Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-25
RIVER DISASTER.
An Excursion Steamer Strikes q
Bridge on the Savannah River.
Several Persons Killed and Injured
Worse Report From the Kanawha
Valley-Bursting of Another
Dam-Etc.

CHARLESTON, S. c., July 80 -Informa-
: ton has reached here of the partial de-
!struction OF the excursion steamer St
Nicholas Saturday night on the Savannah
river. killing several persons and serious
( ~ injuring many others. The St Nicho-
las was carrying FIVE hundred colored
: passengers, and when passing the Tybee
railway bridge the boat was driven by the
current against the bridge with
great force. The forward deck
was crushed and torn to splin-
tiers. Two men were killed instantly
and thirty other persons were seriously
wounded. A panic ensued among those
on board and a scene of wild excitement
followed. During the confusion several
persons were knocked overheard and one
woman was drowned. Several of the
persons injured will die. The coroner's
jury holds the railroad company response
be for the disaster as the draw had not
been raised and there was no signal dis
played as required by law.
THE KANAwHA VALLEY.
PARKERSBURG, W. Va, July 22.-News
I has been received from all parts of Wood
and Writ Coun ties and the aft ction
proves to be far worse than was at first
dreamed of. The county commissioners
estimate that the loss in this county alone
will reach Sj0J,0OO
a telephone message from Elizabeth
says that the village of Norristown is
entirely destroyed. Eight dwelling houses,
two stores, the Baptist Church, the to-
bacco packing house and other buildings
are gone.
Seven lives were lost on Tucker creek.
They are: Ogville West, wife and two
CHI ren; John Baily, Roy K!ger, his
wife. and one unknown person.
Orvile West, whose family We're
drowned. made a heroic effort to save
them. He foated with them four miles
down Tucser creek trying to get them to
shore, but they were carried away from
him.
James Roberts. whose mother was
drowned tried to save her by carrying
her from a floating house to shore, but he
fell and shs was swept away. He had al
ready saved two small children.
Navigation will be suspended for good
while. becau-e of the break in lock No.
on Little kanawha, and up the river peo-
pie will have no communication with the
outside world.
The following is complete list of the
thought that the death list will be much
larger when the districts now cut off from
the outside world are heard from: Mr..
and Mrs. Robert Black, Mrs. Thomas
Hughes and four children, Ed BozD, Mrs.
Isaac Roberts, Mrs. Orville West and two
children, John Bailey, Roy Kiger, Mrs.
Roy Kiger, Mrs. ,aac Tucker and a man
whose name can not be ascertained.
A DAM EJRsTS.
LANCASTER, o., July 22.-One of the
most disastrous storms ever known in
Hooking valley eliminated yesterday in
the breaking of Sharp's dam at Sugar
Grove, on the Hooking canal which held
in store a large body of water that sup
piled the lower levels of the canal The
heavy rains had filed the reservoir to the
banks, when suddenly the dam gave
way and with a mighty roar the sea Of
water went out through the valley,
taking with it every movable object. For
twenty miles the soil was plowed up and
trees, fences, crops and hundreds of head
of live stock were swept away. No lives
were lost because the people had taken
warning and because the houses are
situated on the bluffs that overlook the
valley. But the canal for miles is a
wreck, and thousands of feet of railroad
track are washed away. Roads and
bridges are annihilated, and the whole
valley for miles looks like dry water
course. Competent judges place the loss
in the hundreds of thousands.
TWO VICTIMS OF FOUL AIR.
HOBART, Ind, July 22.-About seven
O'Clock Yesterday morning on the farm Of
Henry Hermann, about three miles west
of here, a farm hand descended into a
well to take out some meat which had
fallen in, but was overcome by foul air
and fell in the water. Michael Hefner,
a neighbor who was present. descended
on a rope to help him out and he was over /
come and fell to the bottom of the we'll, /
which was forty-two feet deep. The /.
bodies were not taken out until two O'Clock |
in the afternoon.
A STEAMSHIPS WARM VOYAGE.
NEW YORK, July 21.-The steamship |
Hawkhurst, Captain Robinson, arrive
here yesterday from Brazilian port. On /
Ter outward trip from New York she had |
a terri bic experience. Her cargo, consist !
ing of 200 barrels of oil and a quantity of /
tow, caught fire and her crew tried to de- /
sert. The captain, however. compelled |
them to remain on the vessel and success
fully made the run of $500 miles with the .
fire smoldering in her hold. The Emperor
of Brazil presented the captain with a
number of tokens of his esteem because of
his bravery.
HORRIBLE DEATH OF A TRAVELLER
HARTFORD. Conu., July pat South
ington last night Charles Degnan tried to
board freight train while in motion, but
his feet caught in the step of the caboose
and he fell backward. his foot wedging so
as to hold him. and he was dragged in this
way a quarter of mile before he was dis
covered. His head was mashed to jelly,
one arm torn TO shreds and brains and
blood spattered along the track for con-
siderable distance.
Earthquake in Tennessee
MEMPHIS, Tenn. July 2l.-At 6:32 O'Clock
Friday evening a slight shock of earth
Z. - II