The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-11-05
TWENTY ARE DEAD.
A Score Of Lives Lot BY the Burning Of
= Mississippi River steamer.

= Mississippi River steamer.
ST.. LOFTS, Oct 30. "A special from
vicksburg says the handsome steamer
Oliver Beirne was burned to the
waters edge at $40 a. IN. near Milli-
ken's landing, % miles above Vicks-
burg. Twenty passengers were either
drowned or burned to death.
The Oliver Keirne left this city
Wednesday. October u. with list OF
over 100 deck passengers and fifteen
cabin passengers. This list was in
creased by additional passengers taken
on board at Cairo, Memphis and other
landings down the river.
The Beirne, after getting into the
Mississippi river. accepted freight on
the way down. and when she reached
Milliken's Bend she had aboard several
hundred bales of cotton, in addition to .
quantity of miscellaneous freight She
reached Milliken's Bend Thursday night
ani landed there, intending to resume
her trip down the river at day break.
Most Of 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 orig
mated on 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 passengers who
were awake, gave the alarm to those
who were asleep. A rush was i'm.
mediately made for the forward part
of the boat and many got off in
safety, but that avenue Of escape and
fortunate passengers and crew were
forced to plunge into the water. The
crew of the boat displayed commend
able GOODNESS and every effort was
made to rescue those who had not
reached the shore.
Chief Engineer Ed Bird launched tho
yawl of the boat and he with other
men succeeded in picking up many of
the struggling unfcrtunates in the
water. Some, however. were be-
yond reach and were either
burned to death or sank beneath
the waters to rise no more. The
alarm was communicated to the people
of Milliken's Bend and the bank Of the
river was soon crowded by the vii
layers, who assisted in the work OF
rescue and Hospitality threw open their
homes to the survivors of the disaster.
The following is q partial list OF
those known to have perished: Two
children OF DR.. Worrall. Of Baton
Rouge: Sam Entricken, son Of yalen.
tine Entricken, of New Orleans. two
chambermaids. Miss Adams, of Omaha,
Mrs Woolridge, of New Orleans,
nurse girl, Of Mrs Fraser, five cabin
boys and several roustab bouts
The son of Capt Entricken wa.
drowned before. the eyes Of his help
less father. He called to the latter t.
| save his mother and not mind him
Capt Entricken and three children
reached the shore safely. One of the
children. an infant, had been left be.
hind in the cabin. but was rescued by
| Mate Cassity. who entered the blazing
cabin. and envcloping the infant in bed
| clothing brought it to shore. holding
the clothing that embodied it in his
teeth as he swan.
The steamer Oliver Beirne was 4
new and handsome passenger boat AMI
was built at Jeffersonville, Ind. foul
years ago She has been used in the
excursion traffic on the Mississippi river
for the last two summers and during
the winter season has piled be
tween local points at the lower end o1
the river. The boat was valued at $50.
900 and was owned by the Planter.
and Merchants Packet Company o1
| New Orleans. She was fully insured.