The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-10-10
Went Down.

NEW ORLEANS, La. Oct. 3.-The
steamer Corona of the Ouachita Con-
solidated line, left here at 7:30 last
evening for the Ouachita river with a
full cargo of freight, and good list of
passengers. She exploded her boilers
at Fall River nearly opposite Port Hud-
son at 1l:4o this morning, causing the
loss of the steamer and forty lives.
The Anchor line steamer, City of st.
Louis, Captain James O'Neill, was
near by and with his crew and boats
saved many lives. The surviving pas
sengerS and crew were taken on board
by Captain O'Neill and very kindly
cared for.
Twenty five of the crew and fourteen
passengers were saved. Tie Corona
was on her first trip of the season and
bad but recently come out of the dry
amounting to nearly S12, 600. She was
built at Wheeling, w. Va, by the
Sweeny brothers, of that city, about
seven years ago, and had carrying
capacity of about 2, 200 bales of cotton.
At the time of the accident she was
valued at $4,000
The Times-Democrat. Baton Rouge
special gives the following additional
| particulars:
| Corona arrived opposite Fall 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 a few seconds.
| Mrs. Robertson says she was wedged
| in down in the ladies cabin. with some
| of the debris lying across her lower
limbs, but was suddenly released and
found herself floating in the river.
/ Che Nh fxut lint IT1nlZilu ho
| picked up and escaped with only few
| painful bruises on her limbs.
Nj. l.. G. Rawlins, pilot of the Cor.
ona, says: 81 was asleep in the Texas
at the time of the explosion" He
does not know how the explosion oc.
Cured; he was awakened by the noise
it made. and was painfully burned or
both hands.
Hon. l.. F. Mason, secretary OF
state, who was passenger on the Cor
ona, stated that he was in the cabiI
| talking with Mrs. Robertson, about II
O'Clock this morning, when the explo-
| sion occurred. He escaped with life
preservers, and assisted in saving Mrs
Robertson ana another lady. There
was very little time for preparations
for escape as the boat went down like
lead after the explosion.
As the steamer City of st. Louis
l
board all the passengers who were not
lost in the river. No one seems to be
able to give any explanation as to the
cause of the sudden disaster.
The Picayune' s Baton Rouge specia
says: Captain I. s. Sweeney, one o.
the owners of the boat who assumed
command on the death of Captain
Blanks say s the explosion was not z
resultof too high pressure of steam
He had Just had occasiontO examine TIT
guage and is positive there was not
pressure of more than 135 pounds
The boat had a moderate cargo; she
was in mid-Stream just below the land
ing at Arbroth and had just whistle(
to pass the city of st. Louis fortunate
~ coming down at the time. Tn
/ explosion had a downward tendenc.
and blew out the bottom of the boa
causing her to sink Immediately. Tn
cabin was torn in two. Captain
Sweeney happened TO be forward an,
started at once TO put out the flame
which began to burn at several places
He said the boat would undoubtedly
have burned had she not gone dow
Immediately.
None of the books. papers or othe
valuables were saved.
The City of st. Louis which wa
about 800 yards above at once put on
her boats and she did noble work il
saving lives. The anchor line staye'
there several hours rendering all as
sistance possible. and taking on boart
the rescued passengers and crew
When nothing more could be done sh
came on down to Baton Rogue Wher
physicians were summoned and every
thing possible is being done for the in
| iured