Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-08-12
THE WRECKED STEAMER
Loss of tho Pat Rogers.

LOUISVILLE, Aug. 6.-Itis possible
that the origin OF the fire on the Pat
Roters was as follows: About two
weeks ago IA ueglu thi,f was detected
10y the Waterman on The Rogers who
fired at han bat missed him, Ihis no.
gro took deck passage on the Rogers
when she left this wharf on Tuesday,
aud was heard To say 10 several ne
grues before stating tina. he would
make it MS hotas HI for that watch
man before the boat reached Clncln
natl The opinion is expressed 10y
one Of the officials of the line here
that this negro set the boat on fire aud
cut the tiller rope
CINCINNATI, Aug. 6.-Mr. Wedden,
Of New Orleans, one ~ the missing
eleven passengers, and five of the
crew, can not he found. SIX small
children are lost.r r ...-
additional l.ist "F lost Passengers
CINCINNATI, Aug. 6.-Among the
additional lost is A. NJ. Boats, OF North
Carolina. +. NJ. Stone, of North Car
.oIina, is badly burned.
The greatest misfortune consisted in
the fact that the accident occurred at
that particular poiut of the river; for
just there the river was at such stage
that it was impossible for the boat TO
reach the shore, drawing as much
water as she did. The limit OF the
toll between the first alarm aud when
every body had lett the boat had to be
twenty minutes. AT that time there
was dry land on the starboard side
only thirty yards distant, but the wall
of flame interviewed. On the larboard
side the land was a long distance
away, and The wind was blowing to-
ward the nearest shore, aud drove the
flames in that direction. Many of those
who got to the nearest shore are dis
figured for life, the expo, ed part of
their bodies being actually roasted by
the excessive heat.
One of the most thrilling and mis-
raclous escapes was that of Miss l.. J.
William of Louisville, who threw
away her valise and extra clothing,
and after securing the services of a
gentleman in throwing overheard a
crate of peaches, sue leaped into the
water after il with life .preserver.
When she attempted to cling to the
crate il revolved like reel, and for
two terrible hours she struggled
with the crate and had just closed her
eyes N despair, when she was drawn
down into "A skiff by Mr.. Huff, who
rendered valuable services in several
other cases. Miss Rowden, of Louis
vile, jumped from the boat toward
the Indiana shore, and the hungry
tongues of the flame licking along the
surface of the water horribly bruised
her head and face. She had no life
preserver, and only secured one end o.
u plank 10y clinging to the pantaloon
| leg of IA man who swan past her. She
says that while moving through the
water several ga ping drowning
wretchrs extended their hands to-
wards her, some even grasping hel
hair, tearing it out by the handful.
The last living object seen on board
of the boat was little child three OF
| four years ofage, running aboutscream'
ing with fright, surrounded by flames
and its legs, arms aud face We're eX
posed to the terrible heat. The negro
crew behaved badly in hurrying of
the boat before there was any Imminent
danger and monopolizing all available
means Of support, Two colOred men
and one white man rowed away in 9
life boat that could have been used tC
convey twenty or thirty persons t.
the shore. The river is being dragged 70
the bodies this morning.