The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-22
SOME GREAT DISASTERS
That Have Befallen Vessels Between fols-
ton and Galveston on The Bayou.
REMOVAL OF THE WRECK OF THE WACO
Causes n seafnrer to Become Remin-
iscent Concerning some Notn-
Bile Disasters.


Mogan Point an old seafarer, whose only
name the reporter ever learned was Bar
ney," to pilot them across the bay and
up through the treacherous mouth of the
Trinity river.
As the little steam craft Richmond
gracefully danced over the wavelets Of
Galveston bay with its prov pointed to-
ward the point where the old Trinity dis
embogues; and in the cleaning OF the
evening, as Barney sat at the helm VITA
his PIPE in his mouth. a typical Jack Tar,
the reporter for The Post, who was one OF
the party, engaged the old salt in con-
versaton and found that he was full OF
interesting "reminiscences regarding acct
dents and disasters that had occurred in
Buffalo bayou and Galveston bay cover
ing a period dating back more than nall
| century. not that Barney has been active
ly engaged In boating on the bayou during
that length of time. but the stories he
tells have been treasured in his memory
and are given about as he related them.
The present work OF the government in
removing the wreck Of the Waco was the
theme that started Barney on his story OF
disasters.
~
Il remember that fearful disaster OF
the burning of the Waco, said Barney, as
he blew from his pipe Whit Of curling
smoke that WIS caught up by the yeering
wind 1T was on the evening OF Monday.
November 8, 1875. the steamship city of
Waco, from New York. arrived at the
outer roadstead You can almost see the
very spot from yon lighthouse, and as it
was blowing hard. and there was heavy
sea running on the bar, came to anchor
in a feet of twenty-five vessels. intending
TO 90 into Galveston the next morning.
She was spoken by the pilot boat Eclipse,
and Captain Thomas Wolf, pilot, put on
board. About o'clock the vessel sudden
ly became enveloped in flames and burned
to the waters edge, when she sunk. Every
soul ON hoard persisted, including pilot
officers. crew and passengers, and tho
only body ever found was that Of Pilot
Wolf In consequence of the heavy sea
running the vessels near the burning
steamer were powerless and could render
no assistance whatever About sixty per-
sons persisted in the disaster. The cause
of the fire will never be known, but It
was thought at the time that the steamer
ad been struck by lightning and as she had
a deckload Of 2000 cases OF kerosene oil
that she was Immediately enveloped 10
flames from stem 10 stern.
~
These waters have been the scene of
some terrible disasters to steam vessels
during the past fifty years" said Barney
as he took another turn on the wheel and
Chief Coyle, who was sitting near heard
a sigh and began to inspect the supply OF
life preservers on the little craft Rich
mond, as he recalled the fact that Captain
Jack Fish derry MitchelD had declined
TO make the "trip because he did not re-
gard the boat as being altogether safe.
Yes, continued Captain Barney I've
frequently heard the story told OF the
nrst steamboat explosion that occurred be-
tween Houston and Galveston. Ii was in
the days OF the Republic, when old Ashbel
Smith, who lived on the hill over Wonder
tpointing toward the mainland) was en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary 10 the court of st. James and
when We had representatives of the prn.
cipal European governments at our own
capital, that tho steamboat Albert Gal
iarn. named in honor of the distinguish ed
public man OF the day, was one of the
favorlte packets between Galveston and
Houston. On the morning of Monday
December 10. 1871, this craft exploded her
boilers while on the trip from Houston
and when within six miles of her destna-
lion, killing five persons and wounding
nine. The steamboat Dayton, commanded
by Captain John II Sterrett, Immediately
proceeded to the scene of the disaster
and rendered every possible assistance to
the survivors, Captain Sterrett afterward
commanded a number of steamboats, that
Piled between Houston and Galveston in
the gOnd old laNS 1,fha -.
at the zenith OF popularity"
~
During the night OF March %. 1883"
continued Barney, the steamboat Farmer
Captain Webb, and the steamer Neptune
both considered crack boats at the time
were engaged in racing from Houston 10
Galveston. The excitement incident 10
steamboat race suddenly eliminated at
point about ten miles distant from Gal
weston, when the Farmers boilers OK
ploded and completely wrecked the steam
er. There were forty or fifty passengers
on board the steamer at the time of the
disaster. besides her officers and crew.
making a total of some sixty souls can,
tain Webb OF the Farmer and thirteen az
the passengers and crew lost their lives
by the disaster. The Neptune Immediate
~ rounded 10 and carried the survivors
and such corpses as could be rescued to
Galveston
That was quite near where We are
wasn't it, Barney?" queried the reporter.
Yes, only about three miles from wher.
We are now steaming."
AT this Mr.. Tom Goggan pulled the
|. collar Of his ulster close up around his
ears, and remarking that he felt a cola
sensation running up and down his sninai
column, moved over toward the key maj
had been freshly tapped. while Barnsv
continued his "reminiscences as follows.
lew minutes after l O'Clock on H.
morning OF May 81, 1857, the steamshin
Louisiana, Captain Henry Shephe d fron,
lndianoia for Galveston, was discoversa
10 be on fire when about 1--WE miles sroS,
galveston. As soon as Captain Sh+nhass
ascertained that 1t would be impossihls -
quench the flames he ordered the shin ~
be headed for the shore. and attemnies y,
beach her. Before this could be sccons
plished the engineers had been driyaa
from their posts and every one attemn,o,
To save themselves as best they might ~
Che confusion generally Incident ~ s,ah
ealamities, one of the lileboafs M
burned before It could be launched ans
another Was dashed to pieces agains, Nv
side OF the steamer. The third bnst ~, q.
which WAS Mr.. George ". Grovsr ~
safely launched. and landed its fraish. va a
- =. 4.