New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-29
A SHOCKING DISASTER.
STEAMBOAT SUNK AT ROCK ISLAND.

ROCK ISLAND, ILL.,. Oct. 2S.-A little after 10
O'Clock last night the steamer Jennie Gilcrist left
this place With thirteen passengers and a crew of
sixteen men on board. She passed through the
bridge and had proceeded about haIf-mile above.
when at 1890 o'clock the engineer discovered that
the rod which was used to reverse the wheel was
broken and the boat at once began drifting rapidly
down the stream. The swollen river gave the cur
rent additional force and at rapid rate the doomed
vessel was carried to its destruction.
When the danger became apparent Mr.. Ske-
ton rushed into the cabin, telling the passen-
gers of the accident and urging them TO take
refuge on the barge. He informed the pilot, who
exclaimed: Why don't they do something' For
Gods sake do somethingw and blew his whistle
signal of distress. The pilot then left his wheel,
giving it turn for port and made break for tho
barge crying, as he went down stairs /" Save your
selves, she is going to strike the bridge" In the
cabin everybody was frantic: the women were crying
and the men were about as useless. No one seemed
to have any idea what to do The crew. with the
exception of Pilot Derrand the clerk, engineers aud
fremen are reported TO have been drunk and as
terror-stricken as the Others.
As the steamer drifted down upon the pier, urged
on by the swollen current, she partly turned and
presented her starboard side to the pier striking it
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 fat ahead, and when
it cast off, the fat swung to the right, and the
line went out with rush. A negro, jim" Smaey
was at that moment climbing over the bow Of tho
barge. and the line being between his legs, he was
hurled overheard. Henry SHELTON grabbed him by
the trousers and hauled him aboard. When the
Jennie struck the bridge she hit little aft Of the
boiler heads and broke them in. At steam be-
gan TO rush out, and for a moment there pros
pect of being scalded or of being drowned The
scene at that time was terrible. Those on the barge
knew not whether they were safe or in mortal
danger. Around them was thick cloud of steam,
suocating them that their only chance to breathe
was by lying down on the deck. From the cabin Of
the boat they could hear the cries and Of tho
fated passengers who had remained there while tho
crew on the fOrecastle were appealing loudly for
help they could be seen, but at that time no help
could be given.
The barge drifted off to the left, followed by the
boat and the fat following it, near Paige, Dixon Il
Co.'s mill, where it stranded The stay there
short. The Evansville had heard the cries for help
and it left Rock Island its errand Of mercy. In
about twenty minutes it came upon the stranded
barge and rescued It's twelve passengers from their
perilous situation, carrying them back to Rock
were five picked up the Iowa shore who had
clung to the wreck, being woman, who had
displayed remarkable pluck.
The following is list of the saved as far as
known:
Passengers-J Fl. Ways, Mrs Went, C. B. Daven-
port, Thomas Harts, t. McClelland, w. G. SHELTON.
Crec-William Brown, John Moss. John shuber,
clerk; John Gilchrist, captain; Mr. Derrand and
Mr.. Herr. pilots.
IT. oc
also rescued.
When the danger became apparent Mr.. Skelton
and Clerk Shuber tried toget the passengers down
to the barge. The few women who were in tho
cabin were in n state of helplessness, doing nothing,
saying nothing and evidently expecting death.
The gentlemen tried entreaty and advice, but il
was useless No one would STIR They were told
that their only hope was in getting on board the
barge. still they would not move. Skelton and
Shuber then shook the women and tried to drag
them out # the cabin but in this they failed and in
despair left them to their fate. The panic was now
general and all efforts to it proved fruit
less. There seventeen persons in all lost, and
at this writing it is impossible TO give their
The steamer had in tow one barge and one fla
boat. The latter was being pushed at the bow Of
the stenaer. while the barge fastened to the
port side. There seems to he dOubt that the
steamer, was totally unit Tor the work
expected from her. She was heavily
laden and most of the crew drunk.
Furthermore, she was mercy freight boat and not
licensed To carry passengers. The accident was en-
tirely due 10 caressness and liquor. There was q
good deal of whiskey in the cargo and some of It
was tapped before the steamer left the wharf.
Later-lt is impossb at ;his time to glve full
list of those killed IN the accident here last night, as
no regis er was kept Of those on board the steamer.
Those known TO be lost are: paSSengerS-J. Zuber,
William Wcndt and daughter Mrs. James Trevor,
Miss Sadie Temple and four others, names unknown;
fireman. j. Is.
steward; William -, watchman, and four
negro deck , hands cn. names unknown:
censured by the surviving passengers for eir lack
of ability to cope with the accident IL is alleged
thar the officers, with the exception oil tue clerk,
made personal escape matter OF hrst Importance
and allowed the passengers 10 look out lOf theln-
selves. II is also stated that the boat was over
aed with passengers and freight, and was carry
inc more than she could successfully handle. Tho
most serios charge. however is made by one OF the
surviving passengers 10 the erect that te crew. IN
cluding the second pilot, under the influence OF
liquor and to this fact is attributed the lack OF
infringement after the first accident 70 the machn-
cry before the bridge was encountered.
Mdpight-Onv a partial list of those drowned
by the accident TO the steamer James Gllchrist,
can be obtained to-day owing TO the injury to tho
clerk and the absence Of the owner, who
left for bis home in Rapids City this
morning. Ii is known, however that Mrs.
Trevor. Miss Sadie Temple and John Temple,
of Rands CITY, w. w. Wendt, of COrdova, and
James Sandf0rd. a fireman, have been drowned; All
dav parties have been ont from this city searching
the river and the Island just DeloW ROCK lsianu III
the hope of recovering some of the bodies OF those
supposed to be lost. SO far the search has proved
ftless The friends of those supposed to have taken
passage on the Gilchrst are III the city awaiting
information concerning their missing iriendsj
Int owing 10 Inc confusion and the absence of those
best pDsted on the passenger lis great doubt still
exists as 20 the number and the names of the lost
heavy rain set in at an early hour this afternoon
and nreyented the diver Captain Walt, from max.
ing any investigation of the cabin and hull OF
the sunken steamer, which lies in about twenty
feet of water, just below tins city. Arrangements
have been made to make this inspection to.norrow,
when 1t is probable that some bodies will be re-
covered as t is said that three or four persons |eie
seen in the cabin and other portions OF the boat py