overheard and
were drowned. Among the deck passen-
gers the panic was greater. Most of
them were colored men, and upon the
approach of the fire they jumped into the
river. Only a few succeeded in reaching
land. Among the deck passengers were
six colored women, and in attempting to
rescue them Second Clerk George Cor.
bett lost his life. An attempt was madS
to lower the yawl, but in the struggle to
take possession of 1t The yawl was can
sized and several people drowned. The
pilot remained at his post, though sur.
rounded by flame and smoke, and soon
had the burning steamer against the
banA,. 1t was none too.soon, for already a
score OF people were cut off and compelled
to jump in the river from the
opposite side, and just how
many were lost In this plunge ia
not known. About one hundred and
fifty half-drewned and partially burned
people We're landed from the cabin deck.
The majority of them were forced into
the water on the side of the boat where
the water was deep and the current
strong. Capt. Mark r. Cheek, who was
on the hurricane deck, remained there
giving his commands until the gang
plank was lowered. The fire by this
time had spread all through the cabin
and he was compelled to retreat to the
rear and climbed over the rails and
descended to the cabin. AS he was
grouping his way aft he stumbled and
fell over some chains and lost all tha5
valuables he had secured, and It was
with great difficulty that he reached the
river through the smoke and flames
which filled the cabin. Capt. Check
seized a life preserve. and placing il on
Clerk Banker, helped him over
board into the water. He foated down
ward about three miles before he was res
cued by parties who had walked ashore
and followed him down the river.
The loss 80 far as can be learned are:
George Corbett, third clerk, aged 80
years, who had launched the yawl and
was trying to save tbs colorad women
on the deck. He Leaves q wife who re-
sides in st. Louis.
Joe. Porter.
Andy Reese.
NJ. jackson.
Jim Neisau.
s. Coleman.
Hillyard Horton.
AHot the coiored cabin crew.
Frank Wells, colored r%oustabout.
In addition, about fifteen deck pas-
sengers, four OF whom were white men.
were also drowned.
In the list of unknown are three women
and two children, colored. They were
coming to Memphis to spend the holt
days. The whites had been working on
the levees n their names and dertina-
tons are unknown. The burning
eaner drifted away after laying at the
bank for twenty minutes, and foated
down the river. her hull sinking at the
head of Peters Island, four miles below
Commerce. Mr.. Fields is positive that
WA. Covington, q planter and merchant,
is among the lost.
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 being very
cold, baDumbed the limbs of those who
jumped overheard, and to this is at
tributed the great loss CT life. All speak
In the highest terms of the GOODNESS and
bravery displayed by the officers.
Captains, clerks, pilots and engineers
remained at their posts until the last,
and it was through their efforts and
courage that the lady passengers were
safely taken ashore.