Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-11-04
AN APPALLING CALAMITY.

The Recent Terrible Accident 20 the
steamer GilchrIst ON the nrIsstsaippt
River at Rock Island several Lives
Lost. ''0'Ytep yfs#4 H.t IH 'fHNH q
A Davenport Uowa) special OF the 2sth
20 the Chicago Tmos gives tho following
particulars OF the recent terrible accident
on the river near the former city;
A terrible and most hcartrendlng accident
occurred IN the Mississippi River, near this
city, last night, which resulted In great loss
OF life. II appears that the steamer Gil
christ left this point about f0:30 O'Clock, in
apparently good trim and condition, bound
for all points mp the river, loaded with 0
large and valuable cargo OF miscellaneous
freight and carrying In her cabins n full list
OF passengers. When the steamer had
passed under the Government bridge SPAN
ming the Mississippi, and connecting tho
cities OF Davenport and Rock Island. the
cam-rods OF the engine suddenly gave way,
causing the entire machinery to become un.
manageable and useless.
The river Just now Is very high, owing TO
the recent and extensive floods, and the cur
rent Is consequently unusually rapid, so
when the steamer Gllchrist had no longer
her machinery to keep her bow UP stream
the swiftly-running river carried the help
less vessel down stream at rapid and ap-
palling rate. Being so near the bridge the
steamer was thrown with tremendous and
resistless force against one Of the abut-
ments. As the Gilchrist came in collision
with the enormous mass OF stone she ca
reened, causing the weights on the safety
valves OF the steam chest to break from
their fastenings and slide off. The valves
no longer holding check on the steam in
the boilers, 1t poured out in huge volumes
and cnveloped the hapless crew ard passen-
gers, who were wildly endeayorng TO Sc
cure life-preservers In the main saloon,
and scalded many Of them In an awful
manner.
No sooner had the steamer rebounded
from the shock Of the collision than she be-
gan sinking, in which condition she was
carried past and below this city, the shrieks
and cries for help uttered by the frenzied
victims being distinctly audible by large
crowds Of citizens who soon thronged the
banks, but they could extend no assistance,
as the steamer was hurled past their eyes
by the turbulent river. All of the small
boats and skiffs usually numerous on the
river had been drawn ashore and laid away
for the winter and to escape the floods which
have prevailed all along the course of the
Mississippi River for nearly q fortnight, so
there was no means OF speedily reaching the
sinking steamer or the men, women and
children who were doubtless strug-
Cling at that moment with the cur
rent. But the people on the land
did not stand supinely while their
fellows were perishing before their eyes, for
the other steamers that happened to be ly-
ing at the bank Immediately hastened into
motion, thronged by eager helpers, and all
hastened to the scene of the disaster, in
hopes Of rescuing at least some OF those
on board the Gilchrst As write these hur-
ried lines these steamers arc actively at
work searching for survivors. learn that
there were on board twenty-three passen-
gers, four of whom were females, and
crew of fifteen. Only eight persons have
been saved so far, and of these some are
very badly scalded. Three of the lady pas.
sengers are known to have been killed oil
scalded to death. The city is in great ex.
element, and everything possible is being
done to relieve the unfortunates. There Is
but little hope that any more can be saved.
The boat is said to have been in a bad con.
| dition, and was considered unsafe by many
| of the crew.
| One poor wretch at the police headquar-
ters is in awful agony, with the skin peeled
from his body, hanging in strips, simply
| parboiled. Another was crushed between
two timbers and so badly hurt that he can
hardly recover.
The boat was owned in Rapids City, Ill.,,
| and is total wreck. 1t was considered in
an unsafe condition by many of the crew.
Aweek ago yesterday nearly the same acci-
dent happened to it, but fortunately the
danger was averted. There is some talk OF
an official investigation, and no little in.
dignation is expressed against the owners.
| All the passengers were residents of this
neighborhood, and one or two were old and
| well-known citizens.