Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-27
STEAMER WRECKED.
But Drifts Twenty Miles Half Sub.
merged-Her Tow Safely Land.
ed Below this City.

About 5 o'clock this morning the peo-
pie who CHANGED to be within sight Of
the river were astonished to see a half
buried steamer floating, helpless, past
the wharf. On inquiry, it was found to
be the towboat Little Condor, owned by
the St. Bernard Coal and Mining Asso.
citation Of Kentucky. A few days sgO
the Little Condor, with a tow Of six
barges of coal and two barges Of slaves
left the Tennessee river tor New Orleans.
About 2 o'clock this morning the Condor
struck a snsg in the bend at Greer's
Landing, just below Bradley's. At the
time of the accident the steamer was
hanking down the bend. As the boat
was backing at the time, and none Of the
tows we're touched by the snag, it is evil
dent that she struck ~amidship on this
snsg which for the past two or three
years has been known to local pilots, and
was regarded as quite dangerous. AS
soon as the boat struck she began
to fill with water, and CAPTAIN
Roha, the master, ordered into use
all the extra pumps and syphons. The
crew was set to work, but nothing was OF
any avail, for the water could not be
pumped out. The hold filed rapidly,
the steamer in the meantime backing so
as to get clear Of the sand-bar in the
bend. All at ouce the Condor began to
careen to the larboard side, when she
was stripped Of her bell and rigging,
which were placed on the coal barges.
The lines that attached the tow to the
boat we're severed, for the Condor, ii
seemed, was fast settling. In fact, the
crew and officers did rot have time to gel
their clothing or to remove the boat
stores. The steamer rolled to one side,
aud as she did so her boilers slipped into
the water, and we're instantly followed by
the chimneys. The boat had already
filled with water, but strange to say the
wreck did not sink, but continued Ia
float. The coal feet and stave barges
drifted down the river, being follow
ed by the half-submerged wreck
Strange to say, the barges and the Con
dor. about Eve hundred yards apart
drifted from the scene Of the accident t
this city, eighteen miles, unhurt, withou.
having touched the shore, although il
requires good plotting for a steamer t
evade the sandbars. The bell from th,
Condor vas put on two boxes on til,
coal. feet and tolled at regular interval
in order to attract attention and securl
assistance. The tolling Of the bell earl,
this morning was heard by Captain Nor
ris McNeely, Of the tug 0riole, who o
once fastened to the assistance Of th
barges, to which he made fast a lin
just above the Hopeield point. He wa
followed Immediately by Captain W. Y
; Maingsult, with the steamer Genera
Pierson, aud the entire leet was safel
landed on the Arkansas point, just b,
low the wreck Of the City of Chester
F; 10 the meantime the halfsubmerge
> Condor AoAted past the city and drifte
b down the Tennessee chute at President
Island. At the head OF the chute th
' boat dragged bottom aud stood for
minute or two, but was finally force
/, along by the strong current whie
t sweeps the right hand channel. II
! believed that the Condor lodged nes
about Podgett's, and that her entire mi
chinery will be recovered. The boat Wa
old and valued at about $500 or 5000
on which there is no insurance. Th
t coal belonged to c. B. Bryan & Co.,
this city, aud was saved from final wrec
by the prompt efforts of Captain NJ,
Nicely and Captain Maingault. COptai
Roka has been negotiating with the tt
Vanamburg TO take the tow to New 0
leans. 1t is probable that the tug Id
of New Orleans, will come up for Il
: tow. The tug Mohawk has gone
-
search of the Condor.