Lake Charles, La.
May 25, 1879
The propeller 'Ramos' capsized near Lake Charles, La, May 25. -During the thunderstorm yesterday afternoon a whirlwind struck the small mail propelled Ramos, in the Calcasieu River. The boat was instantly capsized and immediately sank in about 30 feet of water. There were eight people on board the ship when it sank - the Captain, engineer, and six passengers - as follows: Lucien Denaive of Galveston; J.C. Birds of Cameron Parish; Zora and Medora Pithon, sisters, age 10 and 12 years old, of Calcasieu Parish; Josephine Hawkins, colored, and her child 2 years old.
The Captain and engineer succeeded in swimming to shore, but the rest where drowned. The bodies were all recovered except for Josephine Hawkins and buried here today. The Captain, Benjamin Moss, grasped the Pithon sisters and gave them a piece of drift wood to hold on to, and then attempted to push them ashore but the girls could not retain their hold. The Captain also threw a life preserver towards Mr. Denaive, but it failed to reach him.
Published in The New York Times - May 26, 1879
Another Horror – Six Persons Drowned Near Lake Charles
(From the Lake Charles Echo – Map 31, 1879)
The U. S. mail boat Ramos is a small steam propeller carrying the U. S. mail on the Calcasieu River between Lake Charles and Cameron (or Leesburg) post offices. It leaves Lake Charles on Monday’s and Thursdays, and leaves Cameron Wednesdays and Saturdays making each trip in one day.
Last Saturday the Ramos left Cameron having on board the captain and acting pilot, Benjamin Moss, the engineer, George Telley, and taking there and at Rose Bluff, six passengers, named Lucien DeNaive, of Galveston, representing the firm of P. J. Willis & Bros., J. C. Bird, of Grand Chenier, Cameron Parish, Zora and Madora Pithon, two beautiful little sisters, aged respectively ten and twelve years, daughters of A. M. Pithon, deceased, formally of Lake Charles, and a colored women named Josephine Hawkins, and her aged about five years. None of the passengers could swim.
When the Ramos was about a mile below the lower edge of Lake Charles she was struck by a violent squall (which uprooted two large trees on the opposite bank of the river) and thrown on her beam ends. She skipped water heavily and sunk instantly, going down stern foremost in about thirty feet of water. The little Pithon girls were in the pilot house, with their cousin Captain Moss, and the door had closed. The other passengers had gone into the after cabin to be out of the falling rain. Captain Moss and the little girls fell to the floor, and on rising the captain broke open one of the doors and stepped out, holding the girls by either hand. As he did so the boat went down. The engineer handed the captain a float (a piece of cypress wood about six feet long and fourteen inches wide.) and threw another float to Mr. DeNaive. The little girls caught the captain around the neck. He begged them in vain to take hold of the float, and twice dragged him under water. As they emerged the second time they simultaneously let go of his neck and sank beneath the waves. A moment afterwards the younger sister arose about six feet off and the captain and engineer started towards her, but she sank before they could reach her. The captain looked around and seeing none of the other passengers, caught a wooden trough, used on the boat, and swam ashore. It is supposed that Mr. DeNaive did not reach the float thrown to him as none of the other passengers were seen after the little girls sank from sight. The squall ceased instantly, and not a breath of air was blowing when the captain reached the shore.
All the drowned bodies except Josephine’s were recovered the same evening and were buried here the next day. Josephine’s body was recovered last Monday and buried Monday night, large numbers of colored people, men, women and children, following her remains to the grave, and singing as they passed through town, just after dark, a wild and mournful chant.
It was a sad, sad sight here on Sunday evening when the other bodies were carried to the grave. Mr. Bird was buried in the new corporation cemetery; Rev. J. F. Scurlock officiated at his funeral. It is said he leaves a wife and four or five children on the Grand Cheniere, and that he came there about a year ago from Mississippi. Mr. DeNaive’s remains were then carried to the Catholic cemetery. Then the bodies of the little sisters, in coffins trimmed with white were carried to the Catholic Church and thence to the burying ground of the Sallier and Pithon families, just below town. The Catholic priest, Rev. Father Kelly, officiated at the DeNaive and Pithon funerals. The whole town turned out to attend the burials. The steam tug Alamo, proceeded immediately to the scene of the disaster and her captain, J. S. Hawkins, and many of our citizens, rendered valuable assistance in recovering the drowned bodies.
