The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-17
THE RIVER.
Work on the wreck of the
Jennie Gilchrist. 81
Another BODY Found and
Fully identified.

Yesterday the wreck of the Jennie Gil
christ was raised to the surface but before
the chains could be adapted to the changed
| position, the current carried the hull and
| hundred yards when the anchors again
caught and the barges became stationary.
1t was learned for the first time, at a
| late hour yesterday afternoon that the hull
was eor4Dlotely overturned, as when raised
| the under side of the hull was first prcsen-
ted. and the deck and a portion of the
cabin were upon the bottom of the river.
THE DIVER
Captain Wall, found it impossible to do
any effective work at the bottom of the
river owing to the swiftness of the current
In going down the current would carry
him below the wreck, and it became impos-
fsible for him to make any Roadway against
the running water. He states that the cur
rent at the surface between the two bar
ges was sufficiently swift to carry him off
the ladder and down stream although
loaded down with all the extra weights
that his suit would allow. The current at
the bottom Of the.river was even more
rapid that that above, and it became i'm
possible for him to work to any advan
tage. Chains were dropped under the
wreck and the bow was thus lifted above
the water The bow was lowered again
and chains were placed under the stern.
A bir-I nhoi, rela oh ch sya
and the huh was raised to the surface.
When this was accomplished, the men
ascertained for the first time that the boat
had capsized at the bridge on the night of
the accident and had remained bottomside
up in the middle of the river from that
until the present time.
BODY FOUND.
AS soon as the wreck was raised, the
body of Henry Thomas, one of the passen-
gers on the Inflated steamer, was liberated
and Immediately came to the surface. 1t
was taken on board one of the barges, and
shortly afterwards the deputy coroner was
notified. In the clothing upon the deceas-
ed were found his watch, 1885 in money
and some memoranda. The remains were
identified by relatives and, after being
viewed by the coroners jury already en-
gagged in the work of investigating the
cause OF death of W Wendt, the body was
taken to the establishment Of Undertaken
Knox. This morning the remains were
sent to Hampton, where the funeral will
occur during the day.
It is thought that the deceased, in at
tempting to leave the cabin on the night of
the accident, was overcome by the water
coming in as the boat careened, and be-
fore he could extricate himself from the
steamer he was drowned. His body was
caught between the cabin wall and the
hull, and remained so until the boat was
righted yesterday afternoon.
There We're probably more bodies in the
wreck, which may have fioated away, and
it is not certain that any more will be
found.
THE CURRENT.
The barges on either side of the wreck
were held in position by six anchors, three
to each barge, but when the hull was rails
ed to the surface, the current being g,
strong the hull and the two barges xRre
carried down stream some distance, and
finally came to stardstill by the anchors
again taking hold in the river
The work of removing the hull and con-
veying it to the boat yards will be contin-
ued from day to day, until it is accom-
plished, although it is expected that it
willTequire the rest of the week to push
the work to successful termination.
RIVER NOTES.
The B. E. Weaver passed through the |
Keokuk bridge yesterday and very narrow
ly escaped second accident, as the cur
rent nearly caused the boat to collide with
one of the piers. It will be remembered
that this boat suffered collision with the |
Rock Island bridge few days ago.
The owners of the War Eagle have not, |
as yet, given up all hopes of having the |
War Eagle afioat again although she did |
knock bridge down partially. She was
pretty badly bumped up, but when the |
underwriters wrecking boat Salvor, gets to |
her things will take shape quickly. The |
Salvor with 10. Jobid, the diver, aboard. |
left last evening to take hand in the rails
ing. Commodore W. F. Davidson, presi-
dent, and Captain Abe Hutchinson. super
intendent of the line which owns the boat,
are already on the grounds. Loaiis
Gtobe-Democrat