Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-10-14
TIE Ia MAscorr pIsAsrnR.
The Cause Of the Explosion noe
Known The Story ~ told BY one
Of the Ofnoers.


ST. LOUIS, Oct. 6.-No cause Is =.
signed as yet for the explosion last even.
ing OF the boiler on the river steamer Il
Mascotte, which caused such great ioss
Of life. The boat is said to have been
stcaming along under $50 pounds Of
steam, her usual amount /, carry, when
the explosion suddenly occurred, blowing
fire in every direction. The utmost ccn-
fusion prevailed. The pilot taking ad-
vantage Of her heading turned her TO-
ward the shore, but tho flames caused
him to abandon his post before the stags
planks could be lowered. After leaving
his post the current turned the boat
around into the river again, aud her
stern swinging close to the bank which
afforded means Of escape for several Who
were at that end Of the boat, the pilot
and one cabin boy getting ASHORE without
any Injury or vet feet. The stage plank
was lowered and many placed upon Il;
mostly women and children, Who would
have been saved had not the smoke stack
fallen squarely across II. All Who wsrSI
not killed BY il werc drowned. Captain
Tompson, after doing al in his power to
| SAVE THE PASSENGERS
| And crew jumped overheard and swami
ashore, the boat having BY this timd
drifted fully two hundred feet into the
river.
| The La Moscotte driftcd over to The
Illinois shore, opposite Willard's landing;
and sank, the only thing visible at pre-.
sent being her wheel. Leo Brain, second
cook, tells the following story Of tho
disaster: 1--WE had landed 1t Neely's
and were pulling out aud I walked up
stairs and into my room when heard !
small explosion like that Of a sky rocket
and opened the door Of the cabin and
saw stesm coming into it from the barber
shop. l saw ladies in their cabin and
called to them to come forward. I Nv
the fire coming from under the boiler
deck and took the ladies' forward md
started down stairs where Piloe Gear
4 gave life prcservcrs to them, telling thsni
to put them on at once. / ordered the
stage plank thrown overheard, which
was promptly dorc, and we put al the
ladies on the plank. The rigging broke
and the planks swung out. Mrs. Ii
Leimers
JUMPED INTO MY ARMS.
: And landed her on the stage while
a was thrown into the river myself.
swan alongside Of the stage and made
, the men get off 50 il could bear up the
e ladies' / then swan to ledge Of rockl
3 aud crawled ashore. A man from thu
. Illinois with skiff took the people Of
/, the stage and alto saved number thai
D were swimming. don't secalkct tho
! skiff mans name, but he did nshls work. "
p j. J. Hamlan, second pilot, says:
"The Eagle was near US when tho dis.
0 aster occurred and could have easily
. pushed US ashore without much trouble
a or danger, but understand the captain
e didn't care to render my assistance
G Adolphus Evelyn, the piId Of the Eagle
told me that tho captain ordered him
i not to 60 near the La Mascot ~ he
didn't wish 10 endangerh his boat. II BIZ
S would only have pushed us ashore not ,
single person would have been injured
g except from scalds aud burns"
e LArER-.The wreck resulted from tht
collapse Of the boiler dues.