The rustler., 1891-11-06

HILTS THAT IT WAS SET on FIRE
Twsnty Lives a. I-~u..t Lasi nv D-swulng
o. nurulnE-Sanaas sf some or the
unfortunaa-@-ssms Narrsw
H1s-.pe1


The Oliver Bierne was 4 new and
handsome passenger boat and was
built In Jeffersonvilie, Ind, four years
ago She has been used In the excur-
sion business on the Mississippi for the
past two summers and during the win
ter season has piled between local points
at the lower end Of the river. The
boat was valued at $4,000 aud owned
by the Planters a. Merchants Packing
Co. Of New Orleans She left this city
last Wednesday with over 100 deck pas
sengcrs and carried fifteen cabin pas
sengcrs This list was Increased by
additional passengers taken on board
at Cairo, Memphis and other landings.
The Bierne, after getting TO the Mis-
sissippi river, accepted freight ON her
way down and when she reached Milli-
ken's bend she had aboard several hun
dred bales Of cotton In addition 10
quantity Of misce ilaneous freight She
reached Millilsen's bend ut night and
landed there, intc nding TO resume her
trip down the river In the morning at
daybreak The passengers and crew
were asleep when at $3.50 O'Clock an
alarm Of fire was suddenly sounded and
almost before anyone was awake the
boat was In flames
The blaze originated In the lower
deck from what cause no one has yet
been able TO learn. and communicating
TO the dry cotton was soon burning
with great ferceness. The crew Of the
boat were aroused and with the pas
sengers who Were awake gave the
alarm 10 those who were asleep A
rush was Immediately made for the
forward part of the boat and many got
off in safety, but that avenue of escape
and Others we're soon cut off and the
unfortunate passengers and crew were
compelled 10 plunge into the water.
The crew Of the boat displayed com
mendable coolness and every effort
was made TO save those who had not
reached the shore. The chief engi-
neer, Bird, launched the yawl of the
boat and he with Others succeeded in
picking up many of the struggling un-
fortunateS
The vessel had about eighty deck and
difficult TO ascertain the loss of lives,
the several reports differing as to the
exact number, but conservative esti-
mates are that twenty we're lost The
following are known TO haze been
among those who perished;
Mrs. Waddell. au elderly lady of New
Orleans; Sam Entricken, son OF the
clerk; two daughters Of DR.. Worrell, Of
Baton Rouge; N chambermaid; n daugh-
ter of Mrs. Adams, OF Omaha
The barber, the second cook and
pantryman, FIVE cabin boys and two
white levee laborers are also among
the missing
Capt. Thorwegen was the last 10
leave the boat, having to slide down a
guy rod from the upper deck.
Pilot Massie made his escape by pass.
ing through the flames TO the stern Of
the boat and jumping into the river.
lie was severely burned.
The mate let himself down by n rope
holding little child by the clothing.
The bodies of the pantryman, chas2-
bermaid and her daughter have been
recovered.
The crew and passengers all left ior
Vicksburg by the steamer Sheffield last
evening with the exception of Mrs.
Frazer aud child. Mrs Dr. Worrell and
T. NJ. Howell, whose injuries are too
severe to permit their travelling .i1st
yet
At Greenville the mate had some
,.,tth ~
whom quit work, after which the mate
hired the levee men, paying them %
cents per hour. This enraged the nc
groes, who made open threats agains,
the mate and the boat
The body of N very old white lady
was found or n bale Of cotton floating
down the river about 10 o'clock by q
fisherman, John Mason. She was alive
when he found her but speechless lie
took her in his skiif where she died q
few minutes later. II Is thought that
she was at least go or 70 years ofage.
Nothing was found on her person Il
identify her Her arm was slightly
burned, also the robe.
b. NJ. Adams. travelling companion OF
Mr.. Howell, also OF Omaha, is missing
and IL is feared is lost
William Massie, Tony Burbanlss
partner in the pilot house, is seriously
and, il is feared. dangerously burned.
His face, head. back and hands are 4
solid blister and feariully swollen. II,
left for his home in st. Louis by trair
last night In charge OF Burbanks.
A cabin passenger, aged about n
years, sandy hair, who got on the boa
at Greenville, is missing As the book
and cabin register were lost 1t is Inn
possible to get a complete list of the
passengers
Mrs Grandson Jones and her daugh
ter were both drowned. Their bodies
with those Of four colored men. wer,
recovered Capt Thorwegen had DRAG
hooks made and used every possible
means to recover the bodies of the los
passengers
The third deck Of the boat wa,
crowded with levee laborers. Many o.
them ran forward and got ashore, bu
a large number OF them plunged intC
the river and il is believed that severa