Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-01-02
render them any assistance, because

render them any assistance, because Il ].
water CHILLED him r. the marrow and
hisclothing cloggea his every movement
c'Dln boy said that the crew who were
| IN the 'texas" were aroused from their
slumDers by tho flames, and they were
compelled to dive headlong from the roof
OF the boat into the river, and many Of
them were burned to death while in the
water.
Dan Carroll, the steward, says: "The
first int,mation had Of the fire was when
l was awakened by Lew Rawlings. l inn
mediately jumped on the roof from my
| room and there found the fire 50 strong it
knocked me- down. Being unable to rise I
rolled over the best way / could and
fell into the river and then swan
200 yards" MIR. Carroll is badly burned
about his back, arms, hands and face, and
| his right leg is also severely sprained. He
was taken to the hospital in e. cab.
None Of the men could say what was the
origin Of the fire. The general impression.
however, is that some careless smoker
threw u cigarette among the cotton bales
and thereby caused the disaster.
PlnQuemine was not siumbeYing when
the fire broke out aud almost the entire
town iocked to the river bank and
watched the vessel burn. The strug-
81 ng unfOrtunates who reached the
shore were tak:n care of, and doctors and
others came to- their asst ,tance and
tried to alleviate their sufferugs. The
City and Central hotels and private houses
threw open their doors to the i'll, fated
people and fed and oiothel them
The survivors tclegr&phed accounts
Of the disaster to their homes.
No attempt was made to save any
OF the steamers books or papers,
and every thing, including the clothes Of
thu crew and passengers, was lost. Tne
boat burned rapidly, and in q short time
after the alarm was given she had burned
to the water's edge. The .ull sunk aud
nothing was left OF the Hanna but floating
timber and burning cotton.
TIE Survivors were all warm in their
praise Of the humane reople of P.aquemine
and vicinity, VINO spurrd no pains and no
| money 10 furnish them with clothe, and
shelter after their terrible experience. W.
l., Brule, mayor Of the city, was especially
kind to the surv vors.
The john Il. Hanna was built in 'Madi-
| son, Ind, in H76, and hailed from Louis
vile, Ky. She was of 3T7 tons and was
owned by the Ouachita River C. nso!idated
line. She was valued at SIS, 900, and was
insured for SIP, 900 in local and foreign
| companies.
LOSS OF THE STEAMER ERICKSON.
SEATTLE, W. r., Dc 26-Particu ars Of
the burning Of the steamer Lief Erickson
off Alkali Point, i've miles west of tnis
city, meager news OF which was tel
ecraphed Monday, say six and probably
seven lives were lost The Erickson piled
between Seattle and dney, Mason Coua-
ty. The fire broke out in the pilot h,use.
| The Err .ckson WAS about two miles from
shore, and there were thirLy-three
instantly throughout tho interior
| cabin. Captain John Niube the owner
Of the boat Was in command. He left the
| wheel. house for the purpose of launching
| the Ii raft, but found passengers trying
to put the ruff overheard. In the stru ggie
TO rescue the raft from the passengers
Captain n nibe fell overheard with it
Meantime the passengers, putting on life
preservers and selling Erewood CT any
thing else that would float, jumped
overheard. Captain Niube SAW his zee,
Miss Annie Tollner, daughter Of Mrs.
Bertha Tollner, of Sidney, struggling in
the water. He d his utmost to push the
raft toward her, but she drowned in less
than 100 feet away from him.
The steamer Skagit Chief, en- route &c
Tacoma came TO the re- cue and saved
| seven persons. The steamer Mountaineer
saw the burning vessel four miles away,
and headed straight for her. Half a
| mile from the Erickson the Mountain eer
lound people struggling in the water.
! Small boats were lowered and nineteen
| persons were saved. An unknown man
was taken from the Wa or and died II a
| few minutes. He said just before be died
| that his wife was lost from the steamer
| The Erickson was valued at a. 90 an was
| insured. She had light cargo. The
! Mountaineer. with survivors, arrived
| here at o'clock Monday evening.