The Delta independent., 1889-01-01
A FRIeHTFuL DISASTER.
A Mississippi River Steamer Burns
Causing Great Loss of Life.

| Causing Great Loss of Life.
| NEW ORLEANS, La, Dec. ga
special from Plaquemine to the States says: :
The burning Of the steamer John H. Hanna
last night near this place was one of the
most terrible river disasters that ever hap
pened in Southern waters. The loss is very
heavy About 30persons perished in the
flames and large number jumped over
board and were drowned. Among the lost
are Captain James S. Holmes and First
Clerk Samuel X. Powell, their bodies being
recovered. Captain Holmes body was ter
| ribly burned.
| Ono of the deck-hands who escaped says
there were about 100 persons on board and
that only about dozen could be found
alive
The engineer and pilot were saved. AL
who escaped were burned more or less
| severely.
| The boat was but short distance above
town when negro roustabout near the
boiber-room ran out TO the deck and shouted
that the boat was on fire. John Cullen was
near the place at the time and, seeing the
flames bursting forth from the big tiers Of
cotton near the boiler, ran hastily to the
engine c-room and gave the alarm.
Engineer Merriman took in the situation
at glance and at once sounded the alarm
by blowing the steam whistle and ringing
the bells.
In an instant the flames shot through the
cabin and over the sides of the cotton, en-
veloping the entire boat in fire.
Clerk Powell was up stairs at the time
and when the saw he flames he heroically
ran through the smoke which filed the
cabin, and tried to arouse the sleeping peo-
pie. He kicked at the doors and in short
time almost everybody was awake.
Then confusion worse confounded ap
peared and frantic people ran to different
exits to make their escape but the boat was
piled high with cotton and the passage
ways were filled with smoke. Many
dropped before they were able to get TO the
forward part OF the boat, and were dead
when the steamer wentdown.
As soon fire was discovered Engineer
Merriman set the steam punps working
and tried to battle with the flames, but the
fire swept through the boat like blaze on
prairie, and the engine room was soon in
haiacss iheu, to aoG " tuc CuusDsfnatlcut
steam pipe burst and filed the place with
scalding steam. Engineer Merriman was
forced 10 abandon his post, and he and the
stokers and others ran to the sides Of the
boat and rushed through pell-mell to save
their lives
As soon as the flames began to start up
tho sides OF the boat Captain Jollcr, the
pilot, swung tho wheel around and headed
the boat for the shore. A full head OF
steam was and the boat soon ran into
the bank,
Before she did so, however. she was
doomed. All her timber was furiousy
burning When the steamer struck the
bank she bounded away again and swung
around, drifting down stream as she burned.
Then Captain Joller jumped out over the
cotton bales, springinc into the river, SWAN
TO the shore.
Tho sight was n weird one vicwed from
Che shore, and the town was aroused
Floating cotton, charrcd timbors and other
debris filed tho river, and many people
were struggling desperately in the water
for their lives. Some OF them were ablcN
swim.ashorc, but. t.somIofthem,wcre so badly
struggled but few minutes and sunk to
rise no more.
The burning boat struck the bank OF the
river and the crew and passengers who had
been ablc to reach the forward end of tho
boat escaped ashore, some of them with
scorchcd faces and bruised limbs, and many
of them with scarcely any covering. Among
them WHO managed TO get on were Captain
Holmes and Bob Smith, the unfortunate
pilot OF tho Inflated White, who was pas
senger Both men were burned nigh unto
death and the story of tho manner in which
they suffered is most hcartrcnding,
When the Captain jumped ashore he was
horribly burned, and in his frantic desire
to be relieved from the pain he was suffer-
ing, he buried his face and hands in tho
soft mud and begged most piteously for
someone to help him.
Plaquemino Was not slumberipg when
the fire broke out, and when the discovery
was madc that the Hanna was burning, al
most the entire town fiockcd to the river.
side and watched tho vessel burn. Tho
struggling unfortunates who reached the
shorc were taken care Of and the doctors
and others came to thcir assistance and
tried TO alleviate their sufYcrings. Tho
City and Central Hotels and private
houses threw open their doors to the III
fatcd pcopiS and fed thcm and clothed
them until this morning.
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