Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-09
La MASCOTTE DISASTER.
Tho Verdict OF the Coroner's Jury Censur
ing the Captain OF the Eagle.

Eho verdict OF the Coroners Jury Censur-
ing the Captain OF the Eagle.
ST. LOUIS, October s.-The following
deaths occurred yesterday among those
injured in the La MaSeotte disaster, max
ing the total number of deaths thirty:
Marshal Wade, colOred, of Walnut Hill,
Tenn; Albert Rice, eolOred, of Cape
Michael; NJ. G. Sherrer, of Cincinnati,
Ohio; Levi Chatham, eolored, of Paducah,
Ky. George L. Davidson, the boat car
penter, is in very preeariOus condition
and is not expected to live. The Coroner
resumed his Investigation into the
cause Of the deaths resulting
from the accident. AdOlph Evelyn
pilot of the Eagle testified that he noticed
the explosion OF LaAIascotte, but hearing
no signal, supposed that the boat was not
in distress. When he saw that she was on
fire, however, he ordered the deck hands
to lower a skiff and the yawl. They did
50 and aided in the rescue of passengers
and crew. The captain of the Eagle ap-
peared on deck about this time and seemed
provoked that he (the pilot had ordered
the boats lowered. The Eagle then ran
ashore and took on board all those who
had escaped from the burning boat
Captain G. Z. Brough, of the Eagle tes-
titles that he was pOwerleSS to render any
assistance to the La Mascotte, for his own
boat would certainly have caught tire II
he had attempted to push the burning
boat ashore, as the yawl and skif' had al
ready been lowered when he came on deck,
and were reScuing the drowning paSSen-
gers and members Of the crew. lie did
all in his power to alleviate the sulferlngs
of the injured after they had been brought
aboard the Eagle. Several of the Ia
Mascotte testified that Captain Thompson,
Master of the Ia MascOtte was the
last one To leave and that he did
all in his power to save the boat,
and her crew and passengers. They all
agreed that the Eagle cOuld have pushed
the La MascOtte ashore without endan-
gcring herself. Capt. Thompson testified,
rs soon rs he knew the boat was on fire he
searched the upper and lower decks for his
crew and deck hands but all of them
had been too severely injured to render
any assistance in extinguishing the live or
had made their escape. Mr.. Gererean said
| me assisted the ladies to the stage and sup
piled them with life preseryers. He then
/ went back to the deck to take last look
and see if any one was left on the
[ boat and z say two coIOred
men horribly burned and scalded lying on
the forecaStle The flames were just about
| To devOur them. Ii would have been i'm
possible to rescue them. He then jumped
overheard and swan ashore and ran down
to where the Eagle hal landed, boarded
her, and repeatedly called upon her cap
tain to lower his life boat. Il told him,
continued Captain Thompson, THAT IT he
didn't do so | would report him. lie re-
piled that he had no crew. | saw at
that time 30 or II men on the lower deck.
tie finally lowered boat, some one was
IN il but had only one oar. IL came
ashore and was afterward taken back to
the boat. When the Eagle landed there
were pIsScngcrS from laAlOScOtte i'll the
river or on tine stage clingin% to 1t and
one or two clinging 10 q line on the bow
Of the boat The Eagle could have gone
close enough and sent a life boat even with
one oar 100 or POO feet and taken some Ol
the passengers oil, but Capt. Through re-
fused TO do this. His conduct though
was heartless in the extreme he seemed To-
tally indifferent to the condition OF the dy-
ing and drowning victims. When called
on he repeatedly said he wanted TO 90 to
Grand Tower, and said he WAS run
ming that boat, and too many wanted
to have n say in running her. L told
him had something to say, and that II 1t
WAS money he wanted he could have that
[ tried all but two or three Of the doors OF
state rooms ON his boat, and they were all
locked, from what | saw. The captain OF
the Eagle rendersd no assistance what
ever, except to bring the dead and dying
TO Cape Girardeau.
After the evidence was oil taken the
Jury almost Immediately returned q Ner-
diet exonerating the officers Of LaMas-
cote from all blame, and severely critl'
cising Captain Ebrau%h, of the Eagle, for
his treatment of the survivors and for not
attempting to run the coming boat ashore,
and recommending that his license be
revoked.