, 1888-12-24
A STEAMER ON FIRE.Ii
Burning of the Kate Adams
Near Commerce, Miss.
A Large Number Of Lives
Lost.
Exciting Scenes on the Ill
Fated Vessel.
A Steamer Burned.

as hNhh -" a. AN&A
Kate Adams burned this morning near
Commerce, Miss, forty miles south of
this city. Sha:.was en- route to Memphis
and had about 200 people on board. The
fire, which caught in some cotton near
the forward end of the boilers, was dis
covered about s o'clock. The passengers
were at breakfast and when the alarm
was given they all made a rush for the
forward deck. AT the time the steamer
was about 300 yards 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 heroically
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 chill
dren forward and assisted them ashore.
Capt. Mark R. Cheek, who was on the
hurricane deck, remained there giving his
commands until the stage plank was safely
lowered. The fire by this time spread all
through the cabin and he was compelled
to retreat to the rear and climb over the
rails and decend to the cabin.
Here he found Chief Clerk Glanker,
who had made an effort to save the money
and papers of tho steamer. which were in
the safe. He seized the money. but
nearly lost his life in the burning cabin.
He was rescued by Capt. Cheek, who
also assisted several others in securing lite
preservers, and when it was no longer
possible for him to remain without being
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, a fearful
panic seized the crew and deck passengers.
Those who were cut off from escape from
the bow were compelled to Jump over
board to save their lives, The stern of
the burning vessel had swung out into the
river and there being an effort made to
launch the yawl, it was capsized by the
crowd which filled it and many of the
occupants were drowned. They were
mostly men, but there were three or four
women in the crowd.
The lost so far as can be learned are as
follows: George Corbett, third clerk,
aged % years, who had launched the
yawl and was trying to save a colored
woman on the lower deck. He leaves a
wife, who resides in st. Louis.
Joe Porter, Andrew Reese, Monroe
Jackson, Jim Nelson, Senator Coleman,
and Hillyard Horton of T. colored cabin
crew, Lee Finley and Frau Wells, colored
roustabouts; in addition, about fifteen
deck passengers, four of whom were
white men, were also drowned. In the
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 ~levces,
and their names and destination are I'M
known.
The burning steamer drifted away after
laying at the bank tor twenty minutes
and f1oated down the river, her hull sink
ing at the head of Peters island. four
miles below Commerce. The Kate Adams
was owned by the Memphis & F~icksburg
Packet company. She was built in 1882
and cost Sl02, O00. She was the finest
and fastest steamer of her type on the
river and her owners this summer spent
$40, OC0 in repairing her. This would
have been the completion of her 602nd
trip in the Memphis and Arkansas City
trade.
All the passengers and crew arrived at
a., $1,000 - q zfll - |
ing taken the Louisville, New Orleans &
Texas railroad train at Robinsonyille,
which station is eight miles distant in the
interior from where the disaster occurred.
The citizens of Commerce rendered the
passengers and crew every assistance in
reaching Robinsonville, carrying them
there in wagons and every conceivable
vehicle that could be secured. There
were l67 from the i'll tated steamer Il at
came to Memphis, Capt. Cheek defray-
ing the expenses of all of those who did
not have funds. The passengers and
crew lost all their clothing and effects al d
some made their escape to the shore from
the burning steamer en- dishabille, but
were provided with clothes by the kind
citizens Of Commerce.
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 benumbed the limbs of those who
jumped overheard. and to this is attribu
ted the great loss of life.
All speak in the highest terms of the
GOODNESS and bravery displayed by the
officers. The captain, clerks, pilots and
engineers all remained at their posts
until the last and it was through their
efforts and courage that all the lady pas
sengers were safely taken ashore.
Mr.. John Woods Harris, who was A
passenger, jumped from the stage plank
before ii was had been lowered and was
internally injured. Mrs. DR.. Harris of
Laconia also sustained a sprained ankle
by falling from a cotton bale in descend
ing from the cabin to the lower deck.
THRILLING EXPERIENCE
Col. j. NJ. Hunter of Louisville, who
was a passenger on the illfated Kate
Adams, gives a thrilling account of his