Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-24
HOME AFFAIRS.
A BLAZING STEAMBOAT ON THE
MISSISSIPPI.
Lamentable Domestic Tragedies
The Suppressed anarchists
Kilrain Puts Up His Forfeit.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE RrooRD-uslos.l
A STEAMBOAT HORROR.
Twenty-four Lives Lost by the Burnin
nf the Kate Ahams

OF the nate ADAMS.
MEMPHIS December 23d.-The steamer Kate
Adams burned this morning near Commerce
Miss, forty miles south of this city. She was
en- route to Memphis and had about 200 people
on board, The fire, which caught in some cot
ton near the forward end of the boilers was dis
covered about o'clock. The passengers were
at breakfast, and when the alarm was given
they all made a rush for the forward deck.
At that time the steamer was about 800 wards
from the Mississippi side of the river and her
bow was at once headed for the shore Pilot
Joe Barton was on watch and he remained he
roically at his post until she was safely landed
Harry Best the second clerk, who was seated
at the table when the alarm was given had
brought all the ladies and children forward and
assisted them ashore.
Captain Mark r. Cheek, who was on the hur-
rcane deck, remained there giving his COM
mands until the stage plank was safely 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 decended
TO the cabin. Here he found Chief Clerk Clan
ker, who had made an effort to save the money
and papers of the steamer, which were in the
safe. He saved 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 it was no
longer possible for him TO remain without be-
ing burned he too jumped into the river and
swan ashore
There were about twenty-five colored cabin
passengers, who were saved along with the
white passengers. On the lower deck, however,
FEARFUL PANIC
Seized the crew and deck passengers. Those
who were cut off from escape from the bow
were compelled to jump overheard to save their
lives. The stern of the burning steamer had
swung out into the river, and an effort being
made to launch yawl, it was capsiZed by the
crowd which filed it, and many of the occu-
pants were drowned. They were mostly eolored
men, but there were three or four women in
the crowd.
THE VICTIMS.
The Deaths so far as can be learned, are as
follows: G. G. Corbett third clerk aged %
years, who had launched the yawl, and was
trying to save the colored women on the lower
deck He leaves a wife in St. Louis
Joe Porter, Andrew Reese, Monroe Jackson,
Jim Nelson, senator Coleman and Hilliard
Horton. of the colored cabin crew, and Lee
FINLEY and Frank Wells, colored roustabouts
In addition, about fifteen passengers, four of
whom were white men, were also drowned. In
this list OF unknown were three colored 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 are unknown.
THE BURNING STEAMER
Drifted away after lying at the bank for 20 min
ing at the head of Peters Island, four miles be-
low Commerce.
The Kate Adams was owned by the Memphis
and Vicksburg Packet Company. She was
built in 1882, and cost s102, 600. She was the
finest and fastest steamer of her type on the
river, and her owners this summer spent
have
the coupletion of her 602d trip in the Memphis
end Arkansas City trade.
THE RESCUED PASSENGERS.
All the saved passengers and ere W arrived at
Memphis this afternoon at O'clock having
taken the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas
Railway train at Robinsonville, which station
is eight miles distant in the interior from where
the disaster occurred. The citizens of Com
merce rendered the passengers and crew every
| assistance in reaching Robinsonville convey
there
able 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
The passengers and crew lost all their clothing
and effects, and some made their escape to the
shore from the burning steamer en- deshabille,
but were provided with clothes by the kind cit
liens of Commerce.
Three of the cabin colored crew, who were
| rescued from the water died aiterward. Their
names appear in the list already given The
those who jumped overheard, and to this is at
tributed the greatest loss of life.
All speak in the highest terms of the GOODNESS
and bravery displayed by the officers The
Captain, Pilots aud. mariners all remained at
their posts until the last. and it was through
their efforts that all the lady passengers were
Joe Woods Harris, who was a passenger.
jumped from the stage-plank before ii had been
lowered and was internally injured. Mrs DR..
Harris, of Laconia, also sustained a sprained
ankle by falling from cotton bale in descend
ing from the CABIN to the lower deck.
A PASSENGERS STORY.
MEMPHIS. December 25d.-Colonel ]. NJ Hun
ter of Louisville, who was a passenger on The
IL fated Kate Adams gave a thrilling account
OF his experience 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 secured his valise
he found escape by wey Of the bow cut off by
the flames. which spread with lightning-like
rapidity. He saw at glance that it was to be
death or swim, so he disrobed himself and Sc
cured hfe-p -preserver and Jumped overheard
and after a struggle in the water of ten minutes
succeeded in reaching the shore. He had
nothing on but his underclothes, and secured
clothing from those on the shore. Colonel
Hunter says that while he was in the rear
cabin he saw colored woman throw her three
children into the river and then jump in her
self. The four we're drowned.
ooLoRED MANS HERoIsM
Msr. Field, one of the lady passengers, said to
an Associated Press reporter that she tried to
jump ashore but failed and fell to the lower
deck. A negro who was close behind her also
failed to reach the shore The negro gathered
her in his arms and carried her to the bank and
thus saved her from being burned to DEATH as
she was unable to move. Mrs Field is positive
that w. A. Covington, planter of Rosedale,
Miss, perished in the flames.
OTHER INCIDENTS.
It is reported that a negro murderer. who was
being brought back for trial, perished He was
handcufed and the officer in charge made his
escape but left the negro in helpless condition.
He was burned to death.
There was great excitement in Memphis when
the first news of the disaster reached here 1t
came about noon in the shape of private tele-
gram from Robinsonville, and said that $50 lives
mad been lost. Later accounts were more reas-
suring
1t is impossible to definitely ascertain how
many lives are lost, but estimates place the
number at not less than thirty FIVE and it may
possibly reach fifty.
THE COASTS CLAIMS.
Senator Stanford Urging Cabinet Posi-