Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-05
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Forty Lives Lost by the Burst
ing of a Steamboats,
Boiler.
Many Lives Saved by the Grew
of the Steamer City
of st. Louis.

NEW ORLEANS, October S.-The steamer
Corona Of the Onschita Consolidated line
left here last evening for the Onachita
river with q full cargo OF freight and a
good list OF passengers. She exploded her
boilers at False river nearly opposite Port
Hudson at 11:45 this morning causing the
loss OF ths steamer and about forty lives.
The Anchor line steamer City Of St. Louis,
Capt. James o'Neil, was near and with the
crew and boats saved many lives. The
surviving passengers and crew were taken
on board by Capt. O'Neil and kindly cared
for. Following is the list of lost aud
saved as far as known:
Crew lost: J. W. Blanks, captain; J. W.
Joddan, first clerk; Charles H. Ellis, second
clerk; Swink Hanna, third clerk; Fred
Denkle, barkeeper; Fred Nermon, bar
keeper; Pat Ryan, steward; Dick Curtis,
fireman; Tom Shook, engineer; Henry
Davis, deckhand; Tom Cook, sailman;
Billy Young, second mate; Sam Steel, Texas
boy, both captains OF the deck watch and
Office roustabouts.
Passengers lost: r. Atwell, corn doctor,
and four negro musicians; Mr.. Scott,
Smithiand, Louisiana; Mr.. Davis, stock
man, Texas; Mr.. Koench, Mrs. Huff, Mrs.
Kaufman's nurse and Oldest child, Mr..
Tom Hugh, and Mr.. Wilson OF Red River
Landing.
Passengers saved: Mrs. Henry Blanks
and two children, Mrs. Wann, Mrs. Robert
Robertson, Mrs. Kaufman and children.
Captain B. G. Cornweli, Mrs. J. Brown,
Mrs. J. j. Meredith, L. F. Mason, Mr.
Baughman, Mr.. Comstock OF, Donaldson
vile, John Carr, OF Harrisonburg.
The Corona was on her first trip OF the
season, and had recently come out of the
dry docks, where she received repairs
to the extent oil nearly $12, 900. She was
built at Wheeling, West Virginia, by Swee-
ney Bros. of that city, about seven years
ago and had q carrying capacity OF about
2,7OO bales of cotton. At the time OF the
accident she was valued at $40. 900.
Ten of the saved are wounded, but not
dangerously.
Mrs. Robertson says when the Corona
araived 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 a
few seconds. Mrs. Robertson says she was
wedged in the ladies cabin, with some OF the
debris laying across her lower limbs. but
was suddenly released, and found herself
floating in the river. She sank twice, but
luckily was picked up and escaped with
only q few painful bruises on her lower
limbs.
L. G. Rollings, pilot, says he was asleep
at the time OF the explosion and does not
know how it occurred.
Hon. L. F. Maston, secretary Of st te,
who was q passenger on the Corona, states
| that he escaped with life preservers and as
| sisted in saving Mrs. Robertson and an
other lady.
There was very little time for preparation
| for escape as the boat went down like lead in
| q few seconds after the explosion occurred.
No one seems to be able to give any explana-
ton as to the cause OF the sudden disaster.
| Capt. L. G. Sweeney. one OF the powers OF
the line, who assumed command after the
death OF Capt. Blank, says the explosion
was not iue to too high pressure of
steam. He had just had occasion to ex-
anime the guage and is positive there was
| a pressure of no more than 185 pounds.
The boat had a moderate cargo and che
WAS in the middle OF the stream just below
the landing at Arksrcth and had just
whistled to pass the City of st. Louis
which, fortunately was coming down at the
time. The explosion had q downward
tendency and blew out the bottom OF the
boat ca using her to sink Immediately. She
was torn in two, the rear portion floating
down the stream bearing number OF the
saved. Capt. Sweeney says the boat would
undoubtedly have burned had she not gone
down Immediately. None OF the books,
papers, or other valuables were savs''.
The City OF st. Louis, which was about
500 yards above, at once put out her
boats and she did noble work in saving
lives. The Anchor lines stayed there
several hours rendering all assistance pos
sible, and taking on board the rescued
passengers and crew. When nothieg more
could be done she came on down to Baton
Rouge. where physicians were summoned
and all that was possible done for the in
jured. The only dead body recovered was
that OF Fred Overmin. second barkeeper.