Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-12-28
THREE SrNluERS BURNED.
Twenty-Five Lives Lost Near Commerce,
Miss.

ans running AS a semi weekly packet be-
tween Memphis and Arkansas City, was
burned sunday morning near Commerce,
Miss, 40 miles south Of Memphis. and about
% lives were lost She was en- route TO
Memphis and had about POO people aboard,
including her deck aud cabin crew of 80.
% cabin and 60 deck passengers besides 25
colored cabin passengers. The fire. which
caught in some cotton near the forward
end of the boilers was discovered about 3
O'Clock. The passengers we're at break fast
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 vas at once headed for the shore Pi-
lot j. A. Barton was on watch, and he
remained heroically at his post until she
was safely landed The men in charge of
the boat did everything in their power TO
assist the passengers. There were about
% 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
we're compelled TO jump overheard TO es-
cape the flames The stern of the burning
steamer had swung out into the river, and
an effort was made to launch the yawl, but
it was capsized by the crowd which filed
it. and many of its occupants drowned.
They were nearly all colored men, but there
were three or four women in the crowd.
The burning steamer drifted away after
LAYING at the bank for 90 minutes and float
ed down the river, her hull sinking at the
head Of Peters Island, four miles below
Commerce The boat was the finest and
fastest steamer of her type on the Missis-
sipp, being valued at over 100000.
Horrible Disaster In Louisiana.
The steamboat John H. Hanna, from
Ouachta river, with a large number Of
passengers and a cargo of $500 bales of
cotton was burned early Tuesday morning
at Plaquemnes, La. There were 100 per
sons on board at the time of the disaster,
and about 30 were burned to death, while
it is thought many more were drowned.
At least l6 of the victims were whites.
Many of the passengers were going home
for Christmas and the horrible disaster in
terrupted a merry company too quickly to
rescue all from death The vessel was put
ashore promptly but there was delay in eff
fecting a landing, the shore was muddy
and the work of life saving was seriously
interfered with. The fine steamer was
coming down the river just before Christ
mas day dawned. Several of the passen-
gers were seated in the cabin having mer-
ry time. Many of the crew and passengers
were asleep when the fire broke out and
spread with indescribable rapidity The
details of the sufferings and death of some
Of the passengers are narrowing in the ex-
IRENE. The boat had reached a point
short distance above the town, when ne
gro roustabout near the boiler-room ran
out to the deck and shouted that the boat
was on fire. Engineer Merriman at once
sounded the alarm by blowing the steam
whistle and ringing the bells In an in
slant the flames shot through the cabin and
over the sides Of the cotton, enveloping the
entire boat in fire. Terrible confusion fol
lowed and frantic people on the boat ran
to different exits to make their escape, but
the boat was piled high with cotton, and
the passage ways were filled with smoke
Many dropped before they were able to get
to the forward part of the boat, and were
dead when the steamer went down.
The engineer Immediately set the steam
pumps working and heroically tried to
battle with the flames, but the fire swept
through the boat like a blaze on prairie,
and the engine room was soon in flames
Then, to add further to the CONSERVATION,
a steam pipe burst and filed the place with
scalding steam. The engineer was forced
to abandon his post, and the stokers
and the others ran to the sides of the
boat and climbed through pell nell in
order to save their lives As soon as the
smoke and flames began to shoot out of the
sides Of the boat Capt. Jolles pilot, swung
the wheel around and headed the boat for
the shore full of head of steam was on
at the time and the boat was soon run into
b.. Ia h.. 4 sba
was doomed All of her timber was then
furiously burning. When the Hanna struck
the bank she bounded away again and
swung around, drifting down she burn
ed. Then Capt. Jolles jumped out over the
cotton bales and springing into the river
swan ashore.
The boat was about ID yards from the
shore when a great many people plunged
into the river and several who reached the
bank in safety became begged in the soft
mud, and so intense was the heat of the
burning boat that they were burned to
death before they could climb up the steep
bank TO the levees. The fire was rapid
that before the pilot had finished sounding
three alarm whistles, the entire boat from
stem to stern was roaring mass of flames,
and the scene that ensued was terrible in
the extreme Men yelled and ran about
the decks of the burning steamer like ma
macs, and others, screaming at the top of
their voices, threw themselves into the dark
waters and were lost to sight in the twink
ling of an eve. The sight was a weird
one viewed from the bank. Floating cot
ton. charred timber and other debris filled
the river. and many people were struggling
desperately in the water for their lives.
Some of them were able to swim ashore,
] lint of IN III al Or
so thoroughly exhausted that they srug-
gled but few moments and sank to rise
no more. As the burning boat struck the
bank of the river, the crew and passengers
! who had been able to reach the forward
end IF the boat sprang ashore, some of
them with scorched faces and bruised limbs
and many of them with scarcely any Gov
ering.
The boat burned rapidly after reaching the
/ bank and in a very short time after the
alarm was given she had burned to the wa
ter's edge The hull sank, and nothing was
left Of the Hanna hut floating timber and
burning cotton. The struggling unfortu-
mates who reached the shore were taken care
of, and doctors and others came to their as
sistance and tried to alleviate their suffer
ings. The City and Central hotels and pri
vate houses threw open their doors to the
| rescued passengers ana led ana clothed
them until Wednesday morning. The sur
vivors were all warm in their praises of
the humane people of Plaquemine, who
spared no pains and no money to furnish
them with clothes and shelter after their
terrible experiences.
On the arrival Of the train at New Or
leans ambulances were at the depot, and
all the survivors of the disaster who were
suffering from severe burns were at once
conveyed to the charity hospital The fire
is supposed 10 have been caused by a care
less smoker throwing a cigarette among
the cotton bales
The Pacific Coast Accident.
The steamer Left Erickson was burned
Monday evening while two miles from
shore and five miles from Seattle, Washing
ton territory. Thirty three people were
on board, seven of whom persisted The
fire was caused by an explosion of lamp.
Recent Deaths.
Oliver Ditson, the well-known Boston
music publisher, died last week Friday,
aua1 X