The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-30
RIVER STEAMER AFLAME
SIXTEEN I'D TWENTY LIVRs LOST
ON TIE MISSISSIPPI.

The Vessel Twelve Miles Below Vicks-
burg at the Time and Tied Up For the
Night-Oolored Deckhands Who Had
Been Discharged Suspected OF Firing
the Cotton.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Oct. 29.-Private dis
patches just received here say that the
steamer Oliver Bierne, used here as an ex-
cursion boat during the summer and as a
cotton carrier in the lower Mississippi in the
fall and winter, was burned at Milliken's
Bend. twelve miles from Vicksburg. this
morning. Twelve lives are reported lost.
The fire was discovered in the cotton in
the hold early this morning and the flames
spread so rapidly that many of the crew
and passengers had very narrow escapes.
The dead are a daughter of J. D. Adams
of Omaha, Mrs. Frazer's nurse, five cabin
boys and two colored chambermaids. A
number of rcusters are also missing.
The Bierne left here about a week ago
and carried 708 bales of cotton and 100 tons
Of other freight She was one Of the finest
and largest boats on the river.
TOTAL LOSS.
NEW ORLEANS. LA. Oct. 29.--The Plea
yune'S Millikens Bend specials, via Tallulah,
say the boat and cargo are total loss. She
had about eighty deck and about twenty
cabiu passengers. 1t is difficult to ascertain
the loss of life, several reports differing as
to the exact number. The following are
known to have been among those who per-
ished:
MRS. WADDELL, an elderly lady Of New
Orleans.
SAM ENTRICKEN, a son of the cook.
Two DAUGHTERS of Dr.. Worreil of Baton
Rouge.
The CHAMBERMAID and a daughter of
Mrs. Adams Of Omaha.
The BARBER, second cook and pantry
man, five cabin boys and two white levee
laborers.
NARROW ESCAPES.
The passengers and crew lost everything
they had in the way of clothing and bag
gage, many leaving the burning boat in
their night clothes and bare feet. There
were quite number Of narrow escapes.
Capt. Thorwegan was the last to leave the
boat, having to slide down guy rod from
the upper deck.
Pilot MaSsie made bis escape by passing
through the flames to the stern of the boat
and jumping into the river. He was severe
ly burned. The mate displayed his bravery
by letting himself down by rope holding
The bodies Of the pantryman and baker
and chambermaid have been recovered.
The crew and passengers all left for
Vicksburg by the steamer Sheffield this
evening, with the exception Of Mrs. Frazier
and child, Mrs. DR.. Worrell and E. M.
Howell, whose injuries are too severe to
permit their travelling just yet.
HAD TIED UP FOR THE NIGHT.
The boat had landed at Rose Hill and
Milliken's landing TO take 209 bales of cot
ton for A. s. Coltharp & Co. Of this place,
and after landing loaded this cotton,
dropped down 200 yards aud tied up for
the night The fire broke out
after nearly every one had retired and
spread with such rapidty that the engineer
was unable TO turn on the hose The Ashley
company had about 500 bales of cotton on
the landing only a short distance above
which narrowly escaped burning from the
falling cinders.
ROUsTERs SUSPECTED OF INCENDIARIsM.
The special says that at Greenville the
mate had some trouble with the rousters,
many of them quitting work, after which
the mate hired levee men, paying them %
cents per hour. This enraged the negroes.
who made open threats against the mate
and the boat. At $3.50 o'clock in the MORN
ing the cotton in the deck room was dis
covered on fire, and the boat was a
mass OF flames in a short time Every
effort w rs made to save the lives of those
on board, but 1t is feared that the death list
will reach twenty or more. The yawl was
lowered to pick up those who could be
reached. 1t was about the only hope of
saving many who were compelled to lump
into the river.