Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-29
sTEAmDoAT DIsAsTEa.
Wreck Of the Steamer Sen
ME Gilchrist."
Many Persons Sc0Ided bv TIE
Escaping Steam.


NEw YoKx, Oct %. A dispatch from
Davenport, Iowa, this morning, reports the
loss Of the steamer Gilchrist at that place on
the Mississippi last night, and the loss Of 30
persons
The steamer had passed under the govern
mcnt bridge, spanning the river. when the
cam rods Of the engine gave away, causing
| the entire machinery to become unmanageble
and useless. The river il now very high,
and the current unusually rapid. and carried
the helpless vessel down stream at rapid
and appalling speed. The steamer was
thrown with tremendous and resistless force
against one Of the abutments. As the Gill
christ came in collision she careened, caus-
| ing the weights on the safety valves Of fhe
steam chest to break from its fastenings and
slide of. The steam in the boilers poured
out and enveloped the crew and passengers.
who were wildly endeavoring to secure life
preservers in the main saloon, and scaldin2
many in a shocking manner. No sooner had
the steamer rebOunded from the cOllision
than she began to sink, in which condition
she passed Davenport. The shrieks and
cries for help uttered by the victims were
distinctly heard by large crowds who were
on the banks, but could extend no assistance
There were on board % passengers, four Of
whom were females. The crew numbered
Is. Only eight persons have been saved so
far, and these were badly scalded. Three Of
the lady passengers are known to have been
killed or scalded to death.
Rock ISLAND. Oct. %. \ little after 10
O'Clock last night the steamer Jennie Gill
christ left here with thirteen passengers and
a crew of six men. She passed through the
bridge andDgot about miles above when the
sL.s t1D al ,.,b =,
used to reverse the wheel was broken and the
boat began drifting rapidly down the stream.
When danger be came apparent, Mr.. Shelton
rushed into the cabin telling the passengers
of the accident and urging them at once to
take refuge on barge. He notified the pilot
who blew the whistle Of distress. The pilot
then left the wheel and rushed for the barge,
crying as he went by the stairs, 'save your
selves, she is going to strike the bridge"
In the cabin everybody was frantic, and
the uien about useless. The crew, with the
exception of the pilot, engineer and Il bremen,
are reported to have been drunk, and as
terror struck as the others. The stern drifted
upon the pier, striking it just aft of the
boiler, 8 persons had taken refuge on the
bar, ., and as it swung around to the LETT of
the pier when the Jennie struck the bridge,
she broke the boiler heads and the steam be-
gan to rush out, and for a moment the pros
pect of being scalded took the place of being
drowned. Those on the barge knew not
whether they ere safe or in mortal danger.
Around them was thick cloud of steam,
suffocatng them so that the only chance to
breath, was to lie down on the deck.
In the cabin of both they could hear the
cries and means of the fated passengers who
stood there. while the crew on the forecastle
were appealing loudly for help. They could
be seen, but at the time, no help could be
given. The barge drifted off to the left. fol-
lowed BY the boat and the fiat near Paige,
Duzen & Co.'S mill, where it stranded. The
stay there was short. Steamer Evansville
had heard the cries, and in about twenty min.
utes it came upon the stranded barge, and
rescued twelve passengers, carrying them
back to Rock Island. Besides. the twelve
saved on the barge, there were five picked up
on the shore who had chung to the wreck.
One woman, two engineers and three more
of the crew were also rescued. When the
danger became apparent, Shelton and clerk
Schuber tried to get the passengers down to
the barge. The four women were in the
cabin in q state of helplessness. doing nothing,
saying nothing, evidently expecting death.
The gentlemen tried entreaty and advice, but
it was useless. There were seventeen lost
fiat boat was being pushed at the bow of the
steamer. The barge was fastened to the
port side.
There is no doubt that the steamer was
literally unfit for work. She Was heavily
loaded, and most of the crew were drunk
The boat was merely freight boat, and was
not licensed to carry passengers. The acct
dent was entirely due to carlessness and
| liquor was an agent. A good deal of whiskey
was in the cargo. and some of it was tapped
| before they started up.
Later.-The Jennie Gilchrist carried Is
passengers and crew. Twelve persons saved
themselves by getting on the barge which the
Gichrist was towing. In the number are in
cluded all the officers. most of the crew and
one passenger. The barge foated past the
city about eleven o'clock. the men shouting
in the darkness for help. The Evansville
brought them in after midnight. Mrs. Wen
dit. one of the four female passengers was
picked up clinging to plank. the other three
were drowned. Mrs. Wendit is badly scalded
and is likely to die. The fremen J. San
ford, Will Brown a colored man and pas
senger. three in all, were rescued after day
| light this morning, and were holding on to
the pilo; house. Brown was badly scalded
and will probably die.
| All day parties have been out from the city
searching the river and island just below
Rock Island in hopes of recovering the bod
les of those lost. So far the search has
proved fruitless. Great doubt still exists a,
to the number lost. A heavy rain set in a
an early hour this afternoon and this fact pre-
vented the diver from making an investiga
ton of the cabin and hull Of the sunker
steamer, which lies in about 20 feet of watel
just below the city. The river 10 slowly fall
ing which will materially aid in searching fol
the bodies tomorrow.
| Another Break.
A Post dispatch. special from Hannibal
NO., says the Sny levee broke in the third