Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1882 — STEAMBOAT DISASTER. [ARTICLE]

STEAMBOAT DISASTER.

Nine Lives Lost by the Burning of a Florida Steamer, The steamer City of Sanford, bound from Jacksonville to Sanford, Fla., was burned near the former place. Tho Captain immediately rushed up to the pilot-house, headed his boat in shore, and landed her in three feet of water within tnirty feet of shore. By this time the steamer was wiapped iu flames. The passengers were up, in various stages of apparel. A group of five was on the rear deck, when the Captain urged them to leap overboard into the shallow water. Miss Ireland fell overboard, and the fteru wheel caught her dress and was about dragging her under its paddles when the Captain sprang overboard and extricated her. Mr. Ireland, who jumped after her, was caught in tlic wheel and was also rescued by Capt. Roberts Mrs. Ireland and her little daughter and Sirs. Keep and her little son were lelt on the decks. The ladies were about to jnmp overboard, when the two children, seized with panic, ran back into the blazing saloon, and mother’s love, stronger than fear of death, urged tho two ladies after them. The four disappeared in tho fiery furnace, and were burned to a crisp. Their remains were found afterward under their respective state-rooms. They were but charred and blackened trunks, grasping tho almost-unrocognizablo bodies of their children. G. 11. Downer jumped overboard, but became exhausted before help reached him, and sank whilo attempting to cry for help. Capt. Shark-lie was an expert swimmer and seaman, and he was drowned, no one knows how. Many of tho passengers and crew sprang overboara in the shallow water and were saved, with the exception of two negroes, who have since died. Engiueer Smith, after he thought all on board were saved, jumped through the spaces between the wheel and made a wonderful escape.