Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-04
STEAMER BLOWN TO PIECES
The Corona, of the Ouachita Line, q
Total Wreck.
ABOUT FORTY LIVES LOST.
Fort Hudson, on False River, Louisi-
ana, the Scene OF the Catastrophe
A British Ship Goes Down
Twenty-Eight Lost.

New ORLEANS, Oct. 3.--The steamer Cor
ona of the OuaChita Consolidated line, left
here last evening for the Ouachita river with
full cargo OF freight and good list of pas.
sengers. She exploded her boilers Mt False
river, nearly opposite Port Hudson, at 1l:B
this morning, causing the loss of the steamer
and about forty lives.
The Anchor line steamer City of st. LOUIS,
Captain James O'Ncil, was near ana saved
many lives The surviving passengers an d
crew were taken on board by Captain . Neil
and kindly cared for.
The following are the lost and saved as far
as is known:
Crew lost-J w. Blanks, captain; j. v.
Jordan, first clerk; Charles G.. Ellis, second
clerk; 81 Swimp Hanu,. third clerk; Fred
Dnkle, barkeeper; Fred Vennan, barkeeper;
Pat Ryan, stewards; Dick Curtis, fireman;
Tom Shook, engineer; Henry Doyle, porter;
James Sempie, porter; Mr.. Tate, barber,
Henry Davis, deck hand; Tom Cook, sailor.
man; Billy Young, second mate; Sam Steele,
texas boy; both captains of the deck watch
and fifteen rousters.
Passengers Lost--Dr. Atwell corn doctor;
four negro musicians, Mr.. Scott, Smitnland,
La; Mr. Davis, stoclman, Texas; Mr..
Koench; Mrs Huif, of 0pelausas; Mrs.
kaufmans, nurse and child; Mrs. Tom
Hough, of Opelousas Mrs. Williams, of Red
River Landing.
Passengers Saved-Mrs. Henry Blanks
ana two children, Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Robert
Robertson, Mrs. kaufman and children,
Captain b. G. Carnwell, Mrs. j. Il. Brown,
Mrs. j. j. Meredith, l.. e. Mason, Mr..
Bau.h Mr.. Comstock, Donaldsonville;
John Carr, narrsonburg.
The Corona was on her first trip of the
season and mad but recently come out of dry
dock, where she had received repairs
amounting to nearly $4,000 She was built
mt Wheeling. w. Va nv Swnpnv Rrpg nj
that city, about seven years ago, and had a
carrying capacity of about twenty. y.seven
thousand bales of cotton. At the time of the
accident she was valued at so, 900.
Mrs. Robertson says when the Corona ar
rived opposite False river landing, about six
teen miles below the Bayou Sara, one of her
boilers exploded, tearing the boat to pieces
and she SANK in deep water in Il few seconds
Mrs. Robertson was wcdSed in the ladies
cabin with some of the debris laying across
her lower limbs, but she was suddenly
released and found herself floating in the
river. She sank twice, but luckily was
picked up, ard escaped with only few pain.
full bruises on her limbs.
l.. G. l2ollings, the pilot says he was asleep
at the time of the explosion, and does not
know how IL occurred.
Hon. l.. Il. Mason, secretary of state, who
was passenger on the Corona, states that
he escaped with life preservers and assisted
in saving Mrs. Robertson and another lady.
There was very little time for preparation
few seconds after the explosion occurred.
No one seems to be able to give any eXplana-
ticn as to the cause of the sudden disaster.
Captain II. @. Sweeney, of the Powers
line, who assumed command on the deatn of
Captain Blanks, says the explosion was not
due to a too high pressure of steam. He had
just had occasion to examine the gusge, ard
is positive there was not more than 135
pounds pressure. The boat had moderate
cargo. He was in the middle OF the
stream just below the landing
and had Just whistled to pass the City of st.
Louis, fortunately coming down at the time.
The explosion had a downward tendency
and blew out the bottom of the boat, causing
her 10 sink immediately. The cabin was
torn III two, the rear portion floating down
stream and bearing number of the saved.
Captain Sweeney says the boat would I'M
doubtedly have burned had she not gone
down Immediately
None of the books, papers or other valu-
ablos were saved. The City of
ST. Louis, which was about i've
hundred yards above, at once put out
her boats and she did noble work in saving
lives. The anchor line steamer stayed thore
several hours rendering all the assistance
possible and taking on board the rescued.
When nothing more could be done she came
on down TO Baton Rouge, where physicians
were summoned and all possible done for the
injured.
The only dead body recovered was that of
Fred Oyerman, the second barKeeper.