The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-11-11
A STEAMER SMASHED.
The War Eagle Runs Against q
Bridge at KeOkuk and Breaks 1t In.
10 Fragments,

10 fragments
KEoKUK, Iowa, Nov. B.
Att o'clock last evening shrill and continued
whistling at the Keokuk and Hamilton bridge,
followed by the ringing of fire bells, drew hun
dreds of people to the levee to find that q
steamboat load of passengers had miraculously
escaped death. The palatial passenger
packet War Eagle in attempting to
pass through the draw was completely
bafied by the eddies and cross cur
rents and swung around against the bridge,
breaking out one span and entailing a loss of
$3.50, coo to the bridge. Several lives were lost,
but the names cannot at present be learned.
The head clerk of the War Eagle makes the
following statement Capt Jerry Wood was in
command. Hiram Beadle and William Tibbles
we're the Iilots, and both were in
the pilot-house, though it was Bea-
dies watch. l had just eaten supper
and went back into the cabin to talk to some
ladies knew. I heard the whistle blow for
the bridge and the bells ring to check Roadway.
Knowing that it was customary to drop inside
the long pier, felt no uneasiness until the
alarm whistle blew twice, which meant to back
her round. About that time William Holmes,
third clerk, came through the cabin, in which
there we're only ten or twelve
ladies, the remnant being on the outside at
the bridge. He threw up his hand and passed
out the starboard gangway. l paid no atten-
ton to him, knowing he was easily alarmed in
emergencies, but in few minutes he returned
and signaled me. then excused myself hur-
riedly and went to him. He said "She's gone
this time" 1 ran out the larboard gangway
on to the larboard guard forward of the bar
ber-shop, and saw that we we're broadside to
the bridge and that the boat was backing strong.
/ instantly rushed into the cabin and gave
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 all passed out
the after-door on to the starboard guard,
reaching there just as the crash came. l
kept calling to the passengers, who seemed
bewildered, to get on the hurricane deck.
They not seeming to understand led the way,
and they followed. AS soon as the boat
struck the bridge the span gave way with q
fearful crash, and felt considerably relieved,
knowing that the chances for saving life would
now be much better. | looked forward and
saw that the boat was leaning on the west pier,
her stern having cleared the east pier where
the break i'll the bridge occurred, and that
the people were climbing from the boat
onto the bridge. 1 took one lady
and ran forward on the larboard
side down the steps abreast of the smoke
stacks, and assisted in passing the passen-
gers out upon the bridge until the boat
swung Ou. Ou6 lduy IeluS6u W ~. OOOl1i6 Una
a greater part of the passengers had escaped and
were safe, the second clerk, Alex. 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 in the hold and reported that she
was, but not very fast. ran up stairs and
duieted the fears of the few remaining ladies
on the boat, and got all forward, 80 that in
case we went down we could get of
without much trouble The boat then
fioated with the current with her head down
stream to point few hundred yards below
the elevator, where, with the aid of one wheel
and the assistance of parties who came in q
skif and took line ashore, she vas made fast
resting on the railroad track, which is covered
with water, the river on the outside being
about fifteen feet deep. The dredge-boat W.
D. Smith came down and held her stern IN
until she was securely fastened.