Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-25
RIVER DISASTER
An Excursion Steamer Strikes .
Bridge ON the Savannah River.
Several Persons Killed and Injured
Worse Report From the Kanawha
valiey-Bursting of Another
DaM-Etc.

Valiey-Bursting OF Another
Dau-Etc.
CHARLESTON, s. c., July - -Informa-
ton has reached here of the partial de-
structfon OF the excursion steamer St
Nicholas Saturday night on the Savannah
river. killing several PEI sons and serious
" injuring many others. The st. Nicho-
las was carrying Eve 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 We're 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
bic 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
mas been received from all parts of Wood
and Writ Coun ties and the afi sction
proves to be far worse than was at first
dreamed Of The county commissioners
estimate that the loss in this county alone
will reach $500 600.
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: Orville West wife and two
<,1-f I'll I.
wife. and one unknown person
Orvil1e West, whose family were
! drowned, made a heroic effort to save
them. He foated with them four miles
down Tucker 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
I her from floating house to shore, but he
fell and she was swept away. He had al
ready saved two small children.
Navigation will be suspended for a good
while because 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
| drowned so far as known, though it is
| 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 Boo, Mrs
Isaac Roberts. Mrs. Orville West and two
children. John Bailey. Roy Kiger, Mrs.
| Roy Kigsr, Mrs. Isaac Tucker and a man
whose name can not be ascertained.
DAM BURSTS.
| 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 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 a 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
we'll 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 rope to help him out and he was over.
come and fell to the bottom of the well,
| 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 Bra LILLIAN port On
Ter outward trip from New York she had
| u terrible 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 9. 800 miles with the
fire smoldering in her hold. The Emperor
I of Brazil presented the captain with Q
| number of tokens of his esteem because of
| his bravery.
| HORRIBLE DEATH OF A TRAVELLER
| HARTFORD. Conu., July 22-At 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 wedRing so
as to hold him. and he was ragged in this
| way q quarter of q mile before he was dis
| covered. His head was mashed to a jelly,
| one arm torn to shreds and brains and
blood spattered along the track for . con.
siderable distance
| Earthquake i'm Tennessee.
MKMPHIs, Tenn. July 2l.-At $3.50 o'clock
! Friday evening a slight shock of earth
| quake ratified crockery and glassware on
| shelvea Two severe shocks were felt at
/ Covington, Tenn. thirty-fve miles north
| of Memphis, each shock lasting several
| seconds The widest confusion prevailed
Houses were abandoned and the streets
filed with frightened people. third hat
lighter shock was felt there about 5:15.
"A correspondent writes: II have q