Morris tribune., 1884-09-03
THE RIVER DISASTER.
Particulars of the Sinking of the
Steamer Belmont.
Struck by a Tornado She Capsizes-
Fourteen Persons Drowned
Effects of tho Storm at
Evansville.

SVOIln NlSlIel lulS pOiIloll Vi " ohlo AAfoi
valley III the morning, during which the
steamer Belmont the transfer boat between
this city and Henderson, KY, was entirely
destroyed carrying down to watery grave
some twelve or fifteen persons. The steamer
left this city at o'clock, having number
of passengers on board, also towing barge
containing two passenger coaches for the
Louisville q Nashville road, containing about
sixty passengers. Those i'll the cars were mostly
through passengers, while those on the boat
were nearly all Evansville people. When
about five miles below the city the storm,
which came on very suddenly, struck the
boat, but she bravely weathered the fury OF
rain and wind, the pilot being able to hold her
IN the channel The boat ran about four or
five miles during the storm, aud was
about three miles from Henderson,
just above Towhead island when the
fury of the storm capsized her, breaking
her loose from the barge. The steamer was
blown clear over bottom-side up, and went
down in two minutes after. The startling
suddenness of the accident prevented those
on board from any opportunity to get on the
barge. The water came down in perfect
sheets, and the combined power Of rain and
wind was irresistible. When the boat went
down all those in the cabin was drowned
NAMES OF THE VICTIMS.
The lost are Mrs. NJ. S. Lyon, of Evans
vile, and her two daughters, Miss Laura
Lyon and Mrs Sallie Bryan, who were en-
route to Madisonville, KY: E. c. Roach, o
merchant of Evansville and, and his son,
Keen Roach, years old; Capt John H.
Smith, master Of the steamer Belmont, also
of Evansville Mrs. Addie Murray and
child, Of Brookville, Ala; Mrs.
Wookville, of Henderson, KY; Alice
Bell (colOreD of Evansville; also two
other colored women from Evansville, names
unknown. 1t is also supposed that gentle
man named Pfifer, with his wife, were lost
They had been visiting Jacob Kuhn, of this
city, salesman for MacEey, Neshet & Co.,
and went on the Belmont at the city wharf
They reside in New Orleans.
The barge containing the railroad cars was
blown over to the Kentucky shore, and all
those on board were saved.
SURVIVORS STATEMENTS.
The special train from Henderson bearing
survivors of the boat disaster was delayed
by wreck, and did not arrive until 10
o'clock. Deputy Pierce, of the Adams Ex-
press company, was passenger, leaving
Evansville at 7:50 a. m. The weather was
then perfectly calm. The steamer had been
out only a short time when heavy
gale came up. He says: "My-
self and daughter remained on the
barge A black, funnel-shaped cloud came up
from the northwest and the wind was terri
BILE, striking the steamer and turning it. The
pilot tried to make for shore, but the boat
was sunmanageable. The wind struck the boat
full in the side, breaking her fastenings to
the barge, and she sank, at the same time
turning over and evidently springing leak.
A young married woman and child just
before the storm struck us went over to the
boat and were last seen in the cabin.
Her valse was marked J. G. Murray, and
she was from st. Louis on her way to Nash
ville Two dru1nmers and three of the boats
crew slid to the upper side Of the steamer
got on its bottom, and were rescued by q
skiff. Our barge was blown to the Kentucky
shore, three miles north of Henderson, and
was made fast to the Shore Conductor
Charles Wood did all in his power to save
the passengers. Wood went to the shore and
walked to Henderson through the storm in
order to get relief"
Matt Bradley, chief train-dispatcher Of the
Louisville road, was on the steamer when it
was struck by the cyclone. The Belmont
was towing the barge with two passenger
coaches, the express, mail, and three freight
cars. The steamer commenced rocking and
straining. The pilots tried to keep her in the
channel. A panic seized the passengers, but
the steamer stood the gale for half an hour.
] went on the barge, when suddenly there
was a jerk, and the hawser broke. The
smoke-stack Of the Belmont came
rattling down. The steamer gave a
convulsive shock and keeled over. A
drummer, just before the upset, jumped In
the river and swan ashore Passengers on
the cars ON the barge took the matter coolly,
but to those on board the steamer the scene
was most heartrending. The five women
were shrieking and appealing for some one
to save them. Excited men besieged Capt
Smith, begging him to do this and that He
remained cool, however, and counseled all
to remain calm, and although he lost his own
life he saved many of the passengers. The
storm lasted only forty minutes. The rain
poured in torrents, and the wind was the
strongest ever felt by those who export
enced it.
EFFECT OF THE STORM IN EVANSVILLE.
The storm in Evansville caused immense
damage Hundreds Of houses were injured,
roofs torn off, walls blown down, and hun
dreds of shade trees destroyed. Several were
injured by flying timbers, and a negro was
killed below town by being struck by fall
ing wall. Much damage to crops
is reported. Among the heaviest
losers are the following: J. H.
Rockers building was unroofed and
the walls blown down; loss of So, 900. The
Evansville cotton mill roof was torn off and
machinery damaged by water. The Evans
vile wooien mill roof was blown off and
machinery flooded; loss, $4,000. The Evans
vile coffin works roof was ruined; loss, 81, 900.
The steamer Josh V. Throop's chimney were
blown down, and she was otherwise damaged, ,
loss, 81 200. The Canal street school house.
a new building in course of erection, had its
walls blown down; damage, $4,000. st.
Johns Evangelical Lutheran church
steepIe was blown down; loss $4,000. R.
Smith, undertaken building destroyed; loss,
$4,000 L, w. Venemann's transfer stables,
walls blown down and roof fallen in; loss,
$1,000 George He'll & Co., feed and agri-
cultural implements, building blown down
and machinery destroyed; loss $4,000. C. w.
Ossenburg, grocery and residence, roof off
s4dv and walls R blown down loss 81 ooe GO "A Arm
terror flooded; loss, $4,000. The round
house at the Louisville & Nashville depot
is total wreck. The roof was blown
off and walls crushed in, covering four loco
motives with brick, mortar and other debris.
Charles Su1sa, the engineer of No s35, had
an arm broken in two places. Dick Stark,
his fireman, was also slightly injured The
loss by the destruction Of the round-house
and the repair of engines is placed at $1,000.
Telephone and telegraph wires were blown
down in all directions. Cavenders livery
stable is total wreck, loss, 81 200 Broz e
Arnold's fiouring-mill, roof carried away,
tirnbers broken and, walls cracked; loss
heavy. Hudspeth & Curtis Beehive store,
roof off and stores flooded; loss heavy. A
full description of losses would fill columns.
Those given are the principal ones only.