The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-03

age 81 years. He has been an engineer en-
the river for the past six years, on the
Lafayette Lamb" and the Jennie Gilchrist.
For the past four years he has been on the
latter boat He has license from Messrs.
Girdoh and Scott dated September 1881
for one year. The boat has been repaired
every spring at LIE Claire, Iowa. She was
caulked entire and the engines were re-
paired The boilers were of steel and were
built by Rouse s. Dean OF Dubuque. She
was inspected by Captains Girdon and
Scott, and certificate granted to carry
190 pounds of steam. She was also licen-
sed to carry passengers not Ito exceed
twenty-five Of all grades, cabin and deck.
The witness understood that d passenger
vessel was required by law to carry floats.
a yawl or skiff, the tiller and bell-ropes to
be composed of wire, and the presence OF
an anchor and hauser or cable. He stated
that the Gilchrist had about twenty -four
/ floatslwhen she was inspected. and remained
during the season and were also on board
at the time of the accident He also
thought that four axes were required by
law.
The witness threw some cork floats into
the cabin at the time Of the accident while
escaping from the engine room. =
The Gilchrist has generally been engaged
in tow barges and was so engaged for the
first three seasons. She only received q
passenger license the present season.
The principal business was towing coal
from Rapids City to LeClaire aud Clinton,
for III. w. Gilchrist. The steamer gener-
ally carried about 4, 500 bushels in the flats
and barges. The steamer would average
about three miles per hour against the
current The witness stated that during
last spring the glib OF the pitman was
broken near Camanche. The boat was pro-
PEELED by one engine the rest OF the way to
Clinton, making very slow Roadway. This
was the only accident that the witness
could recall that happened to the machin-
cry for the past three seasons.
When the passenger LICENSE was granted
last spring, small cabin was erected. The
boat had not been engaged during the en-
tire season in carrying passengers, but had
started only ten days previous to the dis
aster. She became the packet between
Rapids City and Rock Island in conse
quence of the high water, and but for that
fact would not have gone into the passen-
ger traffic The Gilchrist- carried the mail
during the high water. Witness did not
know how often the steamer carried the
mail Witness did not know hSw many
passengers the boat carried. but thought
they would average between ten and twen-
ty persons.
About week before the accident, the
boat in going through the bridgeaen route
to Cordova, nut on the end of the cut
of rod became loose and the steamer land
ed on the Island and the injury was re-
paired The boat then made her regular
trip up the river.
On the 9th of October the steamer ar
rived in Rock Island at late hour in the
afternoon. The boat usually reached
Rock Island at an earlier hour, but the
y
tanned. On arriving at Davenport after
discharging the freight, number of empty
lime barrels were taken on board for the
return trip. The model barge Robert"
was towed empty from Davenport, while
fiat .'-No. 8" was filed with empty barrels
at Rock Island. There was other freight
taken at the two cities amounting to ten
or fifteen tons. The boat and barges were
loaded by 9 o'clock at night. and while at
Rock Island the crew had their supper.
The witness heard some of the men on
board stated that they had been given
some liquor by Mr.. Gilchrist on that night.
They only said that they had had one
drink of liquor and were not intoxicated.
Witness took one'glass of beer on Thurs
day morning at Princeton. He also drank
a soda" at a saloon in Rocd Island.
81.