The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-11-03
a mlsslssIppl HORROR.
burning Of oroa. steamer a, Dead

Ni6oI-
ST. LOUIS, October 29.-Private dis
patches just received here say that the
steamer Oliver Bierne, used here as an
excursion bat during the summer aud
as a cotton carrier in the lower Missls-
sippi in the fall and winter, was burned
at Milliken's Bend, twelve miles from
Vlcksburg, this morning. Twelve lives
are reported lost.
The lire was discovered in cotton in
the hold early this morning, and the
flames spread so rapidly that many of
the crew and passengers had very mar
row escapes. The dead arc a daughter
of j. D.. Adams, of Omaha, Mrs. Fraz-
er's nurse and five cabin boys. Two
colored chambermaids and a number of
rousters are also missing.
The Bierne left here about a week
ago, and carried 70S bales of cotton and
100 ton of other freight. She was one
OF the finest and largest boats on the
river.
There were quite a number of narrow
escapes. Capt. Thorwegan was the
last to leave the boat, having to slide
down a guy rod from the upper deck.
Pilot Massie made his escape by passing
through the flames to the stern of the
boat and jumping in the river. He was
severely burned. The mate displavad
his bravery by letting himself down by
Il rope, holding a little child by tic cloth
ing. The bodies of the pantryman,
baker and chambermaid have been re-
covered. The crew and passengers all
left Tor V~icksburg by the steamer Shell
fed this evening, with the exception Of
Mrs. Frazier and child, Mrs. Worrell
and Il. NJ. Howell, whose Injuries are
too severe to permit their travelling
just yet.
The boat had landed at Rose Hill and
M~illiken's Landing to take two hundred
bales of cotton for a. S. Collharp 81 Co,
OF this place, and after landing loaded
this cotton, dropped down a couple of
hundred yards and tied up for the night.
The fire broke out after nearly every
one had retired for the night and spread
with such rapidity that the engineer was
unable to turn Oh The hose. The Ash
ley Company had about five hundred
bales OF cotton on tho landing only a
short distance above, which narrowly
escaped burning from falling cinders,
a V~icksburg special says that at
GreenIillc the mate had some trouble
with the roustcrs, many of them quit
ting work, after which the mate hired
levcc men, paying them 25 cents per
hour. This enraged the negroes, who
made open threats against the mate aud
boat. At $50 in the morning the cot.
ton In tho deck room was discovered on
lire, and the boa was a mass of flames
III a short time. Every effort was made
to save tie life OF those on board, but.
it is feared the death list will reach
twelve or more. The yawl was lowered
to pick up those it could reach in time.
1t was the only hope of saving many
who were co -hpelled to jump into the
river.
The New Orleans Picayuue's Mill.
ken's Bend special, via Tullulah, says
that the boat and cargo are a total loss.
She had about eighty deck and about
twenty cabin passengers. IL is difficult
to ascertain the loss of life, several re-
ports differing as to exact number. The
following are known to have been among
those who persisted: Mrs. Waddell, an
elderly lady, OF New Orleans; Sam
Enrtrycken, son Of the clerk; two dauyh-
tiers OF DR.. Worrcll, of Baton Rouge the
chambcrmaid and the daughter of Mrs.
Adams, the barber, second cook and
pantryman, five cabin boys and Two
white lcvee laborcrs. The passengers
and crew lost everything they had in the
way of clothing and baggage, many
leaving the burning boat in their night
clothes and bare ieet.