Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
THIRTY LIVES LOST.
Another River Boat Burned. and 30
Lives Lost.

The Mississippi steamboat John II. Han
ma burned Oh Christmas day, and the calam-
ity resulted in the loss OF fully 80 lives and
the destruction OF 1900 bales OF cotton
which she carried. She was small but
fine boat OF 317 tons burthen, hailing from
Louisville, KY, and in command of Capt
j. $. Holmes. The fire started the night
before while many Of the passengC rs were
in the caOin playing cards and watching in
the advent OF Christmas. The boat was
just above Plaquemne, La, when roust-
about raised the cry of fire. At the same
moment the bales of cotton near the boiler
were on fire and the flames licked over the
boat in less lime than IL takes 10 tell il. The
whole boat was ablaze in less than five
minutes. The officers were cool. The en-
gineer SCI the steam pumps going and tried
TO fight the flames with tie assistance Of
his tiremen, while the clerk, Sam, II. Pow
ell, ran up stairs at once, and by k lking on
the statcroom doors and bursting them
open, awakened the sleeping occupants of
the berths.
In an instant all was confusion. Capt.
Jolles, the pilot, ordered on a full heal OF
steam and drove the boat hard into the
bank of the river. She was then blazing
furnace, and her timbers We're so weakened
by the fire that the shock did little more
than TO break them apart and let her drlft
down stream.
AS she reached the bank the crew and
passengers, who had by this time been
thoroughly awakened. jumped over the cot
ton and into the river. Many Of them sank
in the river or fiOatcd down with the cur
rent and were drowned, while there were
some so badly burned that they were too
weak TO struggle for themselves when they
struck the water The captain met an aw
full death. lie remained at his post Of duty
till every chance u save lives was gone.
Then he ledped into the river to swim for
the shore, but ii happened TO be boggy, and
he was seen 10 make frantic enCeavors 20
eXtr.cate himself withdrawal. The barn
ing boat was Fast nearing hin- and while
he was on his hands and knees in the mud
he pat up his hands to protect his back
from the intense heat. one man went out
10 him and placed box between him and
the flames 10 protect him from the in"rcas-
ing heat. He said. Never mind me; I'll
be dead in a few minutes any way He
was finally freed by tying "a rope around
his body and dragging him on shore. He
q cd about half an hour after being rescued
Clerk Powell made an effort - save the
boats books and money before he left the
boat, and after he had done al possible 70
save lives, he was caught like the captain
in the DOGGY bank anf was found dead in
the river. He had been suffocated by the
smo, of the burning cotton while trying
10 make rand He was not burned or in
iured and had in his pocket 81, 900 Of the
boat money.
The boat continued 10 burn after she
swung away from the shore, ana soon sank.
TIE burning bales Of cotton toated on the
ter down past Plaquemine, making
terribly weird scene in the opening hours
of Christmas morning. The brilliant,
smoking procession Of these blazing masses
lit up the river for hours, and by their
light, lent horror and terrible effect TO the
see ne
The origin OF the fire is unknown. II was
undoubtedly caused by some careless
smoker throwing a stogy or cigarette in
among the cotton, and thus igniting the
mass. The rapidity with which the blaze,
VIII ch must have smoldered some time be
folc, spread when ii did break out, can be
imagined when it is stated that the third
ais n whistle had no. been given when the
"rholc boat was in fianieS.
:. e people of Plaquemife Gid all in their
power 70 help the injured and save life.
The hotels were thrown open To the sur
vivors, and they were clothed by the citi
zens, and the local doctors were all busy
dressing burns and cuts received from the
floating tlmbers.
The steamer ,'csic w, Of the same line,
had been laid p - Monroe, and her crew
were going hone on the Hgnna. Several OF
those are known % he amCng the lost.