Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-29
THE WEST.
Iowa.

A Floating Dramshop-Vhiske ey Tapped On Board a River Steamer-The Vessel
 Crashes Into Bridge-A Number of
 Lives Lost.
 DAVENPORT, Oct. 2S.-Particulars of the disaster last evening to the steamboat Jennie Gilchrist on the Mississippi river opposite Rock Island, show it to have been of a most appalling character. little after 10 o'clock the Gilchrist left Rock Island with thirteen passengers and crew of sixteen men, and having in tow barge and fatboat It passed through the bridge and got about half mile cred that the rod used to reverse the wheel was broken, and the boat at once began to drift rapidly down stream. The swollen river gave the current additional force. When the threatening danger of Q collision with the bridge became apparent, an officer of the boat at once rushed into the cabin, telling the pas sengers of the accident which happened, and urging them to at once take refuge on the barge. He notified the pilot, who blew his whistle as a signal of distress. The pilot then left his wheel giving it turn for port and ran for the barge, crying as he went down stairs, Save yourselves; she is going to strike the bridge" In the cabin everybody was frantic; women were crying, and the men were about as helpless. The crew. with the exception of Pilot Derrand the clerk and engineers and fremen, are reported to have been drunk As the steamer drifted down upon the pier she partly turned and present ed her starboard side to the pier, striking the latter just aft of the boilers. Eight persons had taken refuge on the barge, and as it swung around to the left of the pier they cast off the stern end and spring lines The bow line was fastened to the fiat ahead, and when 1t cast of the fiat swung to the right and the line went out with a rush. A negro named Jim Smally was at that moment climbing over the bow of the barge, and the line being between his legs he was hurled overheard. Henry Shelton caught him and hauled him aboard. When the Gilchrist struck the bridge she hit little aft of the boiler heads and broke them in. At once steam began to rush out. Those on the barge knew not whether they were safe or in dan ger. Around them was a thick cloud of steam suffocating them so that their only chance to breathe was to lie down on the deck In the cabin of the boat they could hear the cries of the passengers who had stood there while the crew on the forecastle were appealing for help. The barge drifted off to the left, followed by the boat and the fiat following it. The largest stranded oppo- site Page, Dixon & Co.'S mill. The Evans vile had heard the cries for help, and it left Ro k Island for the rescue. In about twenty minutes it came upon the stranded barge and brought the twelve passengers back to Rock Island. Beside the twelve saved on the barge there were five picked up on the Iowa shore who had clung to the wreck, one woman who had displayed remarkable court ape There seems to be no doubt that the steamer was totally unfit for the work. She was heavily loaded, and most of the crew were drunk The boat was merely freigh- boat, and was not licensed to carry passen- gers. The accident was entirely due to care lessness and hquor. There was good deal of whiskey in the cargo, and some of it was tapped before starting.
 It is impossible at this writing to secure acc urate list of the victims, but the following are known to be missing: Mrs. Camp of Davenport, Miss Temple of Leclair, Mrs. Wendell of Leclair, 8 lady unknown and three colored deck hands. Word WAS received from Rock Island this afternoon that several of the passengers and crew were rescued and taken to that city. An effort will be made this afternoon to raise the wreck and search the cabins for the bodies. The wreck now lies mile and half down the river on her beam ends, almost submerged. It is learned to-day that there were twenty-eight persons on board and none were taken from the water. The number of killed by steam and drowning will probably not be less than a dozen.