The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09
A STEAMBOAT BURNED,
Appalling Loss of Life on the
Mississippi River.
The Kate Adams, Loaded With Cot
ton, Burns Like Tinder.

At twenty minutes to eight o'clock in the
morning the passenger steamer Kate Adams
was destroyed by fire near Commerce, Miss,
and twenty-five lives lost. The boat was
engaged in the local trade between Arkansas
City and Memphis and was north-bound
with 2UO people and 100 bales Of
cotton. The fire started in the cotton in
the bow, and the alarm created such panic
among the passengers that tho crew were
obstructed in their efforts to fight the flames.
The boat was near the middle of the river
when the fire was discovered, and Pilot Bar
ton at once turned the burning bow toward
the Mississippi shore. The fire spread
with great, rapidity and the smoke was
gers rushed forward to land they were driven
back nearly suffocated. On the lower deck
were about fifty passengers, the majority OF
whom were colored, and they seemed
to lose all control Of themselves the
moment the flames burst through the cotton.
They ran backward and forward along
the guards, seeking some way of escape, but
only to be confronted by the swift current
and the approaching fire. Many Of the men
boat came within 300 yards of the shore, and
while some succeeded in battling the stream
and reaching land. others we're drowned.
On the cabin deck the panic YVES even
greater. Captain Mark Cheek took his post
and issued his orders while the boat was
burning away below. The pitot-house was
enveloped in smoke and sparks, but the
pilot, like the hero OF the Prairie Belle,
kept her nose to the bank. Unfortunately
shallow spot in the river was struck short
distance from the shore, and the boat
went aground, but swung off a mo
ment later The yawl and two smaller
boats were lowered and the passen-
gers were landed as rapidly as possible
The usual rush was made for the boats, and
many Of the passengers fell into the river in
their struggle to reach the yawl George
Corbitt and several members OF tbe crew
tried to lower a second boat, but the
boat was capsized in the panic and Corbitt
and five others were drowned
Meanwhile good many who were hemmed
in by the fire Jumped overheard and were
drowned. When the burning bow struck
the shore gang planks were run out
and about lC0 persons were landed IN
safety. About seventy-five Others jumped
into the water and sixty of them reached the
shore. The officers made several efforts to
rescue five colored women among the deck
passengers. but the fire had complete pos
session Of the lower part Of the boat, and the
women were lost.
Three Of the colored cabin crew who were
rescued from the water died afterward.
The water was very cold and benumbed
the limbs of those who jumped over
board, and to this is attributed the
greatest loss of life. All speak in
the highest terms of the GOODNESS and bravery
displayed by the officers. Captain, clerks,
pilots and engineers all remained at their
posts until the last, and it was through their
efforts and courage that all the lady passen-
gers were safely taken ashore.
The officers were the last to leave the boat
and Captain Cheek was forced to jump into
the river. The steamer was swung out in
the river by the current and foated to the
head of Peters Island, where she
sank. Nothing was saved, and
the loss includes large sum Of money be-
longing to passengers that was given to the
clerk for safe keeping. The boat was owned
by the Vicksburg and Memphis Packet Com
pany and was valued at Sl2O, 900; insured for
ST., ,OC0.
She was bound to Memphis, and had about
two hundred people aboard, including her
deck and cabin crew Of eighty, twenty-five
cabin and sixty deck passengers, and twenty
five colored cabin passengers.
Later accounts, while not stating with any
degree of certainty, seemed to indicate that
the loss of life might reach thirty-fve or
fifty lives