, 1870-03-31
ALMOST A HORROR.
Morrow Escape OF tho Rob Roy from
a Terrible. Fate

Morrow Escape OF tho Rob Roy from
a TcxFablo.FAte.
E From Tie 4ui'rv tIA> Herald, March @.
SUNDAY morning, between the hours OF 1a
railroad bridge, by which large number Of
lives we're placed in imminent peril, and the
magnificent steamer Rob Ror, of the keokuk
line, Threatened with destruction.
The Rob 10y arrived at our wharf At lo
o'clock, On her usv &c nnookuk, being then some
ten hours behind time. She backed out about
was passing through the draw of the bridge
taking the Ecet side, as usual. Tho night wAs
cloudy and dirk, and the wind blew almost q
gale from tho north. In passing through the
bridge the lsoat wns working sloH and had almost
cleared the draw when squnu struck her on
the btashosrd side. The shock sent the bow
towards the Missouri shore, and despite ali ef-
fo,te, eLc swung around broadAide, tho ice
breaker, which is situated north Of the
pier Mty-two feet, striking the larboArd side
Toward Of the wheel. Tho great force Of the
c-lisicn broke in the guaIds, and the bow
turning down stream, the breaker tore throngh,
water wheel beam. smaehcd through the
wheel, breaking the outer cizrla Of buckets and
wheel A1mF, and broke the aft wxter wheel
beam, but fortunately did not tear it away
Upon tho slender support Of this beam. broken
ly the rock+. the boat hung, and this alone
About the time the aft beam wna struck. ths
motion Vi tise boat WAS checked, and she laT
almost hreabeide with the bow little down,
long cnnuGl. for lines to be carried to the MIS-
soun elurc and fastened to trees, thus pre-
venting her from stnking the bridge. lad
the boat been held on the ico breaker tho high
wind and swift current would have carried her
with immense force against the solid b1ilgo,
mad she worla undoubtedly have been lost,
And nj OIL boarl.
The passengers, some twenty-five or thirty
in number, were III bed at the time Of tho col
l;sior, and were startled out Of sleep by the
crAeh of breaking tiubers. The sceue that fol
lowed for few moments was Of the most c1-
citing character, the description Of which csu-
Lot be pictured. uor1ihed and alarmed, they
s1leheL into tie cabin in their scant apparel,
with the belief that the boat Was sinking, and
an was lost. Men Lost all control Of them
selves, in that perilous moment, and women,
in thciE night robes, .hticlcd With frenzy Of
despair. a young married couple rushed from
their stntc-roon. among the first, and the bride
in undsess costume c.nght her husband by the
neck and gave way to the most agonizing and
pitcous lamentations. The crew rushed up
from the lower deck, which added to tho alarm,
many we're prevented from plungilag madiy
into the river. Had it not been for tho COIL
ursH and presence Of mind Of Captain Lee,
Eca. Hoffman, tic engineer. and T. II, Gilbert,
the pilot, tho results could not have been 10
fortunate.
At the time Of the accident Captain Lee VAS
at Ills pos. on the roof keeping look out. The
moment the lNsat careened and struck the
breaker he compreAcnded the danger, and
though lie thought al one time that all was
gone, ho did not forget himself or lose his
goodness. Az coon All tic boat stopped, hang
ing in a pcrilous position, he despatched tie
line to shore, secured tho boat from going
down stream, and knew that all we're saved,
The steamer lay fast upon the breaker, an1
waa oAtricated with greas difficulty. -Four feet
nl,e SWING clear, which WAS no. accomplished
till o'clock sunday. After making somo tenn.
rorsry repairs, euabGng tho boat to work dowr
strcan, Captain Lee started fur St. Louis at
O'Clock Sunday night where the damages wil
lie repaired. The injury sustained in the CO.
iisiou is estimated at ii ,UOU