The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-11-05
AN APPALLING CALAMITY.

The Recent Terrible Accident TO the
Steamer GiIchrist on the Mississippi
RIver at Rock Island several Lives
Lost. o.
4 Davenport Qowa) special of the 2Sth
to the Chicago Tines gives the following
particulars Of the recent terrible accident
on the river near the former city:
A terrible and most heaftrending accident
occurred in the Mississippi River, near this
city. last night, which resulted in great loss
of life. 1t appears that the steamer Gill
christ left this point about lO:30 o'clock, in
apparently good trim and condition, bound
for all points up the river, loaded with a
large and valuable cargo Of miscellaneous
freight and carrying in her cabins full list
OF passengers. When the steamer had
passed under the Government bridge span
ming the Mississippi, and connecting the
cities OF Davenport and Rock Island, the
cam-rods of the engine suddenly gave way,
causing the entire machinery to become I'M
manageable and useless.
The river just now is very high, owing to
the recent and extensive floods, and the cur
rent Is consequently unusually rapid, so
when the steamer Gilchrist had no longer
her machinery to keep her bow up stream
the swiftly-running river carried the help
less vessel down stream at rapid and APP
palling rate. Being so near the bridge the
steamer was thrown with tremendous and
resistless force against one OF the ahut-
ments. As the Gchrist came in collision
with the enormous mass OF stone she ca
reened, causing the weights on the safety
valves of the steam chest to break from
their fastenings and slide off. The valves
no longer holding a check on the steam in
the boilers, it poured out in huge volumes
and enveloped the hapless crew and passen-
gers, who were wildly endeavoring to Sc
cure life-preservers in the main saloon,
and scaded many of them in an awful
manner.
No sooner had the steamer rebounded
| from the shock of the collision than she be-
| gan sinking, in which condition she was
carried past and below this city, the shrieks
and cries for help uttered by the frenzied
victims being distinctly audible by large
crowds of citizens who soon thronged the
banks, but they could extend no assistance,
as the steamer was hurled past their eyes
by the turbulent river. All of the small
boats and skins usually numerous on the
river had been drawn ashore and laid away
!
have prevailed all along the course of the
Mississippi River for nearly a fortnight, so
there was no means of speedily reaching the
sinking steamer or the men, women and
children who were doubtless strug-
Cling at that moment with the cur
rent. But the people on the land
did not stand supinely while their
fellows were perishng before their eyes, for
the other steamers that happened to be ly-
ing at the bank Immediately fastened into
motion, thronged by eager helpers, and all
! fastened to the scene of the disaster, in
hopes OF rescuing at least some Of those
on board the GilchriSt. As write these hur-
ried lines these steamers are actively at
work searching for survivors. | learn that
there were on board twenty-three passen-
gers, four of whom were females, and a
crew of fifteen. Only eight persons have
been saved so far, and of these some are
very badly scalded. Three of the lady pas
sengers are known to have been killed or
scalded to death. The city is in great eX-
element, and everything possible is being
done to relieve the unfortunRtes. There is
but little hope that any more can be saved.
! The boat is said to have been in a bad con-
ditiOn, and was considered unsafe by many
| of the crew.
One poor wretch at the police headquar-
tiers is in awful agony, with the skin peeled
from his body, hanging in strips, simply
parbOiled. Another was crushed between
two timbers and so badly hurt that he can
hardly recover.
The boat was owned in Rapids City, H.,
and is a total wreck. 1t was considered in
an unsafe condition by many of the crew.
Aweek ago yesterday nearly the same acct
dent happened to it, but fortunately the
danger was averted. There is some talk OF
an official investigation, and no little in.
dlgnation is expressed against the owners.
All the passengers We're residents Of this
neighborhoOd, and one or two were old and
we'll known citizens.
A ChiId'S Lang Free Ride