ANOTHER RIVER HORROR. THE STEAMER KATE ADAMS BURNED. FROM THIRTY-FIVE TO FIFTY PERSONS MISSING-SOME NARROW ESCAPES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 341, 9 February 1889, Page 3

ANOTHER RIVER HORROR. THE STEAMER KATE ADAMS BURNED. FROM THIRTY-FIVE TO FIFTY PERSONS MISSING-SOME NARROW ESCAPES.

A Memphis despatch of December 23rd says: — The steamer Kate Adams was burned this morning near Commerce, Miss., forty miles south of this city. Sho was en route to Memphis and had about 200 people aboard. The fire, which caught in some cotton near the foward end of the boilers, was discovered about 8 o'clock. The passengers were at breakfast, and when the alarm was given they all made a rush for the forward deck. At the time the steamer was about 300 yards from the Mississippi side of the viver, and her bow was at once headed for the shore. Pilot Joe Barton was on watch, and lie remained heroically at his post until .she was safely landed. Hairy Best, the second clerk, who was seated at the table when the alarm was given, brought all the ladies and children forward and assisted them ashore. Captain Mark R. Cheek, who was on the hurricane deck, remained there giving his commands until the stage plank was safely lowered. The (ire by this time had spread all through the cabin, and he was compelled to retreat to the rear, and climbed over the rails and descended to the cabin. Here he found and made an effort to save the money and papers of the steamer, which were in tho safe. He seized the money, but nearly Jost his life in the burning cabin. Captain Cheek also assisted several passengers in securing life pieserveis, and when ib was no. longer possible for him to remain without being burned, ho too jumped into tho river and swam ashore. There weio about twenty-fi\e coloured cabin passengers, who were saved along with the white passengei's. On the lower deck, however,

A FEARFUL PANIC SEIZED THE CREW AND DECK PASSENGERS. Those who weie cut off from escape from the bow were compelled to jump overboard to save their lives. The stern of the burning steamer had swung out into the liver, and an effort being made to launch a yawl, il waa capsized by the crowd Svhich filled it and many of the occupants were drowned. They were mostly coloured men, but there were three or four women in the crowd. The burning steairier diifted away, after lying [at the bank for twenty minutes, and floated down the river, her hull sinking: at the head of Peter's Island, four miles below Commerce. The Kate Adams was owned by the Memphis and Viksburg Packet Company. She was built in 1882, and cost $102,000. She was the finest and fastest steamer of her type on the river, and her | owners this summer spent $20,000 in repairing her. This would have been the completion of her 602 nd trip in the Memphis and Arkansas City trade. The passengers and crew arrived at Memphis this afternoon at 6 o'clock, having taken the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas train at Robinsonville, which station is eight miles distant in ■ the interior from whoro the disaster occurred. The citizens of Commerce rendered the passengers and crew evory assistance in reaching Robinsonville, conveying them there in waggons and every conceivable vehicle that could be secured. There were 167 from the ill-fated steamer that came to Memphis, Captain Cheek defraying the expenses of all those who did nob have funds. 'The passengers and crew lost all their clothing and effects, and some made their escape to the shore from the burning steamer en deshabille, but were provided with clothes by the kind citizens of Commerce, The water, being very cold, benumbed the limbs those who jumped of overboard,

and to this, is attributed the greatest loss.of life. All speak in the highest terms of the coolness and bravery displayed, by the officers. The captain, clerks, pilots and engineers all remained at their posts until the last, and it was through their efforts and courage that all the lady passengers were safely taken ashoro.

A THRILLING ACCOUNT. Colonel W. J. Hunter, of Louisville, who was a passenger on the ill-fated Kate Adams, gives a thrilling account of his experience on board the steamer. When the alarm was given he was at breakfast, and hastily repaired to his stateroom to save his effects. By the time he had secured his valise he found escape by way of the bow cut off by the flames, which spread with lightning-like rapidity. He caw ab a glance that it was to be death or swim, so he disrobed himself, and securing 1 a life-preserver, jumped overboard, and after a struggle in the water for ten minutes succeeded in reaching the shore. He had nothing but his underclothes on, and secured clothing from thoseon shore. Colonel Hunter says that while he was in the rear cabin he saw a coloured woman throw her three children into the river and then jump in hei'self. All four were drowned. Mrs Fields, one of the lady passengers, said to an Associated Press reporter that she tried to jump ashore bub failed, and fell to the lower deck. A negro man who was close behind her, like her failed to reach the shore. The negro gatheied her in his arms and carried her to the bank, and thus saved her from being burned to death, as she was unable to move. Mrs Fields is positive that W. A. Covington, a planter of Rosedale, Miss., perished in the llamee. It is reported that a negro murderer, who was being brought back for trial, perished. He was handcuffed, and the officer in charge made his escape but left the negro in a helpless condition. He was burned to death. There was great excitement in Memphis when the first new? of the disaster was received here. It came about noon in the shape of a private telegram from Robinsville, and said 150 lives had been lost. Later accounts were more reassuring. It is impossible to definitely ascertain how many lives were lost, but the best estimates place the number at nob less than thirtyfive. It may possibly reach fifty.