, 1888-12-27
HER BRAVE CAPTAIN.

HER BRAVE CAPTAIN.
Captain Mark r. Check, who was on
the hurricane deck, remained there giving
his commands until the stage plank was
safely lowered. The Gre by this time had
spread all through the cabin and ne was
compelled TO retreat TO the rear and
| climbed over the rails and descended to
the cabin. He made an effort TO save the
money ana papers of the steamer which
were In tn safe. He seized the money
but nearly lost his life In the burning
cabin. He was rescued by Captain Cheek,
who also assisted several others in securing
life preservers, and when Ii was no longer
possible for him to remain without being
burned, he too jumped In the river and
swan ashore There were about twenty
Ave colored cabin passengers, who were
saved along with the white passengers.
pEARFUL PANIC.
On the lower deck, however. a fearful
panic seized the CREW and deck passengers.
Those who were cut of from escape from
The bow been compelled to jump overheard
to save their lives.
MANY DROWNED
The stern of the burning steamer swang
out into the river and an effort was made
to launch the yawl. II was eapsized by
the crowd which filled it and many occu-
psbts were drowned. They we're mostly
colored men. but there were three or four
women in the crowd
LIST OF THE LOST.
Lost, as far as can be learned. are as
follows: George Carotte, third clerk
aged 80. who had launched the yawl and
was trying to save the colored women on
the lower deck, and leaves Il wife, who re.
sides in st. Louis; Joe Porter, Andrew
Reese, Monroe Jackson, Jim Nelson, Sem
ator Coleman and Hillyard Horton of the
coored cabin crew; Lee Finley and Frank
Wells. colored roustabouts. In addition
to ABOUT fifteen deck passengers. four of
whom were drowned.
DENIED A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
In the list OF unknown were three coll
ored women and two children. They were
coming to Memphis to spend the holidays
The whites had been working on the
levees and their names and destination
ara unknown.
The burning steamer drifted away after
laying on the bank for twenty minutes
and foated down the river, her hull sink
ing at the head of Peters island, four
miles below Commerce.
THE VESSELS OWNERS.
The Kate Adams WAS owned bv Menu
phis and VicksburR packers. She was
the finest and fastest steamer of her type
on the river and her owners, this sum mer
spent $4,000 in repairing her. This
would have been the completion of her
602d trip in the Memphis and Arkansas
City trade.
All the passengers and crew arrived at
Memphis Sunday afternoon at o'clock,
having taken the Louisville, New Orleans
4 Texas train at Robensonville, which
station is eight miles in the interior from
where the disaster occurred.
KIND CITIZENS.
Citizens of Commerce. rendered the pas
senRers and crew every assistance, in
reaching Robensonyille conveying them
there in wagons and every concei vable
vehicle that could be secured. There were
l67 from the ill.fated steamer that came
to Memphis, Captain Cheek defraying the
expenses of all those who did not have
funds
EVERYTHING LOST.
The passengers and crew lost all their
clothing and effects, and some made their
escape to shore from tue burning steamer
en- dishabille. but were provided with
clothes by kind citizens Of Commerce.
Three of the colored cabin crew VINO
were rescued from che water died after.
ward. Their names appear in the list
already given. The water being very
cold benumbed the limbs OF those Who
jumped overheard, and TO this 10 at
tFibutsd the greatest loss Of life.
THE BRAvn CREW.
All speak in the highest terms OF the
calmness and bravery displayed by the Of
6cers. The captain, clerks, .pilots aud en-.
sineers all remained at their posts until
the last, and it was through their efforts
were safely taken ashore. Mr.. John
Woods Harris, who was passenger,
jumped from the stage plank before it had
been lowered and was internally injured.
Mrs. Harris of Laconia also sustained
sprained ankle by falling from a cotton
bale in descending from the cabin to the
lower deck
THRILLING ACCOUNT.
Colonel j. w. Hunter of Louisville who
was q passenger on the ill-fated steamer,
gives thrilling account OF his experience
on board. When the alarm was given he
was at breakfast and hastily repaired to
his stateroom to save his effects. BY the
time he had secured his valise he found es.
cape by way of the bow cut of by the
flames, which spread with lightning-like
rapidity. He saw at glance that it was
to be swim. SO he disrobed himself and
secured life preserver. jumped overheard |
and after q struggle in the water of ten
minutes succeeded in reaching shore.
AN UNCOMFORTABLE PLIGHT.
He had nothing but his under clothes on |
and secured clothing from those on shore. |
Colonel Hunter says while he was in the |
rear cabin he saw colored woman throw |
her three children into the river and then |
jump 10 herself. the four we're drowned.
TRIED TO JUMP ASHORE.
Mrs. Fields. one Of tbs lady passengers, J