Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-28
kilograms to The Star.
AWFUL SCENE NTHE MISSISSIPPI.
Nearly 20 Lives Lost on a Steamer.
FRENCH GUESTS CAPTURE BUFFALO BILL.
Terrible Disaster on the Mississippi
River.
A DISABLED STEAMBOAT HURLED AGAINST A BRIDGE
ABUTMENT-GREAT LOSS OF LIFE

Es
NEW YORK, October ga Herald special from
Davenport, Iowa, furnishes the following: 'sThe
steamer Gilchrist left this point about 10 30 O'Clock
bound for all points up the river, loaded with a
large and valuable cargo OF miscellaneous freight,
and carrying in her cabins full list Of passen
gers. When the steamer had passed under the
government bridge spanding the Mississippi and
connecting the cities of Davenport and Rock Is
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 current is consequently unusually rapid.
SO When the GichriSt had no longer her machinery
TO t, keep her bow up stream, the swiftly running
rapid and appalling rate. Being so near the
bridge, the steamer was thrown with tremendous
and reSistleSs force against one of the abutments
AS the Gilchrist came in collision with the enor-
nous mass OF stone she careened, 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 fhe steam in
the boilers, it poured out in huge volumes and en-
velOped the helpless crew and passengers who
were wildly endeavoring to secure 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 began sinking, in
which condition she was carried past and below
this CITY, the shrieks and cries help uttered by
the frenZted victims being distinctly audible to
the large crowd OF citizens who soon thronged the
bank, but they could extend no assistance as the
steamer was hurled past their eyes by the turbu-
lent 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 fort
night, SO there was no means of speedily reaching
the sinking steamer. The other steamers lying at
the bank Immediately went to her assistance, and as
! write these hurried lines are actively at work
searching for survivors.
ONLY EIGHT SAVED OUT OF THIRTY-EIGHT.
I learn that there were on board q passengers,
OF whom were females, and crew OF IS. Only
eight persons have been saved far, and of these
some are very badly scalded. Three OF the lady
passengers are known to have been killed
scalded to death The city is in great excitement
and everything possible is being done to relieve the
untortunates. There is but little hope that any
more can be saved. The boat is said to have been
In bad condition, and was considered unsafe
by many of the crew.
Rock ISLAND, Ills, October S.-The following
additional particulars OF the disaster to the steam
boat Jennie Gilchrist are received: When the dam
ger became apparent Mr. A. Kelton at once
rushed into the cabin, telling the passengers OF
them to take refuge on the barge. He not notied @ the
pilot, who exclaimed, ''Why don't they do some
h For sod sake 90 blew
left his wheel giving 1t turn for port, and made
break for the barge, crying he went down stairs
In the cabin everybody was frantic; the women
were crying and the men were about useless
The crew. with the exception OF Pilot Derrand, the
clerk, engineers and fremen, are reported to have
been drunk and terror-stricken the others AS
the steamer drfted down upon the pier, she partly
striking it just aft the boiler. Eight persons had
taken refuge on the barge, and as it swung around
to the left OF the pier they cast OH the stern end
the fat ahead, and when 1t was cast off the fiat
swung to the right. She hit a little aft of the
boiler heads and broke them in, causing rush OF
Sca1d1ng steam, nearly snffocating those On the
barge whose only hope OF escape was in lying
down on the deck. In the cabin OF the boat they
could hear the cries and means OF the fated paSsen
gers who had remained there, while the crew in the
forecastle were appealing loudly for help. The
barge drted of to the left followed by the boat,
and the fiat following it. Near Paige, Dixon q
Co.'s mill it stranded. The Evansville had heard
the cries for help and put out from Rock Island to
the rescue. In about 20 minutes it came upon the
stranded barge and rescued from their
perilous situation, carrying them back to Rock Is
land. Besides the twelve saved on the barge there
were five picked up on the Iowa shore who had
clung to the wreck. one being woman who had
displayed remarkable pluck. The following is a
list of the saved as far as known: Passengers[
II. Ways, Mrs. Went, c. B. Davenport, Thomas
Harts, r. McClelland, W. G. Skelton. Crew-Biiiy
christ; captain Mr.. Derrand, and Herr pilot; two
engineers and three more of the crew were also
rescued. Other passengers might have been saved
If they had yielded to the entreaties Of the more
cOOl-headed who went among them before the
steamer struck the pier and urged them to get on
board the barge. The latter even tried to drag
them from the cabin, but they were so terror
stricken and powerleSS that they could make no
effort to save themselves.
THERE WE'RE SEVENTEEN PERSONS IN ALL LOST,
and at this writing it is impossible to give their
names. The steamer had in tow one barge and
one fiat boat. The latter was being pushed at the
bow OF the steamer while the barge was fastened
to the port SIDE There seems to be no doubt that
the steamer was totally unit for the work eX-
pected from her. She was heavily laden, and most
OF the crew were drunk. Furthermore, she was
merely a freight boat and not licensed to carry
passengers. The accident was entirely due to
carelessness and liquor. There was good deal of
whisky in the cargo, and some of it was tapped
before the steamer left the wharf.
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