Crystal River current., 1886-10-16
A FRIGHJFUL ACCIDENT.

The Boiler of a Mississippi River Ste amer
Lt, Causir Grea at Loss of Life.
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, October 6.-No
cause is assigned as yet for the explosion last
evening Of the boiler OF the river steamer La
Mascotte, which caused such great loss Of life.
The boat Is said to have been steamipg along
under $50 pounds of steam, her usual amount
to carry, when the explosion suddenly oc-
CURED, blowing the fire in every direction.
The utmost confusion prevailed. The pilot
taking advantage Of her heading, turned her
towards the shore, but the flames caused him
to abandon his post before the stage-plank
could be lowered. After leaving his post the
current turned the boats bow out into the
river again, and her stern swung close to the
bank, which afforded 3 means Of escape for
several who were at that end Of the boat, the
pilot and one cabin boy getting aehore without
any injuries or even wet feet. The stage plank
was lowered and many were placed upon 1t,
m ostly women and children, who would have
been saved had not the smoke-stack fallen
squarely across 1t, and all who were not killed
by It were drowned.
Captain Thompson, after doing all in his
power to save the passengers and crew, Jumped
overheard and swan ashore, the boat having
by this time drifted fully 200 yards out into
the river. La Msscotte drifted over to the I'LL
nois shore opposite Willard's Landing and
sank, the only thing visible at present being
her wheels.
]. 8. Hanion, the second pilot, says: 1.-THE
Eagle was near US when the disaster occurred
and she could have easily pushed us ashore
with out much trouble and danger, but un-
derstand the Captain did not care to render
any assistance. Adolphus Evelyns, the pilot
of the Eagle, told me that the Captain ordered
him not TO go near the Mascotte, as he did not
wish to endanger his boat II he would have
pushed US ashore not a single person would
have cbeen injured, except from scalds and
burns"
The wreck Of Is Mascotte resulted from .
collapse Of one of the boiler hues. The explo-
sion spent its force directly backward into the
engine room, and only the crew snd rousta-
steam. Eleven Of the latter were 80 terribly
burned that huge pieces Of flesh peeled from
their bodies. Six have died and the lives Of
the other five are despaired of. There are SIX
teen persons known to be drowned. D. 8.
Davidson is so badly burned around the face
and throat that he will probably die. The reg
lister Of passengers was lost and 1t is thought
that some were drowned or killed whose bodies
have not been recovered.
The total number on board as far as known
are: Passengers, 10; cabin crew, IS; deck
crew, %. Passengers rescued, s; drowned and
recovered, 8; missing, g.; cabin crew rescued
10; dead and missing, S; deck crew rescued
uninjured; 10; rescued burned, II missing, s.
Albert Rice one Of the roustabouts living
here, died this evening At the hospital, and two
more sre not expected to live until morning.
The crew on the Eagle - well as those who
were rescued from La Msscotte censure the
Captain Of the Eagle for not making greater
efforts to save the victims. Captain Thomp-
son Of La Mascotte and several Of the rescued
people state that the Captain of.the Eagle re-
fused, until he Captain Thompson) and hia
crew threatened to take charge Of his boat BY
force, to take the rescued and injured to this
city, where assistance could be rendered them,
but he said he would take them to Grand
Tower, where little II any aid could be given
them. After getting the injured aboard the
Eagle he locked the staterooms on his boat
and refused the use of Govern for the wounded