The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-07
The IlASCOETE DISASTER.
BETWEEN THIRTY AND FORTY
PERSONS KILLED BY THE
Explosion Of the Steamer-Many Will
Die From Their Terrible
Injuries.

- 49,
ST. LOUIS, No., October 6-No cause
can be assigned as yet for the explosion
last evening Of the boiler OF the river
steamer La Mascotte, which caused
such crest less of life. The boat is
said to have been steaming along IN
der 100 pounds OF steam, her usual
amount t. carry, when On explosion
suddenly occurred, blowing the fire in
every direction. The utmost confusion
prevailed. The pilot, taking advantage
of her heading, turned her toward the
shore. bat the flames caused him TO
abandon his post before the stsge
plank could be lowered. After leaving
his post the current turned the boats
bow into the river again and her stern
swung close to the bank, which af-
forded a means of escape for several
who we're at that end of the beat, the
pilot and one cabin boy getting ashore
without any injury or even wet foot
The stage plank was lowered and
many were placed upon it, mostly
women and children, who would have
been saved had not the smoke stack
fallen tquarely across it, aud ell who
were not killed by it were drowned.
Capt. Thompson, after doing all in
his power to save the passengers and
crew, Jumped overheard and swan
ashore, the boat having by this time
driited 200 yards out into the river.
The La Ma:cotte drifte d over to the
Illinois shore, opposite Wizards Land
ing, and sank, the only thing visible
at present being her wheel.
Lew Brahan, the second clerk, tells
the following story of the disastsr:
"We had landed at Neeley's and were
pulling out, aud l walked up stairs
and into my room, when 1 heard
small explosion, like skyrocket, and
opened the door to the cabin and saw
the steam coming into it from the
barb: rshop. l saw the ladies in their
cabin and called to them to come for
ward. l saw fire coming from under
the boiler deck and | took the ladies'
forward 10 the boiler deck and started
down stairs where Pilot Gesveau
gave life preservers to them,
telling them all to put them on
immediately ordered the stage plank
thrown overheard, which was promptly
done, and we put all the ladies on the
plank. The rigging broke and the
plank swuHg cut. Mrs. l.. Seimers
Jumped into my arms and landed
her on the stage, while was thrown
into the river myself. l swan along
side Of the stage and made the men
get off go it would bear up the ladies'.
| then swan to ledge OF rocks and
crawled ashore. A man from Illinois,
with skiff, took the people off OF the
stage, and also saved number that
were swimming. / do not recollect
the skiff mans name, but he did come
noble work"
]. ]. Hanlon, the second pilot, says:
"The Eagle was near us when the dis
ester occurred, and could easily have
pushed us ashore without much trou-
BILE or danger, but l understand the
captain did MT care to render any as
sis ance. Adolphus Evelyn, pilot #
the Eagle, told me that the captain or
dered him not to 90 near the Masco.te
as he did not wish to endanger his
boat. If he would only have pushed
Us ashore not single person would
have been injured, except from scalds
and burns"
A epecisl from Cape Girardeau to
the Posi-. Dispatch states that the wreck
of the La Mascotte resulted from the
collapse of one of the boiler tiues.
The explosion spent its force directly
backward into the engine room, and
only the crew and roustabouts suffered
from being scalded by the escaping
stesm, Eleven of the latter were 50
terribly burned that hree scales Of
flesh peeled fom their bodies. Six Of
them have died; their names are:
George Keywood of Nashville, Tenn. !;
Jack Finnell of ST.. Louie, Thomas
Lacey of st. Louis, William Jones of
st. Louis, ]. Henry Gordon OF Evans
vile, Ind.
The following deckhands were SO
severely burned that their lives are de-
SPARED of: William Davis, of Mid
way, KY; Albert Rice, of Cape Girar-
deau; Levi Chatham, Of PaduGah,
KY; William s. Paitsell. Of Evans-
vile, Ind; Dallas Webster, OF Evans
vile, Ind.
The others who are known to have
BEEN drowned are the following:
Mrs. William Wheeling and her two
young daughter, of Cape Girardeau
Judge william Hagar, of Cape Girar-
deau; a young man name unknown
M IS Amelia Kruger, OF Cape Girar-
deau; ]. Roy Perkins, OF Evansville,
Ind, frat clerk of La MssCotte; Miss
Julia Robisch, of Cape Girardeau;
head engineer of the La Mascotte, Mac
Snearer, deckhand; two CHAMBER
maids, Lew D, Adams, second ma e;
a lady and two children, supposed to
be Mrs. Barnes and her daughters, of
Puxico, Mo. D. S. Davidson is 50
badly burned around the face and
throat that he will probably die.
After the bodies of the killed and
injured had been brought ashore they
were placed on the steamer Eagle,
which brought them to this city,
where local and visiting physicians
are now caring for them.
The register CT passengers was lost
with the La Mascolte, and it is thought
that some were drowned or killed
whose bodies have not been recoV-
cred.
ScOtI's Emulsion.