New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-06
A STEAMBOAT DISASTER.

THE STEAMSHIP WAR EAGLE STRIKING DRAW
BRIDGE-EXCITEAIENT AMONG THE PASSENGERS
THE GALLANT BEHAVIOR OF T4E OFFICERS
STATEMENTS OF THE HEAD CLERK AND THE
CAPTAIN-THE LOSS AND INSURANCE.
KEoKUK, Iowa, NOv 5.-The passenger packet
War Eagle in attempting to pass through the draw
of the Keokuk and Hamilton Bridge, at about
o'clock last evening was bafled by the eddies and
cross-currents. She swung around against the
bridge, breaking out one span, damaging the
bridge to the amount of S150000.
Eph Gregg head clerk of the War Eagle, made
the following statement:
Captain Jerry Wood was in command, with Hiram
Beade and William Tibbles pilots, both beng IN the
pll9t nouse though 1t was Beade's watch ! nad Just
had supper and had gone back the cabin. heard the
whistle blow for the bridge and heard the bells ring TO
tI hGadWay. KNOWING that II was cust9n1Iy 10
dp inside the long pier felt no neasness until heard
the alarm whistle blow twice. which meant TO back her
lnlhleulAtey. ABOUT that time Wllliam Holmes, thiu
clerk came through the cabin, which was almost de-
serted. Only ten or twelve women were I'm it at the
time, the remainder being the outside looking at the
bridge lie then throw up his hands aud passed out the
ne was easily alarmed when passing through the draw Of
bridges but in a few moments he returned and
threw up his hands again. then hurriedy went TO
ran out by the arboard gangway into the
larboard guard, forward OF the barber shop. and
saw that we were hroadside TO the bridge and
that the boat was backing strongly l instantly ran
alarm l caught hold Of one woman aud cried out to
the rest TO follow me- the boat going to strike the
bridge. We all passed out Of the ait door
the crash OF the collision OF the boat against the
bridge occurred. called to the passengers, who seemed
bcwlldered 10 get on the hurricane deck As they
did not seem Ia understand led the way and they fol-
lowed Several women were cllngng to me- As soon as
the boat struck the bridge the span gave way with
fearful crash, and felt considerably relieved knowing
well that the chances for saving life would now be much
better looked forward and saw that she was leaning on
the west pier her stern having cleared the east pier
where the break in the bridge occurred. saw the peo
pie climbing from the boat on to the bridge
| took aad tho rest followed.
I told them TO come and would all get on the
bridge. ran forward on the larDOard side down the
abreast OF the smoke stacks, and assisted IN pass
ing passengers out upon tine bridge until the boat swung
Of one woman refusing to go. Seeing that greater
part Of the passengers had escaped aud saeccOnd
clerk Alexander Robinson aud determined TO stay on
the boat In a very short time she swung clear of the
bridge and went down on the lower deckt0 see II she
was making water or not some one had been down IN
the mold and reported that she was hut not very ias
went upstairs and qucted the fears ot the few remain
ing women or the boat aud got all or them forward SO
that in the boat went down we could get them on
without much trouble.
She then aoated with the current down the stroam to
point few hundred yards below the elevator where,
with the aid OF wheel and the assistance or persons
who in skill and TOOK line ashore, she was made
fast resting on the railroad track, when IF covered WIN
water the river the outside being about fifteen feet
deep The dredge-hoat W d. smith came down ana
held her stern in until che was security fastened &,
There being one wheel entirely gone was afraid that II
she swung off she would tOppe over The steamer
Penguin with Captain hutchinson on board arrived as
soon possible. Captain Wood remained on Ihe roof
aud all the officers 81 FAR as known stool NJ then pos5
1ne deck crew got ON shore as soon as lhey cOu'u
The first G .ptan Hutchinson knew of the accl-
dent was when he heard the noise at the leyce. lie
hurried to the river and seeing that span of the
bridge was gone, and that the War Eagle was loat-
ing hcpcssly down the river, he Ia the Plough
boy with the intention ot saving the people VINO
might fall in the river, uut found that she had no
steam The steamer Penguin had twenty pounds OF
steam up and preparations made at once tC
send her after the War Eagle.
STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN.
CAPTAIN Wood says he was on the hurricane deck
of the War Eagle while she was swinging round,
and the passengers were rushing franticlly toward
the bridge trying to jump of. 81 did all could"
he said 10 keen the passengers cool, and To hold
thcm oi the boat, rs ! knew that aitcr passing the
!rc even H. she did sink, she would Rot GO down
ut of sight aud the boat was the safest place 10
he IuuIerstool that two persons had jumped into
the river. but DO not know OF anybody beng
drowned. | think large portion OF the cargo t0uId
be saved. The barley aud flour may be damaged
somewhat by water"
The War Earc is settled in about seventeen feet
OF water tho larbOard side and seven iert on the
starboard side, with her head down stream. she Is
badly broken in two places, especially where sle
struck the piers. II Is not thought that size Is badly
broken aft although she i leaking. One wheel Is ell
tlrrly gone. The engines are also IN gOod shape
The cargo Will be removed At once. III - ms
cargo consisting of about 10000 pack
agc.-l 900 sacks of tatocs, 40 SACKS OF bafI.y
Tor Ouiucy 1000 sacks Of barley aud 3.Ooo SACKS
Of potatoes for st. Louis; 1000 packages oi suu-
dries and 800 barrels # flour tor Ncw-Oreaus. Inc
cargo was mostly insured. About une-thTd
OF IL Will bc saved IN good order
The War Eagle was valued at SlO,OOO ana IN
sufrd for I'D 600. IL il known that one man
Jumped into the river and was drowned, going down
when q skin was VI hIn few feet OF where he
was. \ colurcd deCAhaud was struck by "A piece OF
the iron bridge and instantly killed falling INTO the
river The names OF these two are not known.