The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-12
In IMMINENT PERIL.
Miraculous Escape Oh H1-irais Of PaSSe1-
gers on a 81. Lawrence Steamboat,

MONTREAL, Aug. 11.-Twenty-fye hun
dred Grand Army men, with their wives
and children. left Chicago for Boston via
Niagara Falls, ST. Lawrence River and Mon
treal on Friday. Most of them were from
posts in cities outside Of Chicago, and many
came from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska.
Kansas. Missouri and Wisconsin. At 4
o'clock yesterday morning five big steamer
loads left Kingston to go through the rapids
of the st. Lawrence. All the boats were
packed with Grand Army men and their
families. The Bohemian, the largest of the
boats, was the last. She had between six
hundred and seven hundred passengers
aboard. The Long Sault rapid was passed
safely and the entire day was very pleasant
ly spent. The hurricane deck was fearful
ly crowded.
About o'clock great thunder clouds be-
gan to gather in the west and the sky to
darken. The wind freshened considerably,
too, and big storm was predicted. There
was yet one series OF rapids TO go through,
the Cretan, as dangerous as any on the
river, and the captain of the Bohemian
thought he could reach there before dark
ness set in. The upper deck forward of the
boat was packed with people, watching the
first plunge of the steamer, when there was
brilliant flash of lightning, the rain began
to fall in sheets, and the people made rush
for the cabin and shelter as the steamer
entered the rapids. She rolled fearfully,
and the people surged from side to SIDE.
Suddenly the sound of cracking timbers was
heard, and women shrieked and tainted.
Then there were heard several hOarse COM
mands from the pilot-h0use to the crew to
clear the tiller chains. Tie upper-deck
beams had cracked, and the floor in sinking
had jammed the tiller chains leading from
the pilot-hOuse aft, and the steamer. in the
midst of the boiling rapids, was entirely
beyond control.
When it was known that the boat was
unmanageaDle, a panic ensued. Women
rushed here and there. Those that had not
tainted did so then, and worse than all, the
crew and walters on board made a rush for
the pile of lfe-preservers in the center of
the cabin and on the after-deck, and began
strapping them on.
The war veterans aboard kept their wits
about them and fought the towards away
from the lIfe-preservers, while as quickly
as possible they strapped as many as they
could find on to the women and children.
There were not enough TO half go round.
The boat meantime had turned entirely
around and was now going down the rapids
stern first Suddenly there was terrible
jar. The steamer had struck a rock The
steamer slowly began to turn around again.
ana then came another shock, followed by
another, each one heavier than the first,
and the steamer gave mighty heave and
plunge as if she was going down head first,
and then slowly turned her head to the
rapids. There was still another shock and
another rock was touched, and plunge
followed. which was the last jump through
the rapids out into the open, clear waters,
and the captain yelled, "We are all right
now."
The crew had got over their panic and
were working hard clearing the tiller-chains
during the most critical time, and by the
lime they cleared the rapids the steamer
was under control again. Her head was
turned Shoreward, and within twenty min
utes the party were disembarking ut the
Beauharnais Canal Pier.