The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-06-05

(FSsu the 81. Louis Ev. Nsvs.sd.
SteamSSat Disaster..Durning
Of the Keystonc State..Less 81 Lie
About twelve O'Clock Thursday night,
while lying at Florence Landing, Illinois
river, taking on wood, the steamer Keystone
State. Capt. Ruggles, bound for this port,
caught FIRE among some freight just az the
boilers, which communicated to the boiler
deck, and in q few minutes, notwithstanding
the exertions made to extinguish the flames,
the boat wss burned to the waters edge
The dry work was ~ combustible % finder
and the flames spread with fearful rapidlty.
In less than half an hour after the FIRE was
discovered, there was nothing left Of the III.
fated boat save the charred and smoking
hull, and the blackened machinery.
As soon ~ the boat was discovered to be
on Ere, the alarm was given to the passengers,
who were quietly Numbering i, their berths,
unconscious Of the danger impending. They
began to rush forth from their staterooms into
the cabin, and by the time they were all
aroused the boat smidships was on ire from
the lower to the hurricane deck, thus cutting
off egress from the after 10 the forward part
of the boat. Fortunately there were not
many passengers on board, or the loss of life
might have been severe. These who could,
got ashore BY the stage planks, but the most
Of those in the after end Of the boat plunged
into the river and swan ashore. All the
cabin passengers but one saved themselves;
the unfortunate victim was lady passenger
named Green. who got on board at Frederick.
She jumped into the river and was browne d
before assistance could be extended to her.
Her body was taken from the water while
yet exhibiting signs of life, but oil efforts to
resuscitate her were unavailing.
Four Of the crew are missing, and were
doubtless burned to death or drowned. They
we're the steward. second steward, and
chambermaid, (colored) and fireman,
(Frenchman.) When last seen BY our in
formant, the steward and chambermsid were
standing on the after boiler deck guard,
seemingly parslyzed with terror, end unable
to attempt to save themselves. The second
steward was last seen coming down the
gangway from the pantry to the lower deck,
with his trunk or his Shoulders. II 10 sup.
posed that upon reaching the main deck he
was s.iaed by the smoke and fell into the
river. The steward was free colored man,
residing in this city, and named Ben Quilts.
He leaves wife and children. The second
steward was named Aron Stockton. and be.
longed in Pit,sourgb; The ch'mbermaid,
named Emily Aus,in, was from Allegheny
City. Nothing is known o. the French Gre
man, ex cei that he was missing.
Mr. Naples, a cabin passenger, jumped
overheard with bis child in his arms, and
would have been drowned but for the mid Of
some Of the deck hands. His wife jumped
into the river with chair in her hand Tor a
supporter, aId came very near being drown.
ed. The confusion on board was very great
aud had there been large number of pas.
| sengers, the loss of life would have been de.
plorsble. Nobody saved anything except
their clothes, end some escaped in a state OF
scaniy wardrobe. The officers all got ashore
in safety. The books. papers. part of the
money in the safe, most Of The officers and
passengers baggage, and every pound OF the
freight were destroyed. As usual in such
cases, the life boat and life preservers were not
called into requi.tion at all; and net one
that jumped oveft lard took life preserver
with him, although every state room had
two.
The Time-aud. Tide. arriving shortly after.
wards, took part Of the passengers to Naples;
and the Rsune,ts. coming down, brought the
remainder and the officers and crew.
The Keystone State was q good boat
about four years. old, and was recently pur-
chased at Pittsburgh for the Illinois river
trade by Capt. Willard, for $4,000. She
has been running in command Of Capt. Chas
Ruggles, Of Peoria, who owned an interes,
Of one.third.
The cargo was composed of between four
and Eve thousand sacks Of grain, chiefly corn
400 or 500 bills. whisky and lard, and few
smaller lots of sundries. Messrs. Chappell &
Vale and r. n. Funkhouser T. Co., are the
consignees Of the major portion Of the grain
P. S.-Since the above written we learn
thst the lady passenger who was drowned
was the wife Of DR.. Green, Of Belleville.