The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-29
A RIVER DISASTER
MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT WRECKED.
ssrsntssl Persons Lost, All On Asssuat Of Care
lss.nsa and Whilky-A DFvlisa Crew and
Incapable OHlssn = Passenger PaHls
stricken and Dumb With Fear.

Incapable uhlean = FAAtpSeH FAAt
stricken and Dunb With Pear.
Chicago, October 2S,-Iniormation hai
just been received from Davenport, H., o.
the loss OF the steamer Jennie Gilchrist
Particulars will be sent later
Rock Island, ILL.,, October 2S.-The
Argm gives the following account Of the
disaster to the Jennie GilchHst in this
evenings edition; A little after 10 o'clock
the Jennie Gilchrist left Rock Island with
thirteen passengers and sixteen men OF q
crew aboard. 1t passed through the bridge
and got about half mile above it, when
ut 1880 the engineer discovered that the
cam rod, which is used to reverse the
Wheel was broken, and the boat at once
began drifting rapidly down stream.
rE-t THE SWOLLEN RIVER
gave the current additional force and
swiftly the boat went down 70 her des-
truction. When the threatening danger be-
came apparent Mr.. skelton at once rushed
into the cabin letting the passengers know
OF the accident which had happened, and
urging them to take refuge on the barge.
lie notified the pilot Of what had happened,
who exClaiming, "Why don't they do
something, for Gods sake do something"
blew his whistle for danger. The pilot
then left his wheel, giving II turn for
port, and made tack for the barge, crying
as he went down the stairs, "Save your
selves,
"sIIE Is GOING TO STRIKE"
the bridge. In the cabin everybody were
frantic; women were crying and the men
were about us useless, No one seemed to
have any idea Us to what to do. The crew,
with the exception OF Pilot Dorrand, the
clerk, engineer and fireman, are reported
to have been drunk, and az terror stricken
Ms the Others As the steamer drifted down
upon the pier, urged on blythe swollen cur.
rent, she partly turned up and presented
her starboard side to the obstructing pier,
striking 1t Just aft Of the boilers Eight
persons had taken refuge on the barge, and
us 1t swung around To the lett-Ot the pier
they cast of the stern end and spring lines.
The bow line was fastened to the fiat
ahead, and when It was Gust off the flat
swung to the right and the line went out
with rush. A negro named Jim Smalley
was at that moment climbing over tho bow
OF the barge, and the line being betEeen
his le.s he was whirlsd overheard. tSkeltOn
grabbed him by the trousers and hauled
aboard very astonished and highly graft
fled negro. When the Jennie struck the
the bridge she hit q little aft Of the boiler
heads and broke them In.
STEAM BEGAN TO RUSH OuT
and for moment the prospect Of being
scalded 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 suifocating
them so that their only chance to breathe
was by laying down and putting their
mouths 10 the holes in the deck. In the
cabin Of the boat they could hear the cries
and noans OF the fated passengers who had
staid there; while the crew on the fore
castle were appealing loudly for help. They
could not be seen and ut that time no help
could be given. The barge drifted off to
the left followed by the boat and the flat
following it. After the bridge was passed
THE WORK or RIScUlNG
those on the boat began. First the engi.
nGer was pulled board, then the clerk and
one negro. They had tried to reach the
large before striking the bridge, but failed
and falling in the water had jdrifted along
side The barge until they were rescued,
The wind carried the barge over toward
the Davenport shore, and In the course Of
a short time they driited down on to the
Island, outside Of Paige, Dixon 4 Co.'s mill,
where 1t stranded. The stay there waS
short. The Evansville had heard the cries
of help and II left Rock Island on Its errand
OF succor. In about twenty minutes II
came upon the stranded barge and rescued
lis twelve passengers from their situation
carrying them back to Rock Island. Be-
sides the twelve saved on the barge there
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 ofthe saved, 40 fat
known, of the passengers: j. II. Mays,
Mrs. West, G. B. Davenport, Thomas Harts,
]. McC ICELAND, and W. G. SHELTON. Grew
Billy Brown, John Moss, John Thurber,
Clerk John GilChrist Captain DorranCe,
and Herr, pilot; two engineers and three
moro OF the crew were seen in the cabin.
WHEN THE DANGER DEcAME ArrARENT
Mr.. Skelton and Sliuber tried to get the
passengers down 70 lhe pafgc. inc lour
women welE Ja;n. ~ r notS;ns m saS;nS nn,h;np S
lesshe .sIU uU o1nSo,;uu dns,, '" rbe ,,ortIo,aa I
eGiu1y N,O1 Nv yispei THi5 an5 aJo;so tnt t.as ,,sa,
lcu ~ no ,o,Ia III. o,,d III Il .oo,,,ai m o ;,,,
iess. w. ~ o,o nv, ,Son nv sHv @ ~ ,Lo nosSnH
posS,p'e y. ,,ovS " s 'TL"v ,Yoro ,oid %ot 1Io;.
gets - .noi oie y. sototv ,sS I, s,ot,;.o sba",d |
only nope m, I 't ,toy ~" or,d II seu nnt s,;s o H.
SLotlnrs Ie parse srJ S Nr SIuSSr shnol tSetn Ran ari @
,ried ~ Iroa them int Il wSS ] ,,Se,ess assn and lin IN
'iauts eu ~ IhaS IN ihon ~ JIa;s a. "T Ttha n
despair .ey Icy .em % tLelF ate; Inc
pac M'SeSu n fr,,tih. iTES.e etV, ,, 'oovs.