The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-04

. IL
j. ". JORDAN, first clerk.
SHARdEs SHi,Fd E !, CELLos; @ G second clerk.
FREB FkEB PEkMAS, Pthkhf; Sashsspssi Sanfsspper.
PAT RYAN, steward
DICK CURTIS, fireman.
TOM SHOOK, engineer.
HENRY DOYLE, porter.
JIM SWIPE, porter.
MR.. TATE, barber.
HENRY DAVIS, deck-hand.
TOM COOK, sailorman.
BILLY YOUNG, second mate.
both CAPTAfNs of the deck watch.
FIFTEEN ROUSTABOUTS, names unknown.
The passengers lost were:
DIR. ATWELL, corn doctor.
-FOUR NEGROES, musicians.
MIR. SCOTT, SmithlaId, La.
Mr.. DAVIS, a Texas stockman.
MR. KOENCH.
MRS. THOMAS HOUGH. of Opelousas.
Mr.. WILSON, of Red River Landing.
MRS. KAUFMAN'S NURSE and OLDEST
CHILD.
The names of the crew saved are: H.
III. Jolls, pilot; l.. w. Rawlings pilot; Chas.
Pierce, steersman; J. w. Handy, engineer;
Jack Miller, mate; Billy Higgins, bill clerk;
Robert earns, carpenter; w. NJ. Fleming.
second steward; Sam Gree, watchman;
Tom Burns, deck-hand; Milt Glover. fire.
man; Dan Slemeck, pantryman; Frank
Lambert chambermaid; Miss Reilley, sec
ond maid; Joe Rayman, greaser; several
cabin boys.
The passengers saved were: Mrs. Henry
Blanks and two children. Mrs. Mann, Mrs
Robertson, Mrs. Coffman and child. Capt.
B. G. Cornwell, Mrs. John r. Brown. Mr..
John Il. Brown, Mr.. j. j. Meredith, Mr.. l..
f. Mason, Mr.. Baughman. Mr.. Comstock,
of Donaldsonville, Mr.. John Carr, of Har-
risonburg; Mrs. Kaufman and infant, of
Smithland; Hon. L. Z. Mason, OF Baton
Rouge.
Following are the names Of the wounded,
with the extent of their injuries: Capt. B.
G.. Cornwell, slightly; Mr.. Baughman, re-
dangerously; Mr.. Comstock. of Donaldson
vile, slightly; j. j. Meredith. of Columbia,
La, slightly; Wayne a little son of Harry
Blanks, slightly hurt about the face; Chas.
A. Pearce; of New Orleans, scalded; pilot
L. G. Sweeney, slightly hurt by flying tim
bers; Mrs. T.. w. Robertson, of Baton Rouge.
slightly. None of the injured are expected
to die.
Mrs. Robertson says when the Corona ar
rived opposite False river landing, about
sixteen miles below Bayou Sara, one of her
boilers exploded, tearing the boat to pieces,
when she sank in deep water in few sec
Onds. Mrs. Robertson says she was wedged
in the ladies' cabin with some of the debris
lying across her lower limbs, but was sud-
denly released and found herself floating
in the river. She sank twice, but luckily
she was picked up and escaped with only a
few painful bruises on her limbs.
Mr.. l.. G. Rawlips. pilot of the Corona,
says: II was asleep in the texas at the time of
the explosion" He does not know how the
explosion occurred, but was awakened by
the noise it made. He was painfully burned
on both hands.
Hon. l.. +. Mason, Secretary of the State,
who was passenger on the Corona. states
that he was in the cabin talking to Mrs.
Robertson, at about 10 o'clock this morn
ing, when the explosion occurred. He es-
capped with life-preservers, apd assisted in
saving Mrs. Robertson and another lady.
There was very little time for preparation
for escape, as the boat went down like lead
a few seconds after the explosion occurred.
As the steamer City of ST. Louis came down
she was hailed, and took on board all the
passengers and crew who were not lost in
the river.
No one seems to be able to give any ex-
planation as to the cause of the sudden dis
aster. Capt. T. c. Sweeney, one of the
owners of the line, who assumed command
on the death of Captain Blanks, says the
explosion was not due to too high pres
sure of steam. He had just had occasion to
examine the gauge, and is positive there
was not a pressure of more than 135 pounds.
The boat had moderate cargo. She was
in mid-stream, just below the landing at
Arbroth. and had just whistled to pass the
City of st. Louis, fortunately coming down
at the time. The explosion had a down.
ward tendency. and blew out the bottom OF
the boat. causing her to sink Immediately.
The cabin was torn in two, the rear
bearing number of the saved.
Captain Sweeney happened to be forward
and started at once to put out the fire
which began to burn at several places. He
says the boat would undoubtedly have
burned had she not gone down Immediate
ly. None of the books. papers or other val
uables were saved. The City of st. Louis
which was about 500 yards above at once
put out her hoats, and she did noble work
in saving lives. The Anchor liner stayed
there several hours, rendering all the as
sistance possible. aud taking on board the
rescued passengers and crew. When moth
ing more could be done she came on down
to Baton Rouge, where physicians were
summoned and everything possible done
for the injured. The only dead body recov
cred was that of Fred Overman. the second
barkeeper. The remains were put off at tn,
wharf Office, where they were viewed b,
Coroner Jones. 1t has not yet been de
termined whether they will be inferred a1
Baton Rouge or sent on to New Orleans
Three or four of the injured remained OF
the City of st. Louis, and were carried I.
New Orleans.
The Corona was on her first trip of thu
season and had but recently come out o