Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-05
DOMESTIC.
Annther KIYer Horror.

Another River Horror.
KEoKUK (Ia.l, November 4th.-The most
terrible disaster in the annals of this city oc-
Cured this evening. At about o'clock the
steamer War Eagle, going south, ran against
a span of the Keokuk and Hamilton bridge,
breaking it into fragments. The boat was
completely demolished. Eight persons are
known to be drowned.
SECOND DISPATCHl
KEoKUK, November 4th. At about z
o'clock this evening shrill and continued
whistling at the Keokuk and Hamilton
bridge, followed by the ringing of the fire
bells, drew hundreds of people to the levee,
to find that a steamboat load of passengers
had miraculously escaped from death. The
palatial passenger packet War Eagle, in at
tempting to pass through the draw, was baf-
fed by the eddies and cross currents, and
swung around against the bridge, breaking
out one span and entailing loss of $50, 600
to the bridge. The statements appended
give the
PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.
Several lives are supposed to have been
lost, but the names could not be learned
Ciph. Gregg, head clerk of the War Eagle,
made the following statement: Captain
Jerry Wood was in command, with Hiram
Beadle and w. M. Tibbles as pilots both
being in the pilot-house, though it was
Beadle's watch. l had just eaten supper, and
went back into the cabin to talk to some
ladies with whom 1 was acquainted. heard
the whistle blow for the bridge, and heard the
bells ring to check her headway. Knowing
it was customary TO drop inside the long pier,
felt ne uneasiness until heard the alarm
whistle blow twice, which meant to back her
strong. About that time VIM. Holmes, the
third clerk. came through the cabin, which
was almost deserted, there being only ten or
twelve ladies in the cabin at the time, the
remainder being on the outside look
ing at the bridge. He threw up his
hand and passed out the starboard
gangwsy. paid no attention to it, knowing
that he was alarmed easily when passing
through the draw Of bridge, but in few
moments he returned and threw up his hand
again. then excused myself hurriedly and
went to him, and on reaching him he threw
up his hands and said, "She's gone this
time" ran out of the iarboard gangway
on to the larboard guard, forward of the
barber shop, and saw that we were broadside
to the bridge and that the boat was backing
strong. instantly ran into the cabin and
threw up both hands to give the alarm. I
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 of the
after door on to the starboard guard, reaching
there just as
THE CRASH OF THE COLLISION
OF the boat against the bridge came. kept
calling to the passengers, who seemed be.
wildered, to get out on the hurricane deck.
They not seeming to understand, led the
way and they followed, with several ladies
clinging to me. As soon as the boat struck
the bridge the span gave way quickly, with
fearful crash, and 1 felt considerably relieved,
knowing well that the chances for saving life
would now be much better. looked forward
and saw that she was leaning on the west
pier, her stern having cleared the east pier,
where the break in the bridge occurred, and
saw the people climbing from the boat on to
the bridge. 1 took one lady and the rest
followed. I told them to come, and we would
all get onto the bridge. I ran for
ward on the larboard side down the
steps abreast of the smoke stacks, and
osssSfaI &ba
the bridge until the boat swung off. one lady
refusing to go. Seeing that 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 down in the hold and reported that
SHE WAS MAKING WATER,
But not very fast. l went upstairs and
quieted the fears of the few remaining ladies
on the boat, and got all forward, so that in
case the boat went down we could get them
off without much trouble. She then foated
with the current. and rounded to 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 a skiff and took a line ashore,
she was made fast, resting on the railroad
track, which is covered with water. The
river on the outside is about fifteen feet deep.
The dredge-boat A. D. Smith came down and
held her stern in until she was securely
fastened There being one wheel entirely
gone, I was afraid if she swung off she would
topple over. The steamer Penguin, with
Captain Hutchinson aboard. arrived as soon
as they could get up steam. and with a fat
took off the baggage. I saw Clay Gil
lespie in skiff, and he assisted
in getting the bodies to the shore.
Dan. Leach took line ashore. Captain
Wood remained on the roof, and all the off,
GERS, SO far as known, stood bravely at their
posts. Thomas Connors, the first mate, was
working manfully at the leak, and remained
at his post until all danger was past. The
deck crew got to terra irma as soon they
could.
Captain A. M. Hutchinson, General Man.
ager of the st. Louis and st. Paul Packet
Company, said it was impossible to estimate
accurately the amount of damage done
or insurance. There is an insurance of about
S2o.OoO on the boat, which is valued at
$4,000.
Ihe cargo consisted of little of every
thing. She carried an immense load. and
there was a large amount of potatoes and
grain aboard.
The first Captain Hutchinson knew of the
accident was when he heard the noise ON the
leEee. He jumped up from the table and hur-
ried to the river. finding one span of the