Great sympathy is expressed for young Captain Moss, who did all a man could do to save the precious lives entrusted to his care, nearly losing his own in the effort, and who was almost heart-broken by the distressing calamity. The engineer, too, did everything possible to save the lives of the passengers.
The schooner Welcome and John Andrew, succeeded in raising the Ramos by last Tuesday morning. The mail, and the baggage of the unfortunate passengers, were then recovered.
Mr. DeNaive leaves a wife and four children. He was related to our Mayor, Hon. William Meyer, and one of his little girls was here on a visit, and followed her father’s remains to the tomb. All the families of the unfortunate victims of this sad disaster have the profound sympathy of our entire community.
May 25, 1879
The propeller 'Ramos' capsized near Lake Charles, La, May 25. -During the thunderstorm yesterday afternoon a whirlwind struck the small mail propelled Ramos, in the Calcasieu River. The boat was instantly capsized and immediately sank in about 30 feet of water. There were eight people on board the ship when it sank - the Captain, engineer, and six passengers - as follows: Lucien Denaive of Galveston; J.C. Birds of Cameron Parish; Zora and Medora Pithon, sisters, age 10 and 12 years old, of Calcasieu Parish; Josephine Hawkins, colored, and her child 2 years old.
The Captain and engineer succeeded in swimming to shore, but the rest where drowned. The bodies were all recovered except for Josephine Hawkins and buried here today. The Captain, Benjamin Moss, grasped the Pithon sisters and gave them a piece of drift wood to hold on to, and then attempted to push them ashore but the girls could not retain their hold. The Captain also threw a life preserver towards Mr. Denaive, but it failed to reach him.
Published in The New York Times - May 26, 1879
Another Horror – Six Persons Drowned Near Lake Charles
(From the Lake Charles Echo – Map 31, 1879)
The U. S. mail boat Ramos is a small steam propeller carrying the U. S. mail on the Calcasieu River between Lake Charles and Cameron (or Leesburg) post offices. It leaves Lake Charles on Monday’s and Thursdays, and leaves Cameron Wednesdays and Saturdays making each trip in one day.
Last Saturday the Ramos left Cameron having on board the captain and acting pilot, Benjamin Moss, the engineer, George Telley, and taking there and at Rose Bluff, six passengers, named Lucien DeNaive, of Galveston, representing the firm of P. J. Willis & Bros., J. C. Bird, of Grand Chenier, Cameron Parish, Zora and Madora Pithon, two beautiful little sisters, aged respectively ten and twelve years, daughters of A. M. Pithon, deceased, formally of Lake Charles, and a colored women named Josephine Hawkins, and her aged about five years. None of the passengers could swim.
When the Ramos was about a mile below the lower edge of Lake Charles she was struck by a violent squall (which uprooted two large trees on the opposite bank of the river) and thrown on her beam ends. She skipped water heavily and sunk instantly, going down stern foremost in about thirty feet of water. The little Pithon girls were in the pilot house, with their cousin Captain Moss, and the door had closed. The other passengers had gone into the after cabin to be out of the falling rain. Captain Moss and the little girls fell to the floor, and on rising the captain broke open one of the doors and stepped out, holding the girls by either hand. As he did so the boat went down. The engineer handed the captain a float (a piece of cypress wood about six feet long and fourteen inches wide.) and threw another float to Mr. DeNaive. The little girls caught the captain around the neck. He begged them in vain to take hold of the float, and twice dragged him under water. As they emerged the second time they simultaneously let go of his neck and sank beneath the waves. A moment afterwards the younger sister arose about six feet off and the captain and engineer started towards her, but she sank before they could reach her. The captain looked around and seeing none of the other passengers, caught a wooden trough, used on the boat, and swam ashore. It is supposed that Mr. DeNaive did not reach the float thrown to him as none of the other passengers were seen after the little girls sank from sight. The squall ceased instantly, and not a breath of air was blowing when the captain reached the shore.
