St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-11
STRUCK A sUNKEN PEER.
The TowbOat Port Eads Sunk
Near Memphis.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 10.-The tow.
boat Port Eads, Capt. Nelson Davis, of
the st. Louis 81 Mississippi Valley
Transportation company. was sunk this
morning at o'clock at the site of the
new railroad bridge, two miles below
the city. She carried a crew of about
forty men, and for time the widest
rumors prevailed, the loss of life being
placed at from twenty-five to thirty-f
but it is now believed that only one
person, the eOlored chambelmaid, was
drowned. The Port Eads had a tow of
six grain-laden barges and one fuel
barge destined for New Orleans from
Cairo. They passed the city shortly be-
fore z this morning during a heavy fog,
hugging the Tennessee shore closely.
The steamer approached the bridge as
Slowly as possible, but owing to the
dense fog. she was unable to locate the
Sunken pier. a moment later she was
seen to stop suddenly, hang stationary
for minute. and then swing around
with heavy force and settle on one side.
Men ran from every direction to the
yawl, fighting each other in panic
stricken desperation to reach it. One
man detached the ropes holding it and
was about to climb in when water
r,
ran to the other side. Another wave
closed over the boats deck and all ran
to the other side. when she settled
lower. Ten of the crew were taken to
the United States hospital near by, suf-
fering from cuts and bruises, and the
remainder were cared for at the houses
along the shore. Tie Port Eads was
valued at S50,0O0. The barges and con-
tents were uniniured.
1t IS now kDeNn that seven of the
crew we're lost. They are: William
Hickey. Waterman; Teenie Jones, col
oTed, cbambermald; John McDermott.
Stewart, James Walker, and an I'M
known, all cOlored. The only body so
far recovered is that of McDermott.
Pilot Gus Hfner, who was on watch
when the accident happened, makes the
following statement: Capt. Davis,
Pilot Townsend, myself. were in the
pilot house. l was at the wheel and,
owing to dense black smoke, | could
not see more than twenty feet in front
of the boat. When l discovered the
pier, l signaled the engineer to stop
the machinery,
But IT WAS TOO LATE,
as the next moment the fuel barge hit
the pier and went down. was power
less to save the boat and left her to the
mercy of the water. When | realized
what had happened, ran down into the
cabin and brought Mrs. Townsend out
on the hurricane roof and was in the act
of putting her on one of the barges
when the vessel careened and sank.
She was thrown into the river, and after
drifting down the stream some distance,
was picked up by the tug Welcome
1t is probable that suit for damages
will be brought against the bridge COM
pany for not having the pier protected
The Port, Eads has the most COM
plete and valuable steering gear
ever Oh Mississippi river
steamer, but the swift current
running more than six miles an hour
caused the tow to flank down against
the stone pier or obstruction and
knocked the steamer into a thousand
fragments, all in spite of the most earn
est efforts of the pilot, who is as skilled
In his profession as any man on the
river. AS the feet hit the pier the fuel
boat was thrown upon top of it, h ing
there for few minutes, then broke in
two and was carried under and went
out OF sight In moment. The six
grain-lOaded barges scattered and
drifted Off with the current below car
rying Capt. Nelson Davis, of the
steamer, together with his mate and
seven of tho deck crew who had Ieaped
on them as their
VESSEL WENT TO PIECES.
The captain and his assistants man
aged to guide the barge down to near
the foot of Presidents island. They
bumped hard time OF two, but were
not crushed, and drifting into slack
water, they were finally landed in
safety by the tugs Welcome and May
flower, OF the bridge company, which
tugs followed after them very quickly
after their mishap. One of the loaded
barges only is seriously injured, and it
is leaking freely. The harbor boat II.
M. Townsend went to the relief of the
wrecked fleet. and at late hour tonight
was occupied in trying to stop the leaks
in the injured barge The others were
made fast to the bank and are all safe.