Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-28

quarter OF million OF dollars. Ii is par.
italy insured.
Another Steamboat Horror.
Rock ISLAND Ill J, October 27th.-A lit
tie after 10 o'clock tonight the steamer
Jennie Gilchrist left Rock Island with thir-
teen passengers and sixteen men Of the crew
aboard. 1t passed through the bridge and
got about half mile above it, when at 1890
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. The swollen river
gave the current additional force. and swiftly
the craft went down to destruction. When
the threatening danger became apparent, Mr..
SHELTON at once rushed into the cabin, telling
the passengers Of the accident which had
happened, and urging them at once to take
refuge on the barge. He notified the pilot
Of what had happened. who, exclaim-
ing, Why don't they do something? For
Gods cake, do something p and blew the
whistle for danger. The pilot then
left his wheel, giving it a turn for port, and
made tracks for the barge, crying as he went
down stairs, Save yourselves. She is going
to strike the bridget" In the cabin every
body was frantic. Women were crying and
men were about as useless. No one seemed to
have any idea Of what to do. The crew,
with the exception OF the pilot, errand clerk
and the engineers and fremen, are reported
to have been drunk and as terror-stricken.
She drifted upon the pier, and, urged on by
the swollen current, she partly turned and
presented her starboard side to the OBJ
structing pier, striking it just aft of the
boiler. Eight persons had taken refuge
on the barge, ana 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 fiat ahead; and when it
was cast eff the fiat swung to the right
and the line went out with rush. A
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, but Skel.
ton grabbed him by the trousers and landed
him aboard, very astonished but highly
grateful negro. When the Jennie struck
the bridge she hit a little aft of
the boiler heads and broke them in.
At once steam began to rush out,
and for q moment the prospect of being
scalded was added to that of being drowned.
The scene at that barge was terrific. The
only chance to breathe was by laying
down and putting their mouths to the holes
in the deck. La the cabin they could
hear the cries and means of the fated passsn-
gers, who had stood 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 drifted
off to the left, followed by the boat, and the
Aas following it. After the bridge was passed
the work of rescuing those on the boat began
First the engineer was pulled aboard, then
the clerk and one negro. They tried to
reach the barge before striking the bridge,
but failed, and falling in the water, had
drifted alongside the barge and they were
rescued. The wind carried the barge
over toward the Davenport shore, aud
in the course of short time they
drifted down into the island outside OF Paige,
Dixon & Co.'s mill, where it stranded The
stay there was short. The Evansville had
heard the cries for help, and left
Rock Island on its errand Of succor
In about twenty minutes it came upon the
stranded barge and rescued its twelve pas
sengers frora 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 chung
to the wreck-one, woman, who had dis
played remarkable pluck in the cabin when
the danger became apparent. MIR. Shelton
and clerk Schuler tried to get the passengers
down to the barge. The four women were
in the cabin in state of pure helpless
ness. evidently expecting death. The gentle
men tried entreaty and advice, but they were
useless An effort to overcome it proved
fruitless. There were seventeen lost. 1t is
now impossible to give their names.
Steamer sunk with All on Board.
DAVENPORT (Ia), October 2Sth--A. M