Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-28
the EMMA GRAHAM SUNK.
She Strikes a Barge and Goes
Down in Five Minutes.
FIREMAN MILO COOPER DROWNED.
What Might Have Been a Frighttul Ca
lamity Prevented by Goodness
and Skill.
Special 10 the RegiSseJ.

PARKERsBUaG, November T.--Last
night, about $50 o'clock, while backing
out from Ripley Landing, ffty-tWo miles
below here, on the West Virginia side, the
steamer Emma Graham struck loaded
barge and sunk in less than FIVE minutes
From Captain John Brookbart, Of tht
Harry D. Knox, the following particulars
were obtained: 1t seems that the head o.
the barge mentioned was lying swung out
some distance from the shore by the head
line, and the danger signal light
instead of being on the head Of the barge
had been carelessly placed on the inside
stern corner Of the barge, and the night
being very dark the position of the barge
was not understood BY the pilot at the
wheel. Capt. E. B. Cooper in command
and one Of the owners were on the roof at
the time, end Will Brookhart, one ofthe most
skillful pilots on the river was at the wheel
The illfated steamer struck the barge or
her stsrboard side we'll aft, knocking
LARGE HOLE IN HER HULL
and disabled the rudder 30 that the pilot
was powerless, aud the boat wac at the
mercy of the current, which at this point
is quite swift. A look into the hold dis
closed that the water was rushing in at @
fearful rate, and while it was found impog
sible TO land her on the Virginia
shore, the pilot held the wheel down
hard 10 the larboard, it being his
aim to run her on the Ripley bar when the
water was shallow, and fortunately, owing
to the course of the boat when tie rudder
fculed, hs succeeded in holding her in that
wsy until she struck the bottom. A few
feet more or less the water was deep
enough to have reached her texas.
4 FATALITY.
When the hold was about two.thirds
filed with water the boat careened to one
side and deluge of water swept
her lower deck, carrying overheard
the mate. one deck hand and fireman, the
latter, Milo Cooper (colored), of Belpre,
O., was drowned, but the others were
picked up in yawl. The presence Of
mind of Cspt. Cooper, Clerk AL. SIaven
and other officers Of the boat prevented
what would have otherwise been q panic
amongst the passengers, al! of whom re-
mained on the boat until she sunk. When
the boat careened, her chimneys went over
board and she righted at once. and but for
the fortunate fall of the smoke stacks we
would have had a trightful calamity to
chronicle, as the boat would have turned
entirely over, and loss of life could
not have been prevented. James
Chamberlain, the engineer, stood at his post
until the water drove him out Of the engine
room, and Will Brookhart, the heroic pilot
ut the wheel, did not leave it until the
unfortunate craft rested on the bottom Of
the Ohio, where she now lies directly
across the channel, with the water within
a few inches Of her boiler deck. The cargo
will prove nearly total loss; oil the
freight on the lower deck that would float
has been carried away by the current and
most Of the balance will be ruined by the
water. The boat was insured for five or
six thousand dollars in Pittsburg agencies.
Captain Cooper this morning protested
against the boats liability !o- the cargo
lest. The protest was made at Ravens
wood. The boat is owned by Capt. Z. B
Cooper and A. ]. Slaven, of this city, and
Reese Brothers, of Piltsburg, and was
valued at about $4,000. The passengers
on board at the time OF the accident num-
bered about twenty-five, principally male,
Baggage all saved.