The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-09
Burning OF the 6teambOat Keystone State.
LOSS OF LIFE AND PR0PERrY.


From theSt Louis News, june 81
About twelve O'Clock Thursday night while lying at
Florence Landing, Illinois river, taking wood, the
port caught are among freight just Aft the boilers
which communicated to the boiler deck and In few
minutes, Notwithstanding the exertions made to extn
guish the flames the boat burned to the waters
edge. The dry wood work was as combustibe tndsr
nS s flames s., rsp 10 s
was nothing left of the natsd boat the charred
and smoking hull. and the blaokened machinery;
alarm WAS given TO the passengers who were quietly
Numbering their berths unconscious Of the DANGER
rooms into the cabin add by the time they we're al
aroused the boat amidshps was on fire from the
from the after to the forward part Of the boat Fortu
natey there not many passengers board the
loss Of life might have been Those who could
the after end OF the boat plunged into the river and
swan ashore. All the cabin passengers but saved
ger named GREEN wife Of DR.. Green, OF BeIvine who
got board at Frederick She jun ped into the river
and was drowned before assistance could 30 extended to
her. Her body taken from the water while yet
hibitDg sens Of he but all efforts to resuscitate her
were unavsling
burned to death or drowned They were the steward,
second steward, and chambermaid, (colored), and
fireman. (Frenchman). When last seen BY our inform
ant the steward and were standing on the
after boiler deck guard, seemingly paraiy zed with
terror and unable to attempts to save themselves The
second steward last coming down the gangwsy
from the pantry to the lower deck with his trunk on his
shoulders I'll supposed that upon reaching the main
deck he stuffed by the smoke and fell into the river
The steward free colored man, residing in this
city, and named Ben Quilts. Hs leaves wife and chill
dren. The second steward named Aaron stockton,
and belonged in Pittsourg; the chAmberms,d, namea
Emily Austin, was from Allegheny City. Nothing Ia
known Of the French fireman, except that he
ing.
Mr. Naples cabin passenger, jumped overheard with
his child in his arms and would have been drowned but
for the aid OF OF the dock hands His wife jumped
into the river with chair 10 her hand for supporter
and came very near being drowned The confusion on
board very great, and had there bess large num-
Der OF passengers the loss Of life would have been deplo
able Nobody anything except their clothes aud
escaped in state Of scany wardrobe The officers
all got ashore in safety The books papers, part Of the
money in the safe most 9f the officers and passengsrs
baggage And every pound Of the freight were destroyed
As usual such cases the life boat and life preservers
were not called into requton at ALL and not one that
jumped overheard took life preserver with him. al
Though every state room had two.
The Keystone State good boat about four years
DID, and recently purchased at Pittsburg for the
Illinois river trade, byicspt. willard, for $4,000 She
has been running In command OF Capt Chas Ruggies oil
PEORIA who owned an interest Of ONE third.
The cargo was composed Of between four end Ave
thousand sacks Of grain. chiefly corn 400 or $50 bbls
whshey and lard and few smaller lots of sundries