The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-11
IN NINE CHEAP BOXES
THIRTEEN VICTIMS OF THE STEAM
Err LEONA FIRE PACKED IN CASES
And Taken to a New York MOrgue for
observation-disclosures Old Soldiers Ac-
count of the Disaster.

NEW YORK, May 1O.-It was a gruesome
sight on board the Mallory-line steamer
Leona early to-day. Thirteen dead bodies,
blackened by fire and smoke were lying in
the steamers steerage, and men and wom-
en- were on the deck looking as though they
had passed through an awful ordeal. The
coroner viewed the remains early this
morning and later the thirteen bodies were
placed in nine pine boxes and taken to a
morgue. Some of the bodies of the chill
dren and others were charred and burned
to about half their natural size. The bod
les will be kept at the morgue few days
for identification. Those who cannot be
identified will be buried in the potters s field.
Following is q revised list of the victims
Passengers-Bri Sullivan, B. Cotrane,
Maria Hardo and her two children, Mrs. c..
Guzza and daughter, Joseph Solomons sis
ter, one daughter Of j. Vlaicikek, Sophie
SchmalZe.
Crew-Alfred Lang, waiter: o. Hartman,
butcher; Alfred Harvey, waiter
Coroner Hoeber found one man who had
been one of the steerage passengers, whom
he ordered detained until after the inquest.
This mans name is Thomas Doyle. He is
sixty-seven years old and lives at Paterson,
N. j. He was on his way to Vallejo, Cal,
to see his uncle and aunt. Doyle is a vet
eran of the late war. lie will be detained
until the inquest is held. Doyle said that
he was among the steerage passengers who
occupied bunks on the starboard side of
the vessel. He said that among the passen-
gers who could speak English were two
men whose names he did not know and a
young Irish girl.namer Lizzie Sullivan, on
her way to Los Angeles. She was about
seventeen years old and pretty. Doyle
stated that he was lying asleep in his bunk
early on Sunday morning when he was
awakened by a SuffOcatng feeling. His
first thought was that some one was smok-
ing a bad cheroot, but wnen he saw the
apartment filled with smoke he jumped
from his bunk and made for the compan-
ionWay leading to the upper deck. This
was only a short distance from where he
slept At the entrance of the companion-
way he met the steward, who was shouting
Fire" He started up the companionWay
and found that two men had presided him
When he first started up ne fell back hav-
ing lost his balance, and when he started
hind him who pushed him up. He does
not know who this was. on reaching the
deck his first thought was for the safety of
Lizzie Sullivan. and he started down into
the Women'S side of the steerage to rescue
her. But he was pulled back by members
of the crew. The crew worked like beavers
to put out the flames. The matches bur
lap, etc, which caught fire were stored only
short distance away from the steerage
Samuel Schillcraut was one Of the pas
sengers in the steerage of the Leona He
came here from Hungary about a month
ago and was on his way to Columbus, Tex.
He has a wife and six children in his ma
tive country, whom he expected TO bring
over in short time. He had $3.50 with him
with which he was going to start in a small
business in Columbus. He lost everything
he had, both money and clothing. He does
not speak English, but through an inter-
prefer he said: The crew made no efforts
TO help the passengers and none OF us was
awakened by them. They simply took care
of themselves and left us 10 our fate A
great many of the lives might have been
saved II the crew had done anything to
help the smothering passengers" Mr.
Schillcraur said the general impression was
that the ire was caused by a lighted match
dropped by one of the crew into the cargo
He declared that he saw a number of the
crew smoking and that they were careless
in throwing away their matches The on
GERS. he said, made no attempt to stop the