West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-01-03
Horrible steamboat Accident.

Another horrible steamboat accident com,
Ing close upon the loss of thirty five lives by
tho burning OF the steamer Kate Adams, oc,
Cured at Placquemine, la, when the steam
or John III. Hanna was destroyed by fire and
many persons were either burned TO death
or drowned. Just how many lives were
lost will probably never be known. as all tho
books and papers of the boat are gone, It "A
said that there were fully ono hundred
persons on the boat, including passengers and
crew, and that no more than "A dozen have
been accounted for. Another estimate placed
the number OF tho lost at thirty.
The Hanna had lett Monroe, Ark, Sunday
morning well laden with cotton. She picked
up freight all along the Ouachita, and when
she entered the Mississippi she carried over
"5oJ bales OF cotton.
The steamer was headed down the river,
going at her best gait, when the fire was dis.
covered. a majority OF the passengers were
asleep but quite "a number were in tho dining
saloon eating, saying Merry Christmas TO
each other, and making lifo as pleasant
rs Is possible un a small aud badly
rowde Mississippi River steamer. The
little party was in the best of spirits
ABOUT l o'clock in the morning, wk-n
the cry OF Fire. foil upon ia ears. A
colorod roustabout who had been sleeping
near the boiler was awakened by a heavy
smoke. Before no was well aware he shouted
'Fire." John Cullen, a stoker, heard the cry
and rushed in the direction. lie saw that
the tier OF cotton piiedup close Ia the boilers
was in IA blaze, aud that there WIS no time to
lose II any one on the boat was TO escape.
In less time than it takes Co uaTrate it, the
flames had forced their way aloft and were
Ickin Hp the light woodwork of the main
saloon A moment more and the eutiFe boat
above the waters edge was wrapped in a
sheet Of flame. Samuel Powell, one of tho
Hanna's clerks was I'm the office. Seeing
the flames he heroically rushed along tho
smoke-hlled cabin, pounding furiousiy at the
NInNANrlnEn nAnR ~ wAHU NkA
passengers.
Meanwhile Engineer Merriman stool mt his
post, in spite of the Kissing flames which shot
INTO the engine room. He set the steam pumps
at work and attempted TO fight Tie fire. He
had hardly done this when a stcampipr burst
and filed the room with scalding vapor.
FURTHER delay was impossible, anu accom-
panied by the stokers, who had bravery re-
mainel with him, he dropped over the
steamers side into the water.
Pllot Jolles had swung the wheel around
and headed the steamer for the nearer shore.
Like a mad thing she plunged along
fore she reached the land every plank
was aname. As she struck the
land she bounded of again, swung round and
drlfted 81 WY down the stream with her
Pitiaole load OF perishing humanity Shrek
ing for relief from the hideous death which
clutche9 them.
Passengers, in their night clothes. rushed
trantically through tn turnins cabin. seek
iihB q means o. oSIeSN Inc usual exits were
blocked with huge masses OF cotton. and
many dropped from suifo. alton before thev
reached the forward deck.
When the Gre broke out the Hanna WINS in
midstream, bit would probably have reached
the sh~-7 i'm time TO avoid the terrible loss of
lie mad not her bow struck a bar When
she was within fifteen yards of the
BANK Ihis checked her Roadway
ana caused her stern TO swinE round.
When the boat vas nearing the Shore the
stage plank was ordered prepared for lower
ing TO the bank. This being done a panic
stricken crowd rushed upon {. IL gave way
under the great weight and broke. Retweon
twenty and thirty persons were precipitated
into tue river. Many OF them We're drowned.
Inc Captttn and a number of the crew
and passengers bad fought their way to the
DOW or the boat with scOrched faces
and bruised limbs. a majority sprang
from her when sho was about
ton yards from shore. and tbs
moment the boat touched the rest soranr
ashore into the mud or water. The Hanna
rested there a few minutes aground, then
bounded away, and swung around. drifting
down and burning until she finally sunk IN
tho water.
Although the crew had escaped from the
burning boat they were not wholly saved.
and both the Captain and Bob Smith
the famous Lilot of tho Inflated I'd.
W hite, met their death after get
ting ashore. They sprang INTO tho
mul on the bank, aud becominV fast there
were slowly roast Il 10 death by the Intense
heat from the burning bat. They buried
their faces and hands in tine soft mud to pro-
tect themselves, AMI appealed TO the pcop.e on
enc shOre 70 come 20 their aSsistnn-c. This was
impossible. The Captain was finally pro-
tected from the fire by means OF "A Iox and
was dragged ashore with ropes. Jt wa4 too
late, however. He had suffered too serious in
luries, and, although he received medical at
tendance at once, lie died before ne rencse /
Plac ucm.nc
Tho people Of ~FlacgUomine did all they
could 70 relieve the su Teriug5 OF tire wounded
aui TO care for the saved. Hotels and
private houses were thrown open. an
the unfortunate IeoJle were n1reed and
clothed No attempt was made 10
save any Of the papers. and cvorytbin0.
including the clothes of the crew AZ, m.
seugerss was lost. When tho BODY OF Cisrs
Powell, who tried herocallv TO avyaten rho
IN the cabin Was found, $1,000 was dissoy. rel
in his pocket.
None OF the survivors could say what wa,
the origin OF the fire. The general i'm.
preston D. That some care pss smoker
tnrew n cigarett' among the cotton
and thereby caused the disaster. OWING
~ the GOODNESS Of Tire water many M
lhose who e-caped the flames prr1shed
from cramps I'M the icy tide. Terhare fhe
saddest cases were those o. men who Got -
far toward safety rs ths banks Of the river
were there m.red in tho mud. and bur1od Ia
oen.n WHO attempting 90 Chamber Up ths
The Harna was valued NJ $4,000. her car.
20 az flE0O Both arc q total Iore TFs
cotton vas 80 much finder. and ne the boat
es Du'it yenTs ago. beer timbcrs were i1
IRE -'nfii on f0r 81 con 'asrItcl