All the drowned bodies except Josephine’s were recovered the same evening and were buried here the next day. Josephine’s body was recovered last Monday and buried Monday night, large numbers of colored people, men, women and children, following her remains to the grave, and singing as they passed through town, just after dark, a wild and mournful chant.
It was a sad, sad sight here on Sunday evening when the other bodies were carried to the grave. Mr. Bird was buried in the new corporation cemetery; Rev. J. F. Scurlock officiated at his funeral. It is said he leaves a wife and four or five children on the Grand Cheniere, and that he came there about a year ago from Mississippi. Mr. DeNaive’s remains were then carried to the Catholic cemetery. Then the bodies of the little sisters, in coffins trimmed with white were carried to the Catholic Church and thence to the burying ground of the Sallier and Pithon families, just below town. The Catholic priest, Rev. Father Kelly, officiated at the DeNaive and Pithon funerals. The whole town turned out to attend the burials. The steam tug Alamo, proceeded immediately to the scene of the disaster and her captain, J. S. Hawkins, and many of our citizens, rendered valuable assistance in recovering the drowned bodies.
Great sympathy is expressed for young Captain Moss, who did all a man could do to save the precious lives entrusted to his care, nearly losing his own in the effort, and who was almost heart-broken by the distressing calamity. The engineer, too, did everything possible to save the lives of the passengers.
The schooner Welcome and John Andrew, succeeded in raising the Ramos by last Tuesday morning. The mail, and the baggage of the unfortunate passengers, were then recovered.
Mr. DeNaive leaves a wife and four children. He was related to our Mayor, Hon. William Meyer, and one of his little girls was here on a visit, and followed her father’s remains to the tomb. All the families of the unfortunate victims of this sad disaster have the profound sympathy of our entire community.
Lake Charles, La.
May 25, 1879
The propeller 'Ramos' capsized near Lake Charles, La, May 25. -During the thunderstorm yesterday afternoon a whirlwind struck the small mail propelled Ramos, in the Calcasieu River. The boat was instantly capsized and immediately sank in about 30 feet of water. There were eight people on board the ship when it sank - the Captain, engineer, and six passengers - as follows: Lucien Denaive of Galveston; J.C. Birds of Cameron Parish; Zora and Medora Pithon, sisters, age 10 and 12 years old, of Calcasieu Parish; Josephine Hawkins, colored, and her child 2 years old.
The Captain and engineer succeeded in swimming to shore, but the rest where drowned. The bodies were all recovered except for Josephine Hawkins and buried here today. The Captain, Benjamin Moss, grasped the Pithon sisters and gave them a piece of drift wood to hold on to, and then attempted to push them ashore but the girls could not retain their hold. The Captain also threw a life preserver towards Mr. Denaive, but it failed to reach him.
Published in The New York Times - May 26, 1879
Another Horror – Six Persons Drowned Near Lake Charles
(From the Lake Charles Echo – Map 31, 1879)
The U. S. mail boat Ramos is a small steam propeller carrying the U. S. mail on the Calcasieu River between Lake Charles and Cameron (or Leesburg) post offices. It leaves Lake Charles on Monday’s and Thursdays, and leaves Cameron Wednesdays and Saturdays making each trip in one day.
Last Saturday the Ramos left Cameron having on board the captain and acting pilot, Benjamin Moss, the engineer, George Telley, and taking there and at Rose Bluff, six passengers, named Lucien DeNaive, of Galveston, representing the firm of P. J. Willis & Bros., J. C. Bird, of Grand Chenier, Cameron Parish, Zora and Madora Pithon, two beautiful little sisters, aged respectively ten and twelve years, daughters of A. M. Pithon, deceased, formally of Lake Charles, and a colored women named Josephine Hawkins, and her aged about five years. None of the passengers could swim.
