Watertown Republican

The Burning of the Steamer Mary E. Poe.

From the St. Louis Democrat, Oct. 21.

The steamer City of Chester arrived here at 1 o'clock yesterday morning with about 35 of the officers and crew of the steamer Mary E. Poe, which was burned last Friday afternoon while en route to New Orleans. The Chester left the wreck at half past 9 o'clock Friday night. The two mates were still there, and the boat still burning. The safe and yawl were saved; all the books and papers not in the safe were burned. The officers, crew, and passengers lost nearly everything except what they had on their persons at the time. Capt. Poe did not attempt to save any of his personal effects, but was everywhere looking after the safety of those on board.

Among the loss were two women, deck passengers. A skiff caught one of the bodies, and it was buried on the bank close to the wreck. A roustabout was knocked overboard by a spar and drowned. Not more than five lives were drowned altogether, and, perhaps, hardly that number. While the boat was heading to the shore, and not far from it, the heat of the flames impelled many of the passengers of the Poe to jump into the water. Hans Cowan, one of the pilots—both stuck to their posts bravely as long as possible—was among the number. He succeeded in reaching a snag, but, supposing he would there be drowned, called to his son, who was near by, and threw his watch toward him. The watch sank in the bubbling waters to be seen no more, but the pilot was rescued soon afterward.

John V. Poe, clerk of the boat, made a bold dash for his trunk, and in the midst of the confusion drew it out of his room. Capt. Poe was at this time walking up the river bank. Looking back, he saw a trunk plunged overboard from the cabin deck, near the wheel; next, his son slid down a stanchion and dropped into the river. Young Poe was a good swimmer, and, in good health, could cross the river like a fish, but had been very ill recently. On reaching the water he seemed to have lost his aquatic powers, and called out to his father to save him. Capt. Poe plunged into the river, swam out to his boy, and brought him ashore in safety.

Capt. Poe cannot tell or ascertain the cause of the fire. It originated over the boilers, and spread with wonderful quickness. Baldwin was the pilot on watch, and headed the boat for the shore, remaining at the wheel until the heat compelled him to fly. Capt. Poe says the report of seventy-five barrels of coal oil being aboard, and floating off in miles of surging flame, is all nonsense. He had only two barrels of coal oil in freight; and the foundation of the report is probably the fact that he had a number of casks of bacon on the main deck, and some of them doubtless were burning when they floated off. The cargo amounted to 950 tons.