Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-27
MANY LIVES LOST.
rHE TarRprERRIBLE STEAMBOAT PRE-
IN TEREE DAYS.
Another Mississippi Steamboat Burned
Thirty People Perish in the rlanes-
A Frightful Scene.

VIZ
IL IL believed that fity or sixty were iost.
Many persisted 10 the flames, and others to
escape the FIRE leapcd overheard and were
drowned.
Among those lost are: Captain Holmes.
MISTER of the boat; Samuel Powell, chief
clerk: Robert smith. a pilot from SMITH
land, La; Michael O'Neil. night waichman;
joseph Crane, cabin Waterman; Monroe
Deck. first cook; Jack Dun. second cook
Josenh Harvey, cabin boy; JanRs watson
second baker, and John Grafton, carpenter.
It was Just before Christmas day was being
usherod In that the fine steamer was coming
down the river. Several Of the passengers
were seated In the cabin having a merry tine
and With no thought OF the impending catas-
frophe. Many OF the crew and passengers
were asleep when the Gre broke ont and
spread With Undesirable Tspidity. The de-
tails Of the suieTiDgs and death OF some Of the
passengers are narrowing 10 the extreme.
The boat had reached q point which was but
q short distance above the town, when n
negro roustahout near the hoiieT-rOOm ran
ont 70 the deck and shouted that the boat
was on Ere. John Cullen, q stoker, was
near the place AZ the time, and seeing the
flames bursting forth from the big tiers OF
cotton near the boiler ran hastily TO the en-
gine-room and gave the alarm. Engineer
MeTrimau took In the situation At a glance
and sounded the alsrm 10y blowing the steam
whistle and ringing the bells. In an IN
slant, certainly in a much shorter time than
Il takes 10 explain 1t. The Games shot through
The cabin and over ne sides OF the cotton,
e%npeloping the entire boat in FIRE.
WAKING THE PASSENGERS.
C3srk Powell was up stairs at the time, and
when he Saw the flames he heroicaily ran
through The smoke which filled the cabin
and tried 10 arouse the sleeping people. He
kicked at the cabin doors, aud in a short
time almost everybody was awake. Then
confusion worse cOnfounded appeared, and
frantic people on the boat ran 10 different
exits h make their escape, but the boat was
filed with cotton and The passageways were
filled with smoke. Many dropped before
they were able 20 ret 10 the forward part Of
the boat. and werO dead when the steamer
went down.
A soon as the fire YVES discovered, Engl-
necr Morrimgn set the steam pumps working
and tired 10 battle with the flames, but the
IRE swept through the boat like q blaze on q
pratrie, and the ~cuCiue-r0Om was sO0n IN
lqmes. Then, 10 add further TO TIE cors'er-
nstiOn, a s%tesm-pipe burst and filed the
place with scaldIng steam. Engineer Mcrri.
man was forced 10 abandon his post, and he
0nd the stOkers and others ran 20 The sides of
the boat and rushed through pell-mell, in or
der 10 save their lives. AssOon as the smoke
and flames began 10 shoot up the sides oi the
boat Captain Jolles, the pilot, swung the
wheel around and headed the boat for The
shore. A iull head Of steam was on a. the
time, ard the boat Was soon run into the
bank. Before sbc did go. however. She was
doomed. All u her timber was then IN.
riOusly burning. when the Hanna struck
the bsnk she bounded sway again and sWung
around, drifting down as she burned. Then
Captain Jollcs Jumped out over the cotton
bales, and, spriueing into the river. swan
ashore.
STRUGGLING FOR THEIR LIVES.
The sight was a weird ono, viewed from
the bank, and tho town was aroused. Float
ing cotton, charred timber, and other dejriS
filled the river, and many people were .trng-
giing desperately ia the water for their lives.
Some Of them were able 10 swim ashore. but
most Of Them were 80 badly burned, or 50
thoroughly exhausted. that they struggled
bpt a few moments, and sank % rise no more.
