Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-11-10
A RIVER HORROR.

The Recent Terrible Accident 60 shs
steamer GiIehriss on she Misslssippo
River NJ Rock Island-Several Lives
Lost.
A Davenport Uowa) special OF the 18th
to the Chicago Times gives the following
particulars OF the recent terrible accident
on the river near the former city: 4cf
A terrible and most heartrending accident
occurred in the Mississippi River, near this
city. last night, which resulted In great loss
OF life. 1t appears that the steamer Gil
christ left this point about 1880 o'clock, 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 n 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 un-
manageable and useless.
The river Just now Is very high, owing TO
the recent and extensive floods, and the cur
rent rs consequently unusually rapid, 20
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 ut 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 Gilchrist came in collision
with the enormous mass OF stone she ca.
reened, causing the weights on the safety
valves of the steam-chest 10 break from
their fastenings and slide OF. The valves
no longer holding check on the steam In
l..--
and enveloped the hapless crew and passen.
gers, who were wildly endeavoring TO Sc
cure life-preseryers IN the main saloon,
and scalded many Of them In IN 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,
rs the steamer was hurled 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 and to escape the floods which
have prevailed all along the course OF the
Mississippi River for nearly q fortnight, 80
there was no means OF speedily reaching the
sinking steamer er the mon, 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 perlshing before their eyes, for
the other steamers that happened TO be ly-
ing at the bank Immediately fastened into
hastened to the scene Of the disaster, in
hopes Of rescuing ut least some OF those
on board the Gilchrist. As write these hur-
ried lines these steamers are actively nj
work searching for survivors. I learn that
there were on board twenty three passen-
gers, four Of whom were females, and q
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 10 being
done to relieve the unfortunates. There IL
but little hope that any more can be saved.
The boat is said to have been I'm bad con-
dition. and was considered unsafe by many
of the crew.
One poor wretch at the police headquar-
tcrs 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 total wreck. 1t was considered In
m unsafe condition by many Of the crew.
Aweek ago yesterday nearly the same acci-
dent happened to. II, but fortunately the
A.. NoI ThAr l. tall x.e
an official investigation, and no little in
iignation is expressed against the owners.
All the passengers were residents of this
neighborhood, and one or two were old and
well-known citizens.