Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-29
TEL.EGRAPHIC.
SPECIAL TO THE nEcoRD-usIos
DOMESTIC NEWS.


The Davenport Disaster Another Ac.
count OF the Heartrending Affair.
NEW York, October 2Sth.-The Herald
has this In its second edition exclusively;
DAVENPORT (Ia.), October 28th.-A terrible
and most Aeartrending accident occurred in
the Mississippi river near this city last night,
which resulted in
AWFUL LOSS OF LIFE.
It appears that the steamer Gilchrist left
this port about half-past 10 in apparently
good trim and condition, bound for all points
up the river, loaded with large and valuable
cargo of miscellaneous freight, and carrying
in her cabins a full list Of passengers. When
the steamer had passed under the Govern
ment bridge spanning 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 unmanageable and useless. The river
just now is very high, owing to the extensive
Hoods, and the current is consequently unu-
sually rapid, SO that as the steamer
no longer had her machinery to keep
her bow up the stream the swiftly-running
river carried the helpless vessel down stream
at rapid and appalling rate. Being SO near
the bridge the steamer was thrown with tre-
Smendous and resistless force against one Of
the abutmepts. As the Gilchrist came in col
lision with the enormous mass of stone she
careened, causing the weights on the safety
valve of the steam chest to break from their
fastenings and slide off. The valve no longer
holding check on the steam in the boilers,
it poured out in huge volumes and enveloped
the helpless crew ard passengers, who were
then endeavoriDg to save the life preservers
in the main saloon, and scalded many of them
in an awful manner. No sooner had the
steamer rebounded from the shock of the col
lision than she began sinking, in which condi-
tion she was carried past and below the city.
THE sHRIEKs AND CRIES FOR HELP
Uttered by the frenzied victims were distinct
" audible by large crowds of citizens who
soon thronged the banks, but they could ex-
tend no assistance as the steamer was carried
past their eyes by the turbulent river. All of
the small boats and skiffs usually numerous
on the river had been drawn ashore and laid
away for the winter, to escape the foods
which have prevailed al along the course of
the Mississippi river for nearly fortnight, so
there was no means Of specify reaching the
sinking steamer, or the men, women and chill
dren who were struggling at that moment
in the current. But the people on the land
were perishing before their eyes, for the other
steamers that happened to be lying
at the bank immediately hastened into
motion, thronged by eager helpers, and
all hastened to the scene of the disaster,
In the hope of recovering at least some of
those on board of the Gilchrist. As write
these hurried lines these steamers are actively
at work searching for the survivors. learn
that there were on board twenty-three pas
sengerr, 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 passengers
are known to have been killed or scslded to
death. The city is in great excitement, and
everything possible is being done to relieve
the unfortunates. There is but little hope
that any more can be saved. The boat is said
to have been in bad condition, and was con
sidered unsafe By many of the crew.
Ihe Secretary OF the Treasury.
NEW YoRK, Oetober 2S.h.-rhe Tribune
says: The nomination of Folger was re-
ceiyed with little interest in Wall street l.
was the general opirion that his character
and ability assured a wise and conservative
management OF the Treasury. The general
sentiment among bankers seemed to be that
to which jesse Seligrnan gave expression
"At present it is only necessary that the
Secretary of the Treasury should be q person
of good common sense, who will guard agsinst
the Government locking up any more money
than is actually necessary, and who will keep
the country fully supplied for its legitimate
business"
Three Men Lynchcd.
DENVER, October 2Sth.--A Republican
special says: Dell Lockhart, Kid" Coulter
and a man known as ''Slim were lynched
at Terra Armarila. Col, last night. Lock-
hart and Slim were arrested few weeks
apo for horse stealing Coulter was impris-
oned for murder committed at Chama nine
months ago. The immediate cause of the
lynching was the discovery of Coulter's plan
to kill the guard and escape.
The Peoria Fire.
PEORIA Ill., October 2Sth.-The loss by
Yesterdays fire is not below $3.50, 600, and
may exceed half million. The insurance is
upwards of $500 000