, 1881-11-05
A Span Worth S16O,OOO
Knocked Out of the
Bridge ut IkcOk,1l.
Several Lives Supposed to Have
Been Lost During the
Collision.
How the Boat Escaped the Fato Of
tho Jennie N1lctrist at ]lock
Island.
The Passengers Landed on the Bridge,
and the Broken Boat Moorod
Near By.

Near BY.
Another Bridge Dlsnator OH the Itls%la-
hippi River.
kEOKEK, ill.,. Nov. 4.-4At about o'ctnck
this evening. shrill and continued w,Estl'ng
at the Keokuk AMI Hamilton bridge, fol-
loweti' by tho ringing Of tlre-betls, drew
hundreds Gf people tn the levec,
to find that steailtbont-ltlnd Uf
passengers had mtraculousty escaped from
death. The imlatiat passcnger-pac'sct War
Eagle, III attempting to pass through the
draw, was batlled by the eddie3 aud cross-
currents md SWING arountl against the
bridge, breaking out olo span anu cntutlng
y 1oss OF s11o000 TO THE nJt1nnE.
tho disaster. Several lives arc supposed to
have beell lost, but names could hot bu
learned.
Eptl Gregg, head clerk Of tho War Eagle.
made tho following statement to Gate City
Representatives: "Capt, Jerry Wood was Iii
cosnmand. Will. Hiram Dcadlc and William
Tlbb!es pilots, both being In tho pilot.
house, though It was 1}eadle's
watch. l Ind lust cateu supper, anu
went back Into the cabin tn talk to
some .ntlies with whom wus acquainted.
l. heard the whistle blow for the bridge,
and heard tho bells ring to check her head
way. knowing tint it was customary to drop
Inside the long pler, felt no uneaslness
until
1iEA1lD THE ALARM WHISTLE t,Low
TWICE,
which meant to back her strong. About
that time William holmes, third clerk, came
through the cablr, Which was almost de-
surted, there being only ten or twelve laties
In the cabin ut the time. the remainder being
on the outside looking Mt tho bridge. liz
threw up Ills hand and passed out
Mt the starboard gangwuy. 1 paid no
Intention to It, knowing Tint Iic was alarmed
easily when passing through, Tho draw Of
bridges, but ln few moments 1le returned!
and throw up his hnnd ngain. then cx-
cusod myself hnrtteuly ntltl went to him,
nnd oil reaching ll,n lie threw up his llauds
mud said:
SltE8 GONE THIS TIME.
I ran out the larboartl gatlgway ol, to the
larbonrl gnnrl, forward Ut the barbcr shop,
and saw tint wo were broa.lside tu the
brIdgp. aild that the bout was bucking
a,,d threw mp bot1, hands to give tho
alarhl. caught hold oi oue lady a1lt crled
ont to the rest to follow me, US the bout WIS
guing to strike tito bridge. We MI passed
ont the after door OH to the starboarJ guard,
reaching there just III
THE CRASH OF THE COLLISION
Of the boat against tho bridge came. 1 kept
calling to TIC passengers, who seemed be-
w[llcrctl, to gut out OIL the hurricane deck.
They dill not seem to understand. led the
way mid they followed will. several Mtlics
cllnglnE to me. As souM as tho boat struck
tile bridge, the spun gayo WAY quickly, with
n fearful crasll, and | felt considerably re-
lievetl, knowing we'll that tho CHANCES for say-
ing life would now bo much battur. looked
forward and saw that slle was leanlng OH the
west pier, l,cr stern having cleared the cast
licr, wlere tlle break In tho bridge occur
red, and saw the people
CLIMBING FROM THE noAr
onto the bridge. took ono lady. and the
rest followed. 1 told them to como, aud wo
would all gut onto the bridge. l rnn for
ward Oil the larboard side. down tho
steps. abreast Of. tho smokcstacks, md
assisted In passing the passengers out upon
the bridge, until the boat swllng of, onu
lady refusing to 20. Seeing that Il greater
part Of the passengers lad escaped and
were safe, the Second Clerk, Alex ltobtnson,
anl myself determined to stay will, tho bout.
In very short time slia swung clear Of the
bridge, mud we went down on the lower
deck to sec II she was making water or not.
BosE ONE HAD HEN DOWN IN THE Ilo1t,,
and reported tllat she was making water, but
not very fast, went upstairs alsd qutetc.l
tbs fears Of the few rematnlng In.
dies on the hoat, nlnl got nll
forward so tllat in case the
boat went down, we could get them of with
out tmuch trouble. She then foated witt, tho
current, and rounded to l!en.l down stream
to point few hundred yards
below tho elevator, where, with the mid OF
one wheel mud the assistance Of parties who
cane in a skin aud took linc ashore, she
was mnde fast,
NESTING ON TIE 11A11AOAn TRACK,
which Is covered will, water, tho river, on
the outside being about fifteen feet deup.
Tho dredge-bout w. ID. Suith canla down
and held her stern III until she was securely
fastened. There being ono wheel entirely
Rono, was afraid ii sllu swung oil sl,u
would topple oyer.
Investigating tho &llHhrtaa Steamboat
Nisus&er At Rock Island.
Rock ISLAND, ILL.,, Nov. Ain the Gil
christ Inquest today Dana Dorrance. the pltot
and Cdptain, said the boat ,ad passyd through!
the bridge all right, but stoppe4 whcn about
600 feet above. lIo asked through the speak.
lng.tube wl,at the snatter was but got llo. IT.
ply he could understand. thought ho hGag&i
"All rikht In half a minute" lle tteaue.!
tile boat for tte island shore to got out Of tho
t.,tt f11a h.,hf &nus ns1