The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-04
A HORROR ON THE RIVER
HURsrING BOILERS KILL FORTY
PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA.

Over Half of Those Killed Belonged to
the Crew-The Captain Among the
Dead-False River, Nearly Opposite
Point Hudson, the Scene OF the Dis
aster.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Oct. 8. - The
etaamer Corona, of the Ouachita Consoli-
dated Line, left here at 7:S0 o'clock last
ovaning for the Ouachita river with a
full cargo of freight and a good list
of Messengers Sne exploded her boil
ers at False River. nearly opposite Port
Hndson. at II: As o'clock this morning,
consinp the loss Of the steamer and abou t
fortv lives. The Anchor line steamer, City
of ST. Louis, Capt James O'Neil, was near
nv and with his crew and boats saved
many lives. The surviving passengers and
crew were taken on board by Capt. O'Neil
and very kindly cared for by him and his
crew.
HER FIRST TRIP.
The Corona was on her first trip of the
season, and had but recently come out Of
the dry-dock. where she received repairs
amounting to nearly $4,000. She was
built at Wheeling, W. Va, by Sweeney
Bros. of that city seven years ago, and had
a carrying capacity of about 9, 700 bales of
cotton At the time of the accident she
was valued at $4,000.
THOSE LOST AND SAVED.
The following are the lists of the lost and
saved as far as known.
Crew Lost. W. Blanks, captain; j. Y.
Jordan, first clerk; Charles G. Ellis, second
clerk; Swimp Hanna, third clerk; Fred
Dinkle, barkeeper; Fred Verman, bar
keeper; Pat Ryan, steward; Dick
Henry Doyle, porter; James Swipe, porter;
Tate, barber; Henry Davis, deck hand;
Tom Cook, sailor man; Billy Young, sec
ond mate; Sam Steel. boy; both captains
Of the deck watch; eight rousters.
Passengers Lost-Dr. Atwell, corn
doctor, and four negro musicians; Mr. Scott
Of Smithland, La. Mr.. Davis stockman
from Texas; Mr.. Koenich; Mrs. Huff of
Opelousas; Hrs. Kufman's nurse and Oldest
child.
Crew Saved-H. H. Jolle, pilot;L Raw
lins, pilot; Charles Pierce, steersman; j. w.
Handley, engineer; Jack Miller, mate; Billy
Higgins, bill clerk; Robert earns. carpen-
ter; William Fleming, second steward Sam
Gree, watchman; Tom Burns, deck land;
Milt Glover, fireman; Dan Slemick, pan
tryman; Frank Reeves, cook; j. Steele,
baker; Charity Lambert, chambermaid;
Miss Reilly. second maid; Joe Rayman,
greaser; several cabin boys.
Passengers Saved-Mrs. Henry Blanks
and two children, Mrs Mann, Mrs Robert
Robertson. Mrs HUFFMAN and children,
Capt. B. G. Cornwell, Mrs. J. R. Brown,
Mrs j. j. Meredith, Mr.. L. f. Mason, Mr..
Ranghnnas4ss Mr.. ComstocK of Donaldson
vile. Mr.. John Carr of Harrisonburg.
From specials to the Times Democrat the
following additional details are learned:
Mrs. Tom Hough of Opelousas, sister of
Capt Blanks, is lost, with Mr.. Wilson of
Red river landing
and Hon. L. f. Mason of Baton Rouge
were saved.
THE INJURED.
The following are wounded:
Capt. B. G.. Cornwall, slightly; Mr..
- Baughman, residing on Black river,
hurt in the side, but not dangerously; Mr.
Comstock of Donaldsonville, slightly; J. j.
Meredith, Columbia, La, slig tly; Wayne,
the little son of Henry Black, slightly hurt
about the face; Charles A Pearce, Of New
Orleans, scalded; Pilot Rollings, badly
scaided on the hands; Capt. T. G. Sweeney,
slightly hurt by flying timbers; Mrs. F. w.
Robertson, slightly hurt.
None of the injured are expected to die.
A WOMANS MARROW ESCAPE.
Mrs. Robertson says that when the
Corona arrived opposite False river land
ing, about sixteen miles below 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 the ladies' cabin, with some of
the debris lying across her lower limbs, but
was suddenly released and found herself
noatlng In the river. She sank twice, but
luckily was picked up, and escaped with
only few bruises.
Mr.. Rollings, the pilot of the Corona,
says: II was asleep in the texas at the
time of the explosion" He does not know
now the explosion occurred. He was
awakened by the noise it made. He was
painfully burned on both hands.
SAVED TWO WOMEN.
Hon. L. +. Mason, secretary of state,
who was passenger on the Corona, states
mat I he was in the cabin talking to Mrs.
robertson about 10 o'clock this morning
When the explosion occurred. He escaped
with life preservers and assisted in saving
mrs. robertson and another lady. There
vas very little time for preparation
lor escape, as the boat went
down Ike lead few seconds after
Ihe explosion. As the steamer City of st.
LOUIS came down she was hailed, and took
oI m board all the passengers and crew
VINO were not lost in the river. No one
seems TO be able to give any exp lanation as
70 the cause of the sudden disaster.
THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION UNKNOWN.
?, special to the Picaynne from Baton
Houge says: capt. I. G.. Sweeney, one of
Une owners of the line, who assumed COM
nland 1 on the death of Capt. Blanks, says the
e9sploslon % was not due to too high pressure
VI steam. He had just had occasion to ex-
Anime allilhe the gauge, and is positive there was
TI ToV pressure Of more than 1876 pounds.
tue boat had moderate cargo. She was
u mld-stream, just below the land
tng at Arbroth, and had lust
Tnlstled to pass the City of st.
LOUIS, which was fortunately coming
go"n at the time The explosion had a
onward tendency and blew out the bot
Al An OF the boat, causing her to sink imme-
uIaleIy. The cabin was torn in two, the
iear portion floating down the stream and
gearing a number Of the saved. Capt.
sweeney happened to be forward, and
Ih1arted at once to put out the flames, which
tvesan to burn at several places. He says
% tue Doat would undoubtedly have burned
Uau sne not gone down Immediately.
NOTHING SAVED.
None Of the books, papers or other val
uSoles were saved. The City of st. Louis,
m Whicn was about 500 yards above, at once
put out her boats, and their crew did noble
Stoi,i %orK IN saving lives. The Anchor liner