As the burning boat struck Toe bank Of tie
river, the crew and passengers who hal been
able 10 reach the forward end Of The h0al
spraug ashore, some Of them with
scorchrd faces and hiused limbs,
aud many OF them with scarcely any
covering. Among those who managed
10 get of were captain Holmes and
Rob smith, The unfortunate pilot Of the
Inflated White, vito was a passenger. Both
men were burned nigh unto death, ard the
story of thc manner in which they suffered
is most hol%rtrcndire. Wien the Captain
jumped ashore Poe was horribly burned, amt
in his frantic desire TO Toe relieved from the
pain he was suffering, be buried his face and
hands In TIE soft mud. and begged most
pitoou,iy for some Que 20 help him. Smith
was just hchiad, and WIS lsid ont hy the side
Of the dying captain. Nothing could he
done for the suffering mCu, aud the two died
together on the river bank.
HELPING Tu9 SUFFERING.
Plaqucmiue was not slumbering when the
fire broke out. and when the discovery wa,
inade that the Hanna was burning almost
the entire town locked 10 the river bank AMI
watched The vessel burn. The struggling I'M
fortunatcs who reached the shore weret,kcn
care Of, and doctors and others cane 10 their
assistance ard tried to alleviate their suffer-
inrs. The city and Central Hotels and prl-
vate houses threw open their doOrst 10 the 100.
fated people. and fed and clothed them until
this morning. Ihc survivors telcgraphcd ac-
counts OF the disaster To their homes.
No one saw clerk Powell, VINO displayed
much heroism i'm waking up the passengers,
after he had raped at the doors, and 1t l.
quite positive that he was burned TO death
and went down with the steamer. No at-
tempt was made TO save any OF the steamers
books or papers. snd everything, together
with the clothes 81 the crew and the pls.en.
gers, WAS lost. Tho boat burned rapidly
after she reached the bank, and in a very
short time after the alarm was givcn
she had burned to the waters edge.
The hull sank, aud nothing was
loft 81 the Hanna but floating timber
and burning cotton. The crew Of the boat
were J. ;. Holmes, captain; samuel Powell
and James Jordan, clerks, Lev Rawlings
and Henry J0lles, pilots; j. II, liandley and
j.. g.. Merrimau. engineers, Daniel Carroll,
steward; Samuel Bryant first mate Michael
Cussick. second mate; John Glbhon. sailor
man Benjamin Duclos and Willie Higgins,
barkccpers. two CONFERENCE.-The. De-
merry and Mrs. Hunt; james ~llandley and
Charles Thompson, ttemen; John Rucker
aud Thomas Cullen, stokors.
A CIGARETTE II CAUSE.
Coming down on the boar a. passengers
were "A number OF the crew Of the steamer
Josie W.. all Of whom were saved. The sur
yiyors were all warm IN their praise OF the
humane people OF Plaquamine, who spared
no pains aud no money 20 furnish them with
clothes and shelter after their terrible eX-
pcrlence. W. L.. Brute, msvOr OF the city,
was especially Kind 10 the survivors. None
Of the men could say what WAS the origin OF
the ire. The general impreSSiOu, however,
i that ONE careless Smcser threw ciga-
Tette among the cotton bsles, aud thereby
caused the disaster. The death OF John Graf
ton, carpenter. was sad one. He vas in the
upper portioa ot the boat struggling 10 get
near the front eud oNihe boat. The flames
were twisting aod sweeping all about him.
lie tried nohiy 10 reach The bow, but he
dropped and burned to desth before the eyes
OF toe people, who were not able 10 reader
hin any hclp. The second barkeeper OF the
boat sad Nj. Powell was standing near him
when they both jumped into the water.
Powell. who could not swim, climbed on q
floating cotton hsic, but two deck-haOds also
jumped on the bale, turning IL over aud
throwing Powell into the water. and he dis
appeared. The boat was about fifteen yards
from The shore when 3 great many people
PLUNGED into The river, aud several who
reached the bank in safety became logged IN
the soft mud, and 80 intense was the beat OF
the burning boat that they were burned TO
death before they conlu climb up the steep
IL nj - ~. l..~.. M. A.. a..