The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-12-27

Further Description of the Iinnna'A Durn'
ing--Loss OF Life not so dreat ~ first
nsportod--ueartrend soonos-Acts
of Horolam,
PLAoUEMIsE, Doccmhor 2G,-Tho burning
OF tho steamboat john II. Hanna last night
noar Plaqucmino was ono Of the most ter
rlblo river disasters that has ever happened
IN southern waters Tho loss Of lie was
heavy, nearly thirty por'ons pcrIshing In
tho flames and In the river Al the time
the fro was discovered the crow was of
their posts. Captain Jollcs was at thc
wheel and In the pilot houlo wilh him wa.
Bob Smith, u famous Mississippi riycr rp,
who WAS one Of tho mon on the Robert u,
Lee when she burned TO the waters edge
some years ngo,
Second Engineer Mcrrlman was In thl
room on duty, and Captain j, q llolmos
one OF the finest elcomb0ntmcn on the river
was In command OF lkc steamer Tho boat
had loft Monroe Sunday morning well
ladon with freight She plcEcd up freight
all along, and when she got ont Of thc
Auachta and In the Mississippi, sho had Over
$500 bales OF cotton. II was Just bctor,
Christmas day was being uShcrod In, when
the fine steamer was coming down Tho
river, several Ql the passengers, gentlemen
on tho boat wcro seated In the cabin max
Ing morry and with no thought Of the i'm
pending catastrophe many OF tho crew ar
passengers were Wlocp, There we're dcoN
hands on tho boat, busy with freight, Nut
the hrcmon and others we're near the boil
orS
The boat was btOkod 10 land near Plaqu,
mine. Tho fAmcs spread with indcscrb
ablo rapldity, and tho details OF how som,
Of tho lost died Oro narrowing In the cX
tromo. sho had reached point Just
abort Distance n6oy0 tho town, when
negro roustor nonr sho boilor ran ont 10 tlu
after end and shouted that the boat wng nj
afro. John Cullen, u striker was near lh
plaoo at tho timc aud seeing tho flame
bursting forth from tho big ticrs Of collol
noar tho bollor, run hastily 10 the cng,nl
room and gayO the alarm at once, Gngi
ncor Morrman took In tho situation NJ
qinnoo and az once sounded the alarm h,
blowing tho whistlcs and ringing tho bnlll
In an instant, certainly In shorter tim
than II takes 10 explain. tho fumes sho
through the cabin and over the sides OF th
cotton wrapping the entire boat In fire
Top Clerk Powell was upstairs NJ tho time
when no saw tho nlomos, he horocally rol
through tho smoked filled cabin and trc
TO arouse tho sooplng people, Ilo kiclSc
At the doors aud In short whilc oyciy
body almost was awake. Thon therc wa
confusion, and the frantic people ON th
boal ran 10 tho different exits 10 max
their escape, but tho boat was piled hig
with cotton, and tho passage ways wcr
Allied with binding smoke. Many droppc
before they wcro able 10 get to tho forwnr
part OF tho boat and were dead when tli
steamor wont down. AZ soon az tho III
was discovered, Chief Engineer Mcrr
man set tho steam pumps workin
aud tried 10 battle with III
flamoa but the fro swept throug
tho boat like q blozc on II
prairie, aud tho engine room was soon
nemns. Thon 10 add furthor TO Tho COZ
! Aiernatlon tho stcampipo burst and t'I''
the plnco with scalding stoam, Morrim0
was forced to abandon his post and he on
tho stokors and others ran to Tho sides at
climbed through the pitman in order to So
their lives. AS soon an the smoke aud fam
began TO shoot over the sides OF tho boI
Captaln JoIloa swung tho wheel orout
and heSdod the boa, for tho shore. A I,
head OF steam wOs on ut tho time and I
boat wassoon run into tho bank. Before 9
did, however, sho was doomed, aud lh'
was searc6ly bit of timber Tint was
furiously burning. When the Hanna eliu
tho bank abe bounded away again o