Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1889 — FOUND WATERY GRAVES [ARTICLE]

FOUND WATERY GRAVES

AN APPALLING ACCIDENT ON THh MISSISSIPPI RIVER. The Steamer Corona Bursts her Boiler Near Baton Rouge and Immediately Goes to the Botton of the Stream—List of the Passengers and Crew. [Baton Bouge (La.) special.] The elogant side-wheel steamer Corona, of the Ouachita line, plying between this city and Ouachita River points, burst her boiler and immediately sank in midstream. The death-roll is known to include forty persons, and probably more were killed. The loss of life would have been greater than it was, but the steamer St. Louis was just approaching the Corona and aided in picking up those who were not killed. The boilers blew downward and knocked the whole bottom out of the boat, which was in midstream. The Corona was built at Cincinnati and was worth $20,000, having recently had $12,000 in repairs put on her. She was running at the time of the disaster in the place of the Josie W. Her boilers were inspected last week and pronounced Al. She carried about 100 passengers. Experts are at a loss to account for the ex. fdosion. She was laden with cotton. Fol owing is a list of the lost crew: J. W. Blanks, captain. J. V. Jordan, first clerk. Charles Celias, second clerk. SwimpHann, third clerk. Fred Diukle, bar-keeper. Fred Obermau, bar-keeper. Pat Ryan, steward. Dick Curtis, fireman. Tom Shock, engineer. Henry Doyle, porter. Jim Swipe, porter. Tom Burns, deckhand. Mr. Tate, deckhand. Henry Davis, deckhand. Tom Cook, sailor. Billy Young, second mate. Sam Steele, Texas boy. Second Mate Sam Steele. To this must be added both captains, the deck-watch, eight roustabouts and a boy. The passengers killed were: Dr. Atwell, a chiropodist* and four negro musicians traveling with him. Mr. Scott, of Smithland, La. Mrs. Davis, of Stockman, Texas. Mr. Koench. Mrs. Huff, of Opelousas. Mrs. Kaufmans, with a nurse and her eldest child. The following named passengers were saved: Mrs, Henry Blanks and two children. Mrs. Mann. Mrs. Robert Robertson. Mrs. Kaufman and children. Capt. Cornwell. B. G. Brown. Mrs. J. R. Meredith. Mrs. J. J. Mason. Mr. L. F. Baughman. Mr. Comstock, of Donaldsonville. Mr. John Can - , of Harrisonburg. Capt. T. C. Sweeney, one of the own ers of the line, who assumed command on the death of Capt. Blanks, says the explosion was not due to a too high pressure of steam. He had just had occasion to examine the gauge aud is positive there was not a pressure of more than 135 pounds. Mrs. Robertson says when the Corona arrived opposite False River Landing, about sixteen miles below Bayou Sara, one of her boilers exploded, tearing the boat to pieces, when she sank in deep water in a few seconds. Mrs. Robertson says she was wedged in the ladies’ cabin with some of the debris lying across her lower limbs, but was suddenly released and found herself floating in the river. She sank twice, but luckily she was picked up and escaped with Only a few bruises on her limbs.