The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-11-10
A STEAMER SMASHED.
The War Ea4lO R0ns A9oimst :
Bridge ~ KcOkuk and Drcake 1e In.
- Eragmenss.


bridge - KeOkuk and Brcaks ss -.
KEoKuK, Iowa, Nov. s.
Att o'clock last evening shlil and continued
whistling 1t the Keokuk and Hamilton bridge,
followed BY the ringing Of fre bells. drew hum
dfeds Of people to the levee to md that .
steamboat load Of passengers had miraculously
escaped death. The palatial passenger
packet War Eagle in attempting to
pass through the draw was completely
bafled BY the eddies and cross cur
rents and swung around against tho bridge.
breaking out One span and entailing . loss Of
9160, 600 70 the bridge. Several ives werc lost.
but tho names cannot at present be learned.
The head clerk Of the War Eagle makes tho
command. Hiram Beadle and william liobles
wore the rilots, and both were in
tho pilot-house, though it was BeA-
dies watch. l had just eaten supper
and went back into the cabin TO talk 70 some
ladies' knew. I heard the whistle blow for
the bridge and the bells ring TO check headwxy.
Knowing that i was customary 70 drop inside
the long pier, I felt no uneasiness until the
alarm whistle blew twice, which meant 70 back
her round. About that time William Holmes.
third clerk, came through the csban. In which
there we're only ten or Twelve
the bridge. He threw mp his hand and passed
out the starboard gangway. paid no atter-
ton to him, knowing he Was easily alarmed IN
emergencies, but IN . few minutes he returned
and signaled me. then excused myself huf-
riedly and went to him. he said /" "Shss gone
on to the larboard guard forward OF the bar
ber-shop, and saw that We were broadside to
the bridge and that the boat was backing strong.
instantly rushed into the cabin md gave
the alarm. caught hold Of one lady and cried
ont to the rest 70 follow me, as the boat waa
the after-d00r on to the starb0ard guard.
reaching there lust ~ the crAsh came.
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. Al soon - the boat
fearful crash, and felt considerably relieved.
knowing that the chances for saving life would
now be much better. / looked forward ard
saw that the boat was leaning on the west pier,
her stern having cleared the east pier where
the break in the bridge occurred, and that
onto the bridge. took ons lady
and ran forward on the larbnrd
side down the steps abreast Of the smoke
stacks, and assisted in passing the passer-
gers ont upon the bridge until the boat
swung on. One lady refused to so. Seeing that
&F0&t60 p8It LILO P8d60iA6c1 uAO OuSskc0 ossN
were cafe, the second clerk, Alex. Robinson,
and myself determined to stay with the boat.
In . very short time she swung clear Of ths
bridge, and We went down on the lower deck
| to zee IL abe was making water or not. home
ono had been in the hold and reported that she
was, but not very fast. ran up stairs and
| Quieted the fears Of tho few remaining ladies
on the boat, and got all forward, 20 that II
| case NO went down We could get Oh
without much trouble. Tho boat ther
| foated with the current With her head dowr
| stream to point few hundred yards below
tho elevator, where, with the aid Of one vince
and the assistance OF parties who came In
skin and took line lahore, she vas made fAs
resting on the railroad track, which is coveres
| with water, the river on the outside beinl
/ D. Smith came down and held her stern i
until she Was securely fastened.