The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-13
Crasl Among the steamboats.

ST. Louis, December l2.-At an early
hour this morning there was rush Of
leo from some point north OF here which,
forcing on the ice in the harbor opposite
the city, carried it down stream with
great power, taking along several steam.
ers lying st the bank In the southern part
ofthe city. So far as known the Fannie
Keenan,, IN Illinois river boat, Is sunk
opposite the arsenal. The Southern Belle
and Jennie Baldwin, small boats, are also
sunk in the same place. The loss canno,
be stated, but II is not heavy as they are
small boats. Among other vessels car.
ried down by the current and ice are the
Centennial, Alex. Mitchell, Minnesota,
Bayard aud Davenport. Their where.
abouts are not yet known. The river is
now supposed 10 be open for the South.
A reporter lately from the arsenal
gives additional particulars Of the dis.
Iruction Of the steamers this morning,
Il appears that nearly all the boats OF the
keokuk Northern Line were in winter
quarters, at or near the companys ship
yards, between Anna street and the ar.
senal, and supposed 10 be secure frop
damage. When the Ice started these
steamers were forced from their moor
ings and carried down. The War Eagle
and Golden Eagle, two large and
valuable boats, were forced on the shore
opposite the arsenal wall in such n
manner as to block the passage, aud the
other boats crowded in and caused
complete Jam. AtSP.N. the boats lay
in about the following order: At the
upper end Of the Arsenal wall, the Jeu.
ME Baldwin, bow on shore. and stern
sinking slowly; the Lake Superior and
Alex. MITCHELL, the Centennial, new
boat, which has not yet made a trip.
crushed between the latter and the Andy
Johnson, then the Bayard, an old craft.
forward guards and deck crushed. Below
these we're the Rock Island and Dayen.
port, both pretty old and not OF much
value. Then lay the War Eagle, valued
at 800, 900, with the nose Of her consort,
the Golden Eagle, equal in value, thrust
through her lSrboard aiter.guard. The
latter was partly forced on the rocks on
shore and logged up under her boilers,
and her knuckle plank broken, Below,
again, were the Red Wing, North West
ern, Rob Roy, and Minneapolis.
lying with the boats at the bank and ap.
parently but little hurt. At2 o'clock the
ioe pgain moved, crushing the boats still
closer together and doing additional
damage. The Bayard was nearly com.
pleteIy destroyed, and the Rock Island,
on examination, was found to have one
wheel dropped down and the guards torn
up. Again at 4 o'clock there was an
other move Of ice, which pressed against
the boats with terrific power and
forced them still further down the river,
crushing theJguards, upper works and
wheels, and doing a great damage. A
half hour later the Ice started again and
there was another crash, and still closer
famed the starboard wheel Of. All star.
board guard OF the War Eagle, was car.
ried away and began 70 leak. The hull
Of Mitchell was stoved in and she flled,
but her position prevented her from
settling to the bottom. AT Q
r.. NJ, the Davenport sunk. In the
meantime the Rob Roy and Northwest.
ern, which were uninjured, raised steam
and the Red Wing and the Minneapolis
With two barges were pulled out and taken
to the bar about three.quarters Of mile
below the Arsenal, where they we're con.
sidered safe.
The ice moved again at $50, and again
at l0:45, the result being that the
Mitchell was crushed nearly 10 pieces
and forced against the Centennial 90 as to
tear away near MI her upper works. The
ice was now piled from 10 to is feet
high. and the pressure was tremendous.
AT l2 o'clock the prospect was that the
hullS Of the Centennial and johnson may
be saved, and that the War Erglo and
Golden Eagle may be recovered In very
broken condition, unltS lthe water falls
and leaves them high and dry.
The river below the boats il clear OF
ice, and they alone prevent II from run.
ming. All these boats belong 10 The
Keokuk and Northern line, excepting
the Centennial, which Ia owned BY fhos.
L. Davidson, and cost $4,000. No &C.
curate statement Of the loss can be given,
but It ia roughly estimated at $500 900.
There were also several freight blrgeS
mixed in The Jam, some Of which arc
wrecked and others but slightly injured.
The scene above tho arsenal was also
one Of disaster and ruin. BSaide8 the
boats nalned In the frat part Of this dis.
patch, number Of bargeS were crushed
aud others badly damaged,