When the Ramos was about a mile below the lower edge of Lake Charles she was struck by a violent squall (which uprooted two large trees on the opposite bank of the river) and thrown on her beam ends. She skipped water heavily and sunk instantly, going down stern foremost in about thirty feet of water. The little Pithon girls were in the pilot house, with their cousin Captain Moss, and the door had closed. The other passengers had gone into the after cabin to be out of the falling rain. Captain Moss and the little girls fell to the floor, and on rising the captain broke open one of the doors and stepped out, holding the girls by either hand. As he did so the boat went down. The engineer handed the captain a float (a piece of cypress wood about six feet long and fourteen inches wide.) and threw another float to Mr. DeNaive. The little girls caught the captain around the neck. He begged them in vain to take hold of the float, and twice dragged him under water. As they emerged the second time they simultaneously let go of his neck and sank beneath the waves. A moment afterwards the younger sister arose about six feet off and the captain and engineer started towards her, but she sank before they could reach her. The captain looked around and seeing none of the other passengers, caught a wooden trough, used on the boat, and swam ashore. It is supposed that Mr. DeNaive did not reach the float thrown to him as none of the other passengers were seen after the little girls sank from sight. The squall ceased instantly, and not a breath of air was blowing when the captain reached the shore.
All the drowned bodies except Josephine’s were recovered the same evening and were buried here the next day. Josephine’s body was recovered last Monday and buried Monday night, large numbers of colored people, men, women and children, following her remains to the grave, and singing as they passed through town, just after dark, a wild and mournful chant.
It was a sad, sad sight here on Sunday evening when the other bodies were carried to the grave. Mr. Bird was buried in the new corporation cemetery; Rev. J. F. Scurlock officiated at his funeral. It is said he leaves a wife and four or five children on the Grand Cheniere, and that he came there about a year ago from Mississippi. Mr. DeNaive’s remains were then carried to the Catholic cemetery. Then the bodies of the little sisters, in coffins trimmed with white were carried to the Catholic Church and thence to the burying ground of the Sallier and Pithon families, just below town. The Catholic priest, Rev. Father Kelly, officiated at the DeNaive and Pithon funerals. The whole town turned out to attend the burials. The steam tug Alamo, proceeded immediately to the scene of the disaster and her captain, J. S. Hawkins, and many of our citizens, rendered valuable assistance in recovering the drowned bodies.
Great sympathy is expressed for young Captain Moss, who did all a man could do to save the precious lives entrusted to his care, nearly losing his own in the effort, and who was almost heart-broken by the distressing calamity. The engineer, too, did everything possible to save the lives of the passengers.
The schooner Welcome and John Andrew, succeeded in raising the Ramos by last Tuesday morning. The mail, and the baggage of the unfortunate passengers, were then recovered.
Mr. DeNaive leaves a wife and four children. He was related to our Mayor, Hon. William Meyer, and one of his little girls was here on a visit, and followed her father’s remains to the tomb. All the families of the unfortunate victims of this sad disaster have the profound sympathy of our entire community.
May 25, 1879
The propeller 'Ramos' capsized near Lake Charles, La, May 25. -During the thunderstorm yesterday afternoon a whirlwind struck the small mail propelled Ramos, in the Calcasieu River. The boat was instantly capsized and immediately sank in about 30 feet of water. There were eight people on board the ship when it sank - the Captain, engineer, and six passengers - as follows: Lucien Denaive of Galveston; J.C. Birds of Cameron Parish; Zora and Medora Pithon, sisters, age 10 and 12 years old, of Calcasieu Parish; Josephine Hawkins, colored, and her child 2 years old.
The Captain and engineer succeeded in swimming to shore, but the rest where drowned. The bodies were all recovered except for Josephine Hawkins and buried here today. The Captain, Benjamin Moss, grasped the Pithon sisters and gave them a piece of drift wood to hold on to, and then attempted to push them ashore but the girls could not retain their hold. The Captain also threw a life preserver towards Mr. Denaive, but it failed to reach him.
