THE STEAMBOAT DISASTER
NINETY LIVES LOST.
(F3R PRESS ASSOCIATION.)
Nkw York, Dicembßr 25
The name of the Mississippi steamer destroyed by fire was the John Hanna. The fire was caused by passengers letting a light fall amongst the cargo, whioh was largely composed of bales of cotton. In an instant the inflammable material was ablazS} and the flames bursting through the deck a panic ensued. Finding it hopeless to attempt to extinguish the flames, the pilot steered the vessel for a sandbank. Upon striking the bank the steamer rebounded from the shock into deep water. The force of the collision had rendered the vessel a wreck, and the steampipes exploded. In this condition she drifted helplessly down the river. By this time the fire had reached the upper deck, and all the boats had been destroyed, so the panic* Btricken crew and passengers were only able to escape from the burning vessel by plunging into the water. Besides those overtaken by the flames, and burnt to death, about sixty were drowned by jumping into the river. The pilot became a raving maniac as the flames swept the stand on deck, from whence he and the captain had attempted to direct operations, and the latter terminated his own Bufferings by drawing a revolver and blowing ont his brains. Full particulars are not yet obtainable, owing to the excitement still prevailing, but sufficient is known to stamp the disaster as one of the most awful tragedies m the history of American rivor navigation .
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2023, 28 December 1888, Page 2
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251THE STEAMBOAT DISASTER Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2023, 28 December 1888, Page 2
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