The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-11
From the ST. Louis News, June I'd.
Burning of the KeystOne State.
Loss OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.


About IL O'Clock on Thursday night, while
lying at Florence Landing, Illinois river, taxi
ing on wood, the steamer Keystone State,
Capt. Ruggles, bound for this port, caught fire
among some freight, just aft the boilers, which
communicated to the boiler deck, and in a few
minutes, Notwithstanding the exertions made
to extinguish the flames, the boat was burned
to the waters edge. The dry wood work was
as combustible as finder, and the flames spread
with fearful rapidity. In less than half an
hour after the fire was discovered, there was
nothing left of the ilLfated boat save the char
red and smoking hull and the blackened ma
chinery. t, ..5spE,s.,
As soon as the boat was found to be on fire,
the alarm was given to the passengers, who
were quietly slumbering in their berths uu-
conscious of the danger impending. They
began to rush forth from their state-rOOms into
the cabin, and by the time they were all
aroused, the boat amidships was on fire from
the lower to the hurricane deck, thus cutting
Oft egress from the after to the forward part of
the boat. Fortunately there were not many
passengers on board, or the loss of life might
have been severe. Those 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 drowned before assist
ance could be extended to her. Her body was
taken from the water while yet exhibiting
signs of life, but all efforts to resuscitate her
were unqailing. ..
-Four of the crew are missing, and were
doubtless burned to death or drowned. They
were the ste ward, second steward, and cham
oermaid (colored,) and o fireman. When last
seen by our informant, the steward and cham
bermaid were standing on the after boiler
deck guard, seemingly paralyzed with terror,
and 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 on his shoulders. 1t is supposed
that on reaching the main deck he was stiled
by the smoke and fell into the river. The
steward was free colOred man, residing in
this city, and named Ben Quilts. He leaves q
wife and children. The scond steward was
named Aaron Stockton, and be onged to Pitts
burgh; the chambermaid, named Emily Aus
tin, was from Allegheny City. Nothing is
known Of the French fireman, except that he
was missing.
Mr.. Manless, a cabin passenger, jumped
overheard with his child in his arms, and would
have been drowned but for the aid of some OF
the deck hands. His wife jumped into the
river with chair in her hands for supporter,
and came very near being drowned. The con-
fusion on board was very great, and had there
been laIge number of passengers, the loss OF
life would have been deplorable. Nobody
saved anything except their clothes, and some
escaped in state Of scanty 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 freight were destroyed. AS usual in
such cases, the life boat and life preservers
were not called into requisition at all and not
one that jumped overheard took a life preser-
yer with him, though every stateroom had two.
Keystone State was good boat, about four
years old, and was recently purchased at Pitts
burgh for the Illinois river trade by Captain
Willard for $4,000, She had been running
in command of Captain Charles Ruggles of
Peoria, who owned an interest of One-third.
The cargo was composed of between four
and five thousand sacks of grains 400 or 500
barrels of whiskey, lard, &c.
P. S.-Sincc the above was written, we
learn that the lady passenger drowned was the
wife of DR.. Green, of Belleville.