Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-05
Detailed Statement.

KEoKUK, Nov. AT about O'Clock this
evening, a shrill and continued whistling at
the Keokuk and Hamilton bridge, followed by
the ringing of fire bells, drew hundreds of
people to the levee to find that a steamboat
load of passengers had miraculously escaped
from death. The palatial packet,
War Eagle, in attempting to
pass through the draw, was baffied by the ed
dies and cross currents, and swung around
against the bridge, breaking out one span and
entailing loss of s15O,OOO to the bridge.
The statements appended give particulars of
the disaster. Several lives are supposed TO
have been lost, but the names could not be
learned.
THE CLERKS ACCOUNT.
Ceph. Gregg, head clerk of the War Eagle,
made the following statement to Gate City
representative: Capt. Jerry Wood was in COM
mand, with Hiram Beadle and William Tibbles
pilots Both pilots were in the pilot house,
though it was Beadle's watch. had just
taken supper and went back into the cabin to
talk with some ladies with whom l was ac-
quainted l heard the whistle blow
for the bridge and heard the bells ring to check
her headway. Knowing that it was customary
to drop inside the pier, felt no uneasines,
until heard the alarm whistle blowing twices
which meant back her strong, About that
time VIM. Holmes, third clerk, came through
the cabin, which was almost deserted, there
being only ten or twelve ladies in the cabin at
the time, the remainder being on the outside
looking at the bridge. He threw up his hand
and passed out the starboard gangway. l
paid no attention to it, knowing that he was
alarmed easily when passing through the
draw of bridges. But in few moments he
returned and threw up his hand again. then
excused myself hurriedly and went to him.
On reaching him he threw up his hands, and
said
''sHE's GONE THIS TIME!'
ran out the starboard gangway into the
larboard, going forward in front of the bar
ber shop, and saw that we were broadsde to
the bridge, and the boat was backing strong.
| instantly ran into the cabin and
threw up both hands to give the
alarm. / caught hold of one lady
and cried out to the rest to follow me. AS
the boat was going to strike the bridge we
passed out the after door on to the starboard
guard, reaching there just as the crash of the
collision of the boat against the bridge came.
kept calling to the passengers, who seemed
bewildered, to get out on the hurricane deck.
They not seeming to understand, l led
the way and they followed with several ladies
clinging to me. AS soon as
THE BOAT STRUCK THE BRIDGE
the span gave way quickly with fearful
crash, and felt considerably relieved, know
ing well that the chances for saving life
would now be much better. l
looked forward and saw that she was
leaning on the west pier, her stern
having cleared the east pier, when the break
in the bridge occurred, and saw the people
climbing from the boat on to the bridge. l
took one lady and the rest followed. / told
them to come and we would all get on to
the bridge. 1 ran forward on
the larboard side down the steps abreast of the
smokestacks and assisted in passing the pas
sengers out upon the bridge until the boat
swung, one lady refusing to 60. Seeing that
greater part of the passengers had escaped
and were safe, the second clerk,
Alexander Robinson and myself,
determined to stay with the boat. In very
short time she swung clear of the bridge and
We went down on the lower deck to see If she
was making water or not; some one had been
down in the hold and reported that she was
making water, but not very
fast. l went up stairs and quieted
the fears of the remaining ladies on the
boat and got all forward, SO that in case the
boat went down we could get them
oil without much trouble. She then
hoated with the current and rounded
too, to point few hundred yards below the
elevator. With the aid of one wheel and the
assistance of parties who came in skiff and
took a line ashore,
SUE WAS MADE FAST,
resting on the railroad track, which is
covered with water, the river being fifteen
feet deep, The dredge boat D. D. Smith cam Q
down ard held her stern in until she was
securely fastened. There being one wheel
entirely gone Iwas afraid if she swung off
she would topple over. The steamer Pen
guin, with Capt. Hutchinson aboard, arrived
as soon as they could get up steam, and
with fiat took off the baggage,
and one Wizard oil wagon. saw Clay Gill
lespie in a skiff, and he assisted in getting the
ladies to shore. Dan Leach took the line
ashore. Capt. Wood remained on the
roof, and all the officers, SO far as known,
stood bravely at their posts. Thomas Son
ness, the first mate, was working manfully at
the leak, and remained at his post until the
danger was past The crew got to terra
firma as soon as they could.
WHAT CAPT. HUTCHINSON SAID.
Capt A. NJ. Hutchinson, general manager
of the St. Louis & st. Paul Packet company,
was interviewed, and said: 1t would be i'm
possible to estimate, with any accuracy, the
amount of damage done or the insur-
ance. There is an insurance of about
S25, 900 on the boat, which is valued at $40, 900,
The cargo consisted of little of everything.
She carried an immense trip, and there was a
large amount of potatoes and grain aboard.