The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-04
HORRORS MULTIPLY.
Burning of the Steamer John ".
Hanna, at Plaquemines La.
a r.,.sse Number Of Lives Lost by nurn
ing aud Drowning-The Hist Length
encd ny Another Disaster ~
AliIsi Point. w. 7.


pcned in Southern waters. The loss Of
life was heavy, nearly thirty persons per-
ishing ia the flames and in the river.
AZ the time the fire was discovered. the
crew were at their several posts. Captain
Jolles was az the wheel, and In the pilot
house with him was Bob Smith, famous
Mississippi river pilot, who was one ~
the men on the Robert l.. Lee when she
burned to the waters edge some years
ago.
Second Engineer Merriman was in the
engine room on duty and Captain J. -.
Holmes. one Of the finest steamboat men
on the river, was ia command " the
steamer.
The boat had left Monroe sunday morn
ing well laden with cotton. she picked
an freight all along. an! when she got ont
of the Onachita and INTO the Mississippi
she had over twenty-three hundred bales
OF Gotten. II was just before Christmas
day was being ushered in, when the fine
steamer was coming down the river.
Several Of the gentlesaen passengers
were seated in the cabin making merry
and with no thought OF the impending
catastrophe. Many o. the crew and pas
sengers were asleep. There were deck
hands on the boat, busy with freight, and
the fremen and others were near the
boilers.
The boat was booked to lanl near Pia-
Quemine, and had reached point Just a
short distance above the town. when
negro roustabout near the boilers. ran
out to the after end. and cried ont that the
boat was all afire. Jno. Cullen. stoker,
was near the place atthe time, and seeing
the flames bursting forth from the big
tiers OF cotton near the boiler. ran hastily
20 the engine room and gave the alarm at
once. Engineer Merrman took in the sit
uation at a glance. and at once sounded
the alarm by blowing the steam whistle
and ringing the bells. In an instant
certainly in a much shorter time than IL
takes to explain 1.-THE flames shot through
the cabin and over the sides ~ the cotton.
wrapping the entire boat in flames.
FIRST Clerk Powell was upstairs at the
time. and when he saw the flames he he
roically ran through the smoke-fillcd
cabin and tried 10 arouse the sleepin &
people. He kicked al the doors, and in a
short while eyeryb ody almost was awake.
Then there was confusion worse con-
founded. and the frantic people on the
boat ran TO the different exits to make
their escape; but the boat was piled high
with cotton. and the paSsageways We're
before they were able 70 get Is the for
ward part of the boat, and were dead
when the steamer went down.
As soon as the fire was discovered. En-
gineer Mcrriman set the pumps working
and tried O. battle with the flames. but
the fire swept through the boat like q
blaze on the prairie, and the engine room
was soon in flames. Then, to add further
TO the CONSERVATION, the steam pipe burst
and filled the place with -caldin- steam.
Merriman was forced 10 abandon his post.
and he and the stokers and others ran ~
the sides and climbed through the pitman
In order 10 save their lives.
Al soon as the smoke and flames began
a. shoot over the sides NJ the boat Cap
tain Jolles swung the wheel around and
headed the boat for the shore. A full
head Of steam was on AT the time, and the
boat was soon run In to the bank. Before
she did, however. she was doomed. and
there was scarcely a bit Of timber that
was not furiously burning. When the
Hanna struck the bank. she bounded away
again, and swung around, drifting down
N she burned. Then Captain Jolles
Jumped out over the cotton, and springing
int the river swan ashore.
The sight was a weird one, viewed from
the land, and the town was aroused.
Floating cotton, charred timber and other
debris filed the river, and many persons
were struggling desperately in the water
for their lives. Some of them were able
TO swim ashore, but most Of them were
badly burned or 50 exhausted that they
struggled but moment 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 of
the boat, sprang ashore, some Of them
with scorched faces and bruised limbs,
aud many Of them with scarcely any
clothing. Among those who managed 70
get of were Captain Holmes and Bob
Smith, the unfortunate pilot Of the ill.,
fated Lee, who was passenger on his
way down TO this city. Both men were
burned nigh unto death. and the story Of
the way they persisted Is most heartrend-
ing. When the captain jumped ashore, he
was horribly burned, and in his frantic
desire 70 be relieved Of the pain he was
suffering he buried his face and hands in
the soft mud. and begged most pitt
eously for some one 10 help him. Smith
was just behind. and lay down beside the
dying captain. Nothing could be done
for the suffering men, aud the two died to-
gether on the river bank.
No attempt was made 10 save any Of the
hooks or papers, and everything, to-
gcthcr with the clothes OF the crew and
passengers, was lost.
The boat burned rapidly after she
reached the bank, and In very short
time after the alarm was gwen, she
burned to the waters edge. The hull
sank and nothing was left Of the Hanna
but floating timbers and burning cotton.
The crew Of the boat on the trip were
}. =. Holmes, captain; Sam Powell and
jim Jordan, clerks; Lord Rawlings and
Henry Joller pilots; w. Handley and J.
%. Merriman. engineers; Daniel Carroll,
steward; Samuel Bryant first mate
Michael Cussick. second mate; Jim. Glib
bons, sailorman; Ben Duclos and Willie
Higgins, barkeepers; and carpenter
whose name is not known. Two cham.
bermaldS, Mrs. Dcmery and Mrs. Hunt
Jimmey Handley anu Charley Tompson
hremen; John Rucker and Tom Cullen
stokcrs.
Among those who were lost were:
Captain J.. - Holmes. master Of boat.
sam Powell, chief clerk.
g..