Published in The New York Times - May 26, 1879
Another Horror – Six Persons Drowned Near Lake Charles
(From the Lake Charles Echo – Map 31, 1879)
The U. S. mail boat Ramos is a small steam propeller carrying the U. S. mail on the Calcasieu River between Lake Charles and Cameron (or Leesburg) post offices. It leaves Lake Charles on Monday’s and Thursdays, and leaves Cameron Wednesdays and Saturdays making each trip in one day.
Last Saturday the Ramos left Cameron having on board the captain and acting pilot, Benjamin Moss, the engineer, George Telley, and taking there and at Rose Bluff, six passengers, named Lucien DeNaive, of Galveston, representing the firm of P. J. Willis & Bros., J. C. Bird, of Grand Chenier, Cameron Parish, Zora and Madora Pithon, two beautiful little sisters, aged respectively ten and twelve years, daughters of A. M. Pithon, deceased, formally of Lake Charles, and a colored women named Josephine Hawkins, and her aged about five years. None of the passengers could swim.
When the Ramos was about a mile below the lower edge of Lake Charles she was struck by a violent squall (which uprooted two large trees on the opposite bank of the river) and thrown on her beam ends. She skipped water heavily and sunk instantly, going down stern foremost in about thirty feet of water. The little Pithon girls were in the pilot house, with their cousin Captain Moss, and the door had closed. The other passengers had gone into the after cabin to be out of the falling rain. Captain Moss and the little girls fell to the floor, and on rising the captain broke open one of the doors and stepped out, holding the girls by either hand. As he did so the boat went down. The engineer handed the captain a float (a piece of cypress wood about six feet long and fourteen inches wide.) and threw another float to Mr. DeNaive. The little girls caught the captain around the neck. He begged them in vain to take hold of the float, and twice dragged him under water. As they emerged the second time they simultaneously let go of his neck and sank beneath the waves. A moment afterwards the younger sister arose about six feet off and the captain and engineer started towards her, but she sank before they could reach her. The captain looked around and seeing none of the other passengers, caught a wooden trough, used on the boat, and swam ashore. It is supposed that Mr. DeNaive did not reach the float thrown to him as none of the other passengers were seen after the little girls sank from sight. The squall ceased instantly, and not a breath of air was blowing when the captain reached the shore.
All the drowned bodies except Josephine’s were recovered the same evening and were buried here the next day. Josephine’s body was recovered last Monday and buried Monday night, large numbers of colored people, men, women and children, following her remains to the grave, and singing as they passed through town, just after dark, a wild and mournful chant.
It was a sad, sad sight here on Sunday evening when the other bodies were carried to the grave. Mr. Bird was buried in the new corporation cemetery; Rev. J. F. Scurlock officiated at his funeral. It is said he leaves a wife and four or five children on the Grand Cheniere, and that he came there about a year ago from Mississippi. Mr. DeNaive’s remains were then carried to the Catholic cemetery. Then the bodies of the little sisters, in coffins trimmed with white were carried to the Catholic Church and thence to the burying ground of the Sallier and Pithon families, just below town. The Catholic priest, Rev. Father Kelly, officiated at the DeNaive and Pithon funerals. The whole town turned out to attend the burials. The steam tug Alamo, proceeded immediately to the scene of the disaster and her captain, J. S. Hawkins, and many of our citizens, rendered valuable assistance in recovering the drowned bodies.
Great sympathy is expressed for young Captain Moss, who did all a man could do to save the precious lives entrusted to his care, nearly losing his own in the effort, and who was almost heart-broken by the distressing calamity. The engineer, too, did everything possible to save the lives of the passengers.
The schooner Welcome and John Andrew, succeeded in raising the Ramos by last Tuesday morning. The mail, and the baggage of the unfortunate passengers, were then recovered.
Mr. DeNaive leaves a wife and four children. He was related to our Mayor, Hon. William Meyer, and one of his little girls was here on a visit, and followed her father’s remains to the tomb. All the families of the unfortunate victims of this sad disaster have the profound sympathy of our entire community.
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