The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-24
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, At THE
ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE.
APPALLING SCENE.

From the Rock Island Argus of Friday
One of the most shocking marine acci-
dents which ever occurred here, took place
about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Thurs.
day May 9th, 1861. The fine side wheel
steamer Grey Eagle, Capt. d. Smith Harris,
on her down trip, in passing the bridge,
struck the pier on the Illinois side of the
draw, just forward of her wheel house, stove
the boat and sunk her to her texas almost
instantly. The river was filled with pieces
of the floating wreck, and the bodies Of
human beings struggling for life, and their
cries could be heard for great distance.
The steam ferry boat went Immediately
to their assistance, and large Numbers Of
skifs put out from either shore. Many per-
sons were rescued from watery grave by
the skifs and hurried to the shore, in an ex-
hausted state, and taken care of by the peo-
pie. The wreck grounded near the foot Of
the island, swung around, head up stream,
and was fast. The portion of it above water
was covered with human beings, who were
taken off by the ferry boat.
The shores of Rock Island and Davenport
were lined with thousands of spectators, and
every possible effort was made to save the
unfortunate passengers. The excitement
among the people and the indignation
against the bridge was intense, and it only
needed leader to have demolished the
bridge at once.
The Grey Eagle was one of the Northern
line boats, and was owned by the Galena,
Dunleith and Minnesota Packet company.
She was valued at about $35 900, and it is
reported that she was not insured-but this
seems hardly credible.
Capt. Harris one of the Oldest and most
competent river pilots and captains was at
the wheel, as was his invariable custom
when passing the bridge.
We visited the wreck, and clambering
over the broken portion above the fearful
current, found Capt. Harris trying to save
what property he could from the Texas.
We were unable at that time to get his
manifest and list of passengers, but our
reporter subsequently procured the passen-
ger list from Mr.. Richardson of the Dem.
ocrat and Nea0s, as follows:
CABIN PASSENGERS.
d. W. Lawrence, McGregor; John Crit
fin and j. Kill, Lansing; Mr.. Blakesly,
Dubuque; Mr.. Webster, La Crosse; Mr..
McFale, U. s. A., La Crosse; Mr.. Dalton,
Lansing; Mr.. F. Setter, J. Jellan, Mr..
McLane, Dubuque; Mr.. Goodsell, st. Paul;
Mrs. Brooks, La Crosse; Mrs. Weaver and
daughter, Dubuque; Mrs. Manecler, Savan-
bah; Mr.. Centerland, Dubuque; G. Hutch.
inson, Winona; Mr.. George Giddings, Nc.
Gregor; A. Brown, Mr.. Thomas, Davenport;
j. Furgueson, Dubuque; w. Myer, j. Len
aeman, W. Becker, j. Bowley, Augustus
Kernuck, Mr.. Austenberg, volunteers from
Dubuque.
Mr.. Gales, Il. w. Conley, Savannah +;
Mrs. Mayfeld, De Sofa D. Bley and wife,
Mrs. Waggoner, Dunleith Charles Law,
Bellevue {; j. G. Patch, Mr.. Mcintyre, D..
Shell, Albany M. Longprees, LIE Claire !;
Mrs. Gray Ball, sc years old, Lansing.
Total AZ persons.
DECK PASSENGERS.
Mr.. Pardee of St. Paul Mr.. Wag-
goner of st. Paul T. D. Davis, of Saint
Paul James WolAey; Mr.. Ballou; Mr..
Grant; L. Graves Mr.. Lockern Mr..
McGline Mr.. Hugle and family, four
persons Mr.. Stringer and child Nicho-
las Til, (insane). Total l9.
How many was lost it was impossible to
tell. Mr.. Langly distinctly saw with bis
glass, from his warehouse, quite number
jump overheard as the boat emerged from
the draw. There are known to have been
three drowned nearly opposite the ferry
landing and in sight Of skitfs unable to reach
them in time. And the person named as
insane" was chained to the deck, and of
course was drowned.
The numerous incidents, hair breadth
escapes and heroic actions would fill a
column, but we have no time for them now.
The boat was heavily laden with grain
and four-mostly wheat. She also had a
pretty heavy manifest of miscellaneous
freight.