The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-11-03

hOff1Dlo steam OOot O1oootef.
A Davenport, Iowa, dispatch, of the
18th ult., gives the following particu-
lars of terrible steam boat accident
which occurred the night previous on
the Mississippi, near that city, by
which IL or Is persons lost their lives:
"The steamer Gilchrist left this
Point about 1O:3O o'clock, apparently
in good trim and condition, bound for
all points up the river, loaded with
large and valuable cargo of miscella-
neous freight, and carrying in her
cabins full list of passengers. The
number, as near as can be ascertained,
was %. When the steamer had passed
under the government bridge span.
ming the Mississippi and connecting
the cities Of Davenport and Rock Is
land, tho cam.rods of the engine sud-
denly gave way, causing the entire
machinery to become unmanagable
and useless. The river just now is
very high, owing to the recent and
extensive floods, and the current is
consequently unusually rapid, SO that
when the steamer had ne longer her
machinery to keep her bow up stream,
the swiftly running river carried the
helpless vessel down stream at . rapid
and appalling rate. She struck one OF
the abutments with terrific force and
careened over, causing the weights on
the safety valves Of the steam chest to
break from their fastenings and slide
OF. The valves NO longer holding a
check en- the steam in the boilers, 1t
poured out in huge volumes and en-
veloped the helpless crew and passen-
gers, who were wildly endeav oring to
secure life-preservers in the main sa-
loon, and scalded many of them in a
fearful manner. No sooner had the
steamer reboundsd from the shock of
the collision than she began sinking,
in which condition she was carried
past and below the city, the shrieks
and cries for help uttered by the fren-
zied victims being distinctly audible
by large crowds of citizens who seon
'thronged the banks, but they could
extend no asslstance, rs the steamer
was hurled past their eyes by the tur.
bulent river. No immediate efforts ts
aid her could be put forward, as mOst
of the email boats were tied up for
the winter. The steamer Evansville
was got in motion as soon as possible
and hurried to the rescue. The Gill
christ in the meantime had driftsd
down the river with her crew and
passengers, who were insane with
terror aud excitement. Eight persons
had taken refuge on the barge in tow
Of the Gilchrist. Those ON the barge
knew not whether they were safe OF
in mortal danger. Around them was
a thick cloud of steam suffocating then
60 that their only chance to breathe
was to lie down on the deck. In the
cabin of the boat they could hear the
cries and moans Of the fated passen.
gers, who had stood there, while the
crew on the forecastle was appealing
loudly for help. They could be seen
and at that time no help could be Civ.
en-. The sinking steamer and barge
stranded for q moment opposite Raige,
Dixon & Co.'S mill, but soon foated
away. The Evansville overlook hel
in aboHt twenty minutes, and saved
the folio wing passengers: j. Ii. Ways
Mrs. Went, c. B. Davenport, Thomas
Hartz, T. McClellsnd, w. G. Skelton
Crew Billy Brown, John Moss, Johu
Thuber, Clerk; John Gilchrist, Cap.
tain; Dorrsnd and Herr, Pilots. Mosl
of them were taken off the barge and
fiat boat. Those who were scalded
present most horrible sight"