Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-05-23
80 60 Iaagle cataslrophe.

NsAIA&AEkD11AN.
he Relieving account of the collision Of
the GREY Eagie with The Rock Island
Bridge, is condensed from the Davenport
Ga@gNe Of tie 10th:
Yesterday afternoon, about 4 O'Clock,
the large packet Grey Eaglc, Capt. D. S.
Harris, from 81 Paul, bound for ST. Louis,
struck the stone pier on Che Illinois side Of
the draw e the bridge At this point, and
was then thrown against the main phsr,
and ii few monen sunk. She struci
her bow on the arboard side, smashing he-
timbers in and raking the whole SIDE,
while merely floating with the current or
running very slowly.
Capt. Harris was At the wheel at the
time Of inc accident with he pilot, but
with no bridge pilot On board, Weunder-
stood, but could not get an opportunity to
exchange word With him on the subject,
that Ia guided bis boat precisely as on the
"trip before, but The current was partially
different, although the stage Of the river
has not greatly changed Those oil shore,
observing the Steamer, say inst before sho
reached the bridge that She nmstStnke.-
There was little WAND, and everything fav-
cradle excepting tha swift current natural
to the Ajgh stage Of the river, for safe nav.
eation.
lhe boat passed through the draw after
striking, but persons on shore at ouee OBJ
served that she was sinking. She soon ca
reened over to the starboard, and as the wa
ter goi above her guards, her chimneys fell
overheard. Capt. Harris cot the passen-
gers on the hurricane dick fast as possible,
out as the boat commenced going 20 pieces,
numbers jumped On portions OF The cabin,
furniture Dee. Ail this was plainly seer,
from the shore Thealam soon spread,
and citizens rushed down to the river by
hundreds. Every skill AZ ihe landing was
saoa hur,ying D the reliefof the Sufferers.
Some screamed Violently ior aid, many ag-
peared in danger 81 speedy drowning il
not relieved, and the suspense was perhaps
lmost As terrible for those Oh shore as "a
those ii the water The first persons land
sd Oh this side were a lady ana little Girl,
but the fate OF child's parents was unknown.
An hour Afterwards she was found by her
father. Two other ladies neAtarryed drip
ping wet, aud Of course no baggage.
Tley with Others were speedily provided
with blankets and taken to hotels
The feqryboat Immediately proceeded to
those on the wreck, tie hurricane deck and
texas alone floating, and bla,s with peo-
PIE They were soon relieved aid brcught
"a this side One 81 the lives lost was taat
81 an insane man named Nicholas ft'iils, OF
Lansing oil lis way, under charge Of bis
son, John T. Tils, 70 The Mt Pleasant In
sane Asylum. lie was chained to the low
er deck. Some Of the pacsengers are Of
the opinion that several were lost, but the
survivors are 50 scattered in the two cities,
that we found i impossible TO make up a
list Of the saved 10 compare with the list OF
passengers. OF course AL Of the baggage
was lost. and every pound Of freight. We
visited the wreck soon after this disaster,
and found Capt. Harris ID charge with his
officers, saving what portions Of it he could.
All The books and yaluabcs 81 The officers
were saved We believe.
The GREY Eqgle belonged to the Gale
nj, Dunleith Il Minnesota Packet c., was
valued 1T $4,000, and not insured. She
was a fine and fast steamer and command
ed by one Of the most experienced captains
on the river
INCIDENTS.
Mr.. Huge, Of Highlund county, Wis.
had bis wife snd several children on board.
He was thrown of the wreck, and oepara-
ted from his family lie found himself
wedged into soolc Of the iimbers, iinmoya-
ble, Nth his mouth Just above water His
rescuers had % ply the tinbers apart before
he could DO taken nut Of The water. Ono
Of his chillren came 70 bin il the first
skitf. TIi, boy climbed To the hurricane
deck, and took The ferry. The mother was
separated, bat all finally rednited at the
La Claire House. al be had III the world
was on his person and thus saved.
One man, with his head just above the
water, made the first skiif goro the relief
Of others saying he eouldhold out foysone-
time yet.
a indy vas throyn oi on piece Of the
wreck, and escaped without dampening her
clothes. oata little Injured on cpe side,
Some Of the passengers We're yeryinuch
exhausted when they reached shore, Sut al
the hotels they were soon provided with
every Comfort.
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