Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-11-22
Sinking in the Ohio.

Sinking in the Ohio.
On Saturday the 9th inst, DR.. John Gill
key, who is on his way to Merida, left Gin
cinnati for New Orleans, on a steamboat
named the Granite State" and on the
following Tuesday night, just after the
boat had touched at Padncah, Ky, he had
an experience, Of which he writes to his
folks here, as follows:
Il was sound asleep when l was awak-
ened by some one pounding on the door oil
my room and shouting: Get up quick, the
boat il sinking" ! confess | was rather
startled at first. but | did not exactly
comprehend the gravity of the situation,
so | rolled over in my berth and was going
To sleep again when the door was kicked
I'm and | was told to hustle out
| got out. dressed myself, and
packed my valise and carried every.
thing to the place in the cabin where all
the rest of the baggage was piled. All
this was done in the midst of the utmost
confusion and panic on the part of some
very excitabe men and women who imag
ined that the big steamboat "Granite
State" was just on the point of taking a
header for the bottom of the Ohio river.
went on a little tour of inspection on
my own account and found that the boat
was Just floating, side on to the bank OF
the river. ard judged that it would not
settle far at all events, so ] dispelled all
| fear. on the occasion, and seated myself
| in a convenient place so as to be out of the
way, and at the same time notice the eff
| fects Of the catastrophe on the different
, people. and tell you it beggars descrip-
| ton beyond my powers; some were laugh
| ing and Joking; some were crying ana
moaning: n couple of old maids wanted TO
| be near the gentlemen because Gas one OF
| them said) they have long arms and would
| be able TO pull them out of the water when
| they went down.
hut the most comical sight was TO see
the negro walters scamper here and there
after their few worldly effects, then gather
INTO little groups, and gesticulate, roll
| their eyes, and talk-Oh! IT was I'M
mcusc. After n while all the baggage was
| carried ashore where fire was bullt lor
the accommodation Of the passengers. No.
bodv seemed disposed to 60 first, especially
| as Il was raining hard and there was cold
| wind coming in from the east that cut
| through n person like knife. Everyone
was shiverfng five minutes after getting
on deck: but n sudden lurch of the vessel
| started them and with the exception ol
| some five or six, everybody rushed across
the gang plank to shore.
| put on my overcoat and shoes, and
| went out ON the forward deck; but the
moment the rain and wind struck my face,
| | resolved to stay on board. ] concluded
| that if was to get wet | should do so all
at once in case the boat rolled over. al
so considered that it was foolish for me tt
endangcr my life by standing on the banE
of that river and catching my death OF cold
from the damp ground and cold, rainy al
mosphcre.
| | stood the chance of the boat not roll
ing over, so remained in the cabin with
the four or five others. But, oh, the cur
| ious sensation that a sinking vessel gives
| 10 A personi II must be terrible TO some
You feel the great house slowly settling
| away from you and you wonder when il
will reach the bottom; you hear the crack
| ing and straining timbers the doors sud
| denly burst open, and some fall off the
hinges altogether; down below you hear a
pile of something tumble; then when the
water reaches the gunwale, there is an
awful tumult Of rushing waters, and hiss
ing steam, and floating timbers.
| Then she began to take the shape Of the
uneven bed on which she settled; and this
is the only time that | thought Of danger
| IOr inc Ntsotl illsl btSdh w wv ASb hb WV
| bow and stern; then to settle amidships;
during this time there was a gradual up
heaval of the cabin floor at the two ends,
| and bending downward in the center.
| A grand piano that stood at the upper
end of the saloon suddenly started, slowly
| at first. then with a crash went over the
| stove whi:h was at that end, sweepin 2
| chairs and tables to the bottom of this car
peted valley. Some of the flooring boards
| broke ana the splinters would sing throug gh
the air like bullets.
The cause of the most of the damage
was a sunken log or stump on which the
Granite State had settled. All this hap
pened between half past two and half past
three this morning; then we waited and
waited; then we raided the pantry and got
rlentv to eat. After while some bold
hearted passenger would venture back on
board the steamer and cautiously look into
TIRE rrtvr, WITH r7Ii,ir1
comfortably % enjoying ourselves, sitting
| around the remaining stove, laughing, and
| chatting and eating cheese and crackers.
| The result was that at ten o'clock all the
passengers took breakfast on board the
stranded boat and at eleven we hailed the
| "Gus Fowler which contracted to carry
us to Cairo, from where | propose to take
| another start.
l will write you from Memphis and let
| you know how | get along.
Give my regards to all inquiring friends.
Yours truly, etc. JOHN.
John got to Memphis all right, and then
took another steamer for New Orleans.