Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-29
LOSS OF A STEAMER.
SEVENTEEN LIVES LOST IN THE
JENNIE GIlCHRlST."
Drifting TO 0estructisn-A Brave Pilot and
a Drunken crew-Teror-Stricken
Passengers-Criminal Care
lessness Of 0fficers-A
Useless Craft.
THE ACCIDENT DUE TO LIQUOR.

Iowa, OF the loss OF the steamer Jennie
Gilchrist.
Rock ISLAND, LIS, October 2S,-Tbe
Argus will give the following account in
tomorrow evenings edition: A little
alter 10 o'clock the Jennie Gilchrist lett
Rock Island with thirteen passengers
and sixtesa OF her crew aboard.
1t passed through the bridge and got
about half mile above II when at 1880
the engineer discovering that the
cam rod which is used TO reverse the
wheel was broken, and the boat at once
began drifting rapidly down stream.
The swollen river gave the current ad-
dItional force, and swiftly the boat went
down to her destruction.
When the threatening danger beca me
apparent Mr.. Skelton at once
Rushed Into the Cabin
| letting the passengers know OF the acci'
dent which had happened, and urging
them TO take refuge on the barge.
He notified the pilot of
wnat had happened, who exclaimed:
Why don't they do something" For
| God sake do something" The pilot
| len. blew his whistle for danger, and
then left his wheel, giving it a turn for
| port, and made tracks Tor the barge,
CRYING as he went. "Down stream. |.
Save yourselves. She is going to strike
the bridge.
In the cabin everything was confu-
sion. Women were crying, and the
men were about as useless. No one
! seemed to have any idea rs 10 what to
DO. The crew, with the exception OF
Pilot Darrand, the clerk and engineer
and firemen, are
Reported to Have Been Drunk,
and as terror stricken as the others. As
she dTifted down upon the pier, urged
on by the swollen current, she partly
turned up and presented her starboard
side to the obstructing pier, striking it
Just aft Of the boilers. Eight persons
mad 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 Hat ahead, and
! when it was cast oil the fiat
swung to the right and the line went
out with a rush. 4 negro named Jim
Smalley was at that moment climbing
over the bow OF the barge, and the line
being between his legs
He Was Whirled Overheard.
Skelton grabbed him by the trousers
and hauled him aboard, very much
astonished but highly gratef ful negro.
When the Jennie struck the bridge
she hit little aft oil the boiler heads
and broke them in at once. The steam
began to rush out, and for
a moment the prospect Of
btiag scalied was added to that of being
! drowned. The scene at that time was
| terrific. Those on the barge knew not
| whether they were safe or in mortal
| danger. Around them was thick cloud
Of steam sufocating them so that their
only chance to breathe was by laying
down and putting their mouths to the
holes in the deck.
In the Cabin of the Boat
! they could hear the cries and means Of
the lated passengers who had staid
| there, while the crew on the forecastle
were appealing loudly for help.
! They could be seen. and at that time no
help could be given. The barge dlifted
of to the .eit, followed by the boat, and
the fat following it.
After the bridge was passed the work
! OF rescuing those on the boat began.
! First the engineer was pulled on board
| then the clerk and one negro. They
| had tried to reach the barge before
striking the bridge, but failed AMI lall-
| ing into the water,
Drifted Alongside the Barge
until they were rescued. The wind
carried the barge over toward the Dav-
export shore, aGd in the course OF a
short time they driited down on to the
| island outside OF Paige, Dixon Il Co. s
mill, where it stranded. The stay there
" as short. The Evansville had heard
the cries Tor help, and it left Rock Island
on its errand OF .uccor. In abouttwenty
| minutes il came upOn the stranded barge
and rescued it's twelve passengers
from their situation, CARRYING them back
! to Rock Island. Besides the twelve
saved on the barge there were five
picked up on the Iowa shore who had
! clung TO the wreck, one a woman, who
Displayed Remarkable Pluck.
! The following is list OF the saved so
| lar rs known: Passengers, J. II. NAYS,
! Mrs. Vert, c. Il Davenport, Thomas
| Harts, J. McCleland, w. u. Skelton.
Crew-Billy Brown, John Moss, John
! Thurber. clerk. John Gilchrist, Captain
| parranse anu Herr, pilot, two engi-
| neprs and three more OF the crew were
seen in the ca6i".
When the danger became apparent
| Mr.. Skelton aud Clerk SChuler triei to
ret the passengers down to the barge.
| The four women were in the cabin in a
slate Ui lplvssneSs, doing nothing,
saying nothing, evidently expecting
death, The gentlemen tried to entreat
and advise, but it wa useless No one
would sir, aud it seemed impossible to
get them or any Of the passengers 10
| mova. They were tod their only hope
! of safety lsv in getting aboard the barge,
| but they HnIid not stir. MIR. Skeit N
aud Mr.. Schuler shook them aud trlsi
! = DRAG thrm, b 4 il WAS useless. ani in
] despair they
LET. Them TO their Fac.
! The psac was evervwherr, and every
! eftO!t 10 overcome II proved fruit;sSs
| Tuere were seventeen lost. /: is row
impossible 10 give their names. The
steamer had in tow one barge anil Que
| tiat boat Thc hlt boat was being
pushed at the bow OF the steamer, and
the barge was fastened to the port side
| There seams 10 be no doubt that the
steamer Was totally unit for the work.
| Shs was too heavily foa'i Il. aud most OF
] the crew wers drunk The boat was
merely freight boIt, Gn! waS not IL
! cansed to Cary passengers The acci.
dent was rn;iryly Jue 10 rareleSsness
and liquor. There waS u good deal of
whisky in the cargo, and some Of it was
/ tapped before starting.
II is impoSsiblt at ibis time 10 give a
: "a list ct tho killed ia the accident
! as no register va, kr,,t OF those on
board the steamer rh0Se known ta
be the Lost are: Passengers j Souber,
Wm. Wandt shi daughter, Nrs.
James Ire, o.. MIss Sadie TEN.
pc ani ipar uakuoSn. C.ew
James Sanford, fireman, J. 3.
| n, -.---a n : uy