Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-12-27
FIRE ON BOARD.
Another Steamer Destroyed ON
the Mississippi,
MANY Perish In THE FIERCE AND
RAVENoUs FLAMES,

And Many Others Meet Death in the
Muddy Waters of the River - Plaque.
mine, Louisiana, the Scene of the Disas.
ter-Steam Propeller Burned Near Seat.
tie, w. T.-Seven Lives Lost.
PLAoUEAtINE, La, Dec 27.-Another steam.
boat disaster similar to that of the illfatel
Kate Adams occurred near here Tuesday.
While the steamer John Hanna was making
a trip from New Orleans up to the Onchita
river district with over one hundred passen-
gers she caught fire and in few moments the
boat was one mass of fumes The crew
strove hard to save the boat, hut their efforts
We're useless, and she was burned 60 the
waters edge, with all of her cargo, only part
of which was insured.
| 1t was one of the most lamentable river
! horrors that has ever occurred and fully
thirty lives were lost. All of the passengers
We're i'll their rooms asleep except party OF
gentlemen who were merry making in the
cabin at the approach of Christmas, and
when the alarm was sounded the scenes of
confusion as the terrified people rushed from
their rooms were appalling. The flames
spread with such rapidity that before the
boat could be run against the bank it was
completely enveloped in fire, and many OF
the passengers were suffocate1 before they
could escape
The crew worked with a will and valor
that was truly heroic but to no avail
The pilot, Capt. Jolles, as soon as he
heard the alarm, turned her head toward
the shore, while Clerk Powell rushed through
the cabin and aroused the people,
Capt, S. H. Holmes, one of the best men
on the river who was in command of the
craft, did everything in his power to assist
the passengers in escaping, and only left il at
the last moment, and barely in time to save
himself
Pen cannot describe nor the mind picture
the fearful scene of unclad frightened pas
sengers rushing in terror blindly, helter-
skelter in every direction, seeking some
means of exit and many who escaped from
the fire of the inside met death in the muddy
water of the river.
Are among the lost are:
Capt. j. s. Holiness master of the boat.
Samuel Powell, chief clerk.
Bob Smith pilot from Smithland, La.
Mike O'Neil, night watchman.
Joe Crane, cabin watchman
Monroe Deck first cook
Jack Duff, second cook.
Joe Harvey, cabin boy
Jim Watson, second baker.
John Grafton, carpenter.
The badly burned:
Dan Carroll, steward
Jim O'Neil, deck hand.
John Gibbons, sailorman.
Louis Welch, roustabout
John Barlow, roustabout.
Jim Black, roustabout.
Dick Black, meSsroom tender
Stephan, John and Monroe Diggs, cooks.
A child of Priscilla Wright.
OF the forty-four roustabouts, all but
thirty-three are known to have been saved.
One thousand dollars were found in the
pockets Of Clerk Powell, whose body has been
recovered; also number of others.
Coming down on the boat as passengers
were a number Of the crew of the steamer
Josie W., all of whom were saved.
The survivors were all warm in their
praise of the humane people of Plaquemine,
who spared no pains and no money to furnish
them with clothes and shelter after their ter
rible experience. w. L. Brule, mayor of the
city, was especially kind to the survivors.
NONE OF Une men cOuld say What was the
origin of the fire. The general impression,
however, is that some careless smoker threw
a cigarette among the cotton bales and there
by caused the disaster
The boat was about fifteen yards from the
shore when great many people plunged into
the river.
When the captain jumped ashore he was
horribly burned, and in his frantic desire TO
be relieved of the pain he was suffering, he
buried his face and hands in the soft mud,
and begged most piteously for some one to
help him
Plaquemine was not slumbering when the
fire broke out, and when the discovery was
made that the Hanna was burning the entire
town focked TO the river bank Hotels and
houses threw open their doors to the ill-fated
people, and fed and clothed them until
morning.
No attempt was made to save any Of the
books and papers, and everything, together
With the clothes of the crew and passengers,
vas lost.
The boat burned rapidly after she reached
he bank, and in very short time after the
tlarm was given she burned to the waters
,dge. The null sank and nothing was left of
he Hanna but floating timber and burning
,otton
Placed on the Retired List.