The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-30
SOME DIDN'T REACH SHORE.
At LEAST THIRTEEN LIVES LOST m A
BURNING MISSISsIPPI sTEAMKR.

Il - Feared That the Death Rsu 81 ths
oliver seirne Nay Beach Tws.ty-evs-
Tha Cotton Bales Caught F1re, a.A DesaDe
Fron the Stern OF the Boat was Cot or
NEW ORLEASs Oct. 29-The New Orleans
and yicksburg steamer Oliver Beirns was
burned this morning near Milliken's Bend.
La. twelve miles from Vicksburg. while On
route to this city. Probably twenty-five lives
were lost. but the exact number will never b.
known. The Beirne left st. Louis LAST wednes-
day. where she had been used as an excursion
steamer during the summer. The boat was
coming south to enter pom her regular winter
business. that Of running between New Orleans
and Vicksburg In the cotton trade. She had Q
small cargo Of merchandise aboard and 100
bales Of cotton and ITO passengers. Most Of
the passengers. were dock passengers: that
Is. those who travel second class and rcmain
on deck.
The boat left Milliken's Bend ct $50 o'clock
in the morning and was only short distance
from the land when the CRY Of IRE was heard
Tho flames broke out among the cotton bales
near the engine. The passengers were hur-
riedly aroused. The IRE spread rapidly, and
n panic broke out among the passengers.
They rushed about the deck In desperation.
Many were In their night clothes. and notWith.
standing the cold weather some OF them be-
came 30 frightened that they lesped into the
river.
Although the flames enveloped the wheel.
house the pilot stuck to his post like hero to
the last moment He headed the boat for the
Louisiana shore. She ran aground. and thus
many OF the passengers escaped. having only
short distance to swim. Tho engineer got
out the yawl and rescued half dozan
persons floating in the river Others
were saved BY clineing to the cotton
bales. which were dumped overheard.
Others OF the passengers cut Oh from reaching
the bow chung to the boat to the last moment,
but were finally compelled to spring into the
river. Thirteen are known to have lost their
lives and ten more are thought to have been
drowned. The loss includes the following:
The two children Of Dr.. D. Worrsll OF Baton
Rouge. tho mother escaping alive; Sam v. En-
tricken OF New Orleans. son OF the clerk: Q
daughter Of Mrs. o. Adams. Mrs. J. Foolbrideo
OF New Orleans. negro nurse Of Mrs. Frazier
OF New Orleans. five cabin boys and two cham
bermaids. There were large number of deck
passengers. but how many it 10 impossible to
soy. probably hundred. It is considered GER
tain that some Of these lost their lives. The
number is variously estimated from four to
twelve. -.,.
The Oliver Beirne was only i've years old.
and was one Of the few types remaining Of the
old-fashioned side wheelers. She was valued
at 100000 The steamer took ON no freight
above Memphis. for she drew all the water in
the river ut the present low stage. At Mem
phis she received rs tons. and started away on
Sunday. picking up freight as she went until
she reached the bend that was the scene OF
the disaster. Less than an hour after the
alarm was given nothing remained Of tie
wreck above water. The passenger List WaA
kept on the boat and no names can be Learned
at the eompany's office
Capt Thorwegan was the last TO leave the
boat having to slide down guy rod from the
upper deck. Pilot Aassie made his esosps b.
passing through the flames to the stern q the
boat aud jumping into the river. He WxD 80
vereiy burned The mate displayed his
bravery by letting himself down By rope.
holding little child BY the clothing. The
bodies Of the pantryman and baker. and Of the
chambermaid and her daughter have been n.
covered.
A skin reached vlcksburg from Duckport to.
night with the body Of very old white wo-
man. She was found clinging to Q bale OF
cotton floating down the river about 10 o'clock
this morning by a fisherman named John No
son. The old lady was alive when discovered.
He took her in his skin. where she died in .
few minutes. She was at least sixty years old.
STEAMER BURNED IN ALABAMA
MONTGOMERY. Oct. 29.-The steamer Arm.
strong. plying between this city and Mobile,
was destroyed by fire near Benton on Tuesday
night. together with o heavy cargo Of cotton
and general freight The passengers and
crow had a narrow escape.