The Tupelo journal., 1903-11-06
STEAMER ST. LOUIS
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Feared That One Man Lost His
Life in the Flames.
BURNEDAT CARONDELETDOCKS
Famous Old River Boat Had Just
Finished Successful RrOund Trip
From st. Louis to New Orleans
Loss Estimated at $4,000.

st. Louis, Oct. 31.-The steamer City
of st. Louis, which at one time held
the proud title of Queen of the Missis-
sippi," was burned to the water line
Friday night in a fire which partly de-
stroyed the st. Louis marine ways at
Carondelet. One man is thought to
have persisted in the flames and two
members of the crew were badly
burned before they could escape.
Her destruction, following the burn
ing of the Lotus Sims Thursday at
North Market street, removes two of
the largest steamers on the river from
st. Louis traffic.
James Parnell, of New Orleans, the
bartender, is missing, and is believed
to have been burned to death. He was
seen going toward the steamer a short
time before the fire.
The steamer arrived from New Or
leans Thursday, being the first boat
to make the round trip to the gulf in
three years. She was to have depart
ed on the return Friday afternoon, and
had been towed to the docks for a few
repairs, when she took fire.
Flames from the burning steamer
could be seen for several miles, and
made one of the most spectacular fires
ever witnessed in St. Louis. A crowd
of mor than 10000 spectators lined
the river banks watching the destruc-
ton of the boat.
William Stammer. the cabin watch
man, was the first to discover the fire.
Shortly before ten o'clock he saw
smoke on the portside forward of the
wheel, near the engine room.
Almost before he could reach the
main deck the flames broke from the
side of the vessel with a roar. SIAM
mer shouted the alarm of fire, and ran
through the entire length of the cabin,
beating upon the stateroom doors.
Capt. L. A. Mehaffey, master of the
steamer, was in his room. Hearing
the alarm, he ran into the grand sa-
loon, which by this time was filled
with smoke. He made his way down
stairs and escaped.
Several other members of the crew
who were in the rooms were also
warned by Stammer's cries. When.
the Waterman attempted to escape the
entire boat was in flames and exit
by the stairway leading to the main
deck was cut off.
For several minutes he ran along the
side of the steamer looking for a way
to escape. His hands, were badly
burned and his clothing had started
to take fire.
Finally, running to the rail, he
plunged overheard. In falling his head
struck the bank. Firemen and mem
bers of the crew pulled him ashore.
He was sent to the city hospital.
Frank Watson, a ~deckhand, was also
caught on the burning boat and was
badly burned before he could reach
the shore.
Fifteen minutes after the first alarm
of fire was given the large steamer
was a mass of flames from stem to
stern. One by one her stanchions
were burned away, letting the decks
ldll WILL q oouy Dllh6Ah6 IL loll
smokestacks down with them.
Capt. Mehaffey says the steamer will
be a total loss, as there was but $500
insurance upon her. She vas owned
by Clifton & Alexander, of Greenville.
Miss, and valued at SIC, 1000.
The City of st. Louis was n Of the
old Anchor line steamers, which for
merlyS ran between st. Louis and New
Orleans. When the company suspend
ed business, in 1896, she was pur-
chased by Capt. Thomas Sims, owner
of the steamer Lotus Sims, which
burned Thursday morning. She was
800 feet long, with a 56-foot beam, and
had a freight capacity of 1900 tons.
Her cabin was at n time one of the
finest on the river. She was built 20
years ago at a cost of $125,00