The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-05-03

4
las Disasser.
| Statements Of Officers Of the Boot--Partic.
nldrs of CaptaiN McMssllen's Horrible
Death Hoss Mrs. C1pt. Cline and 9th
er Ladies wcss Lost, Ae.
The steamer Philsdslphia, says the St.
Louis Democrat, Of April 20, which reached
here early yesterday morning, brought seve-
raj survivors of the st. Nicholas disaster,
fran whom we have obtained the following
painfully interesting statements
STATEMENT OF JAMES REID, PILOT OF TIE ST.
NICHOLAS.
We left Memphis at 4 p. m. last Sunday,
and proceeded down the river without stop
ping either engine until we arrived at the
| foot Of ST. Francis Island about IL O'Clock
the same night, at which place the explosion
took place. The Captain was the only per-
son with me in the pilot-house at the time
We were both at the wheel and oonversing.
remember. distinctly OF hearing . report
felt myself moving through the air. When |
recovered my senses ! found myself down
among the boilers. When the steam and
crawling towards the roof; in doing 90, |
came across Captain McMullen, living with
his right foot under the hurricane roof, pilot
house, and . lot Of other rubbish which had
been thrown together in one common mass
BY the explosion. His right foot and ankle
was wedged in tightly by this heavy mass of
lumber. He hailed me and stopped to as
sist him, at the same time called to the Sec
ond mate, whom saw near at hand, to my
assistance, and we both tried oil the means
Ia our power to release him.
While endeavoring to release the Captain
one Of the striker engineers came to our as
sistance, but the three Of us failed to extri-
cate him from his awful position. The flames
were rapidly encroaching upon our territory,
and the heat was becoming ntolerable. Cant.
McMulien begged us to cut his leg Of, but we
could find no axe nor any other instrumen
BY which to do so, else We should have COM
piled with his wish. We worked ut the Cap
tain until the Ere drove az awsy-he begging
US oil the time to remain by him. We did
not leave him until the moment arrived when
to remain any longer would have been GER
tain death to ell of US without the possibility
Of relieving the Captain. He was consumed
by the flames almost before our eyes. The
last words he uttered were, any God shall
have to burn up" When he saw that be
would have to burn he ceased his entreaties
for US to remain By him, and bade us seek
our own safety. IlefttCspt. MCMILLAN few
minutes before the others did, and succeeded
in reaching the ladies' cabin before the ire
closed up that way Of escape.
The others finding it impossible to follow
me, jumped into the river. During the time
was at work trying to save Capt. Mcmillan
the mate brought the yawl forwsrd to try and
put the FIRE oct, but the yawl got filled up
with men-deck hands and fremen. While
there the yawl also picked up Capt. Ben
Cline from under the ruins and took him
aboard tho Susquehanna. By this time Capt.
McMullan WAS completely envelopod in flames.
reached the ladies' cabin and found the la
dies huddled together, acting frantically-
screaming for assistance and weeping Bit
terly.
Mrs. Cline was there crying aloud for her
husband. l told her had not seen him
which had not at that time for / did not
learn until afterwards that he had been pick ed
up by the yawl. told the ladies to 20 down
on the main deck and get away back to the
stern of the boat. Ipreceded them and when
we reached the deck room we had to jump
eight feet ON to the main deck. When | got
them down there told them to remain until
could 20 up md throw the life-boat over
board. | went up on the roof and there
found my partner, Edward Stevens, who as
sisted me to throw the life boat overheard.
We then came down stairs he (Stevens)
Immediately ahead Of me, and when We
reached the deck, missed him. That is the
last have seen or heard of Edward Stevens.
When reached the lower guard, looked for
the life boat where ! expected should find
it, but it was gone. The steward had caught
it and had taken it around on the other side
OF the boat, under guard, where it was i'm
mediately filed with men. During all this
time, there was a great many people jumping
into the river. |. was perfectly horrible. |
jumped back to the ladies guard and got FIVE
or six doors, md gave one to each lady
They also had tin lifo preseryers around them.
told them not to jump overheard until the
fire chased them away--at the same time the
FIRE was rapidly approaching the spot upon
which they wore standing. The smoke was
getting very thick and the air very hot. This
party OF ladies were five in number. They
were oil begging me to stay with them, and,
when necessity obliged US to jump overheard,
to allow them to cling to me.
Twas telling them that such course would
w lmpOsslUl0, WIEN saw the yeWl OF the
Susquehanna leave that boat and start TO-
ward Us. told them to hold on, and they
would be saved by the yawl. then went
round on tho other guard to bring the Sus-
quehnnna's yawf round to the ladies before it
got filled up with mon. After waiting q
short time, and fearing they wouldn't come,
jumped oeerboard to swim to the yawl,
when the wheelhouse fell and barely missed
hitting mo IN tho had Whor rnt $50 ~ :.
saw the yawl going back to tho Susquehanna
wanted something to bail it out. was una
BILE to swim back to where left the ladies.
and tried to swim back around the bow Of
the boat, in doing which | came across
atick NJ rrnnd uhinh Was nf Il Lsl.>