Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-03-14
Refused to Obey Her Rudder.

The steamer Longfellow, of the Men,
phis and Cincinnati Packet Line, was
wrecked Friday morning by striking u
pier Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road bridge at Cincinnati. and twelve
lives were lost. The steamer broke in
two and sank with her cargo. The pas
senger list was lost, but it il known TWEEN
ty-five or thirty passengers were aboard,
most Of whom had engaged passage for
New Orleans. The dead:
David Aldridge, Cleveland.
DR.. Anderson. female.
j. w. Aull, Dayton, Ohio.
Mrs. J. w. Aull, Dayton, Ohio.
Captain John l.. Carter. Newport, Ky.
Gus Chauvet, barkeeper on Longfellow.
- johnson, barber on Iongfellow.
James Mitter, deck hand.
Thomas Reardon, deck hand.
Michael Russell. deckhand. Cincinnati.
Walker, servant.
Unknown young woman. a invalid, of
New York.
The Longfellow was to leave Mt 5
o'clock Thursday evening. A heavy fog
came up and it was decided to wait until
the fog lifted. At & o'clock Friday morn
ing, the fog having risen sufficiently,
Captain John Kirker decided to start.
The tow boat Hercules Carrel, which was
alongside all night. was signaled to be in
readiness to help the Longfellow through
the bridges. At $50 the boats started.
The Carrel was on the port side of the
Longfellow. The boats passed safely un-
der the suspension bridge, but immediate
~ afterward the Longfellow began be-
having badly. A cross current seemed
to strike her and swing her bow around
toward the Kentucky shore. Every effort
was made to right her SO that she would
pass between the piers of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad forming the span on
the Kentucky side. The swift current Of
the river carried her along rapidly.
Those in the boat could see that it
would be impossible to avoid striking the
pier. The alarm was sounded immediate
", and the passengers, some of whom
were at breakfast, while others were still
In their berths, were hurried to the deck.
The boat struck the pier with her star
board side. just behind the boilers. The
air was filled with flying timbers, glass
and ironwork. Those OF board, many of
whom were in their night clothes, were
hurried to the Hercules Carrel, which
was still alongside. CONSERVATION reign
cd. There were piercing cries and ter
rible yells and women fainting.
Sinks with Her Cargo.
IN tie meantime, the Longfellow was
being driven harder against the pier by
the swift river. In less than FIVE minutes
after she struck there was a loud crash
and the boat parted amidships. The
Prov went down into the river, disappear
ing completely. The stern followed. Some
Of the upper works foated down the
stream and then the wrecked hull came
slowly up and also Aoated away. -Four
or five men were on the floating cabin and
these were taken off by the crew Of the
Hercules Carrcl. A number of small
boats put out from the shore and picked
up persons who had jumped into the
river. Five minutes after the boat struck
there was nothing left but a lot of float
ing wreckage to show that there had ever
been such a boat as the Longfellow. Ev-
erything on board the boat in the way of
registers, papers, valuables. cargo, etc,
went down with her.
The cause Of the accident is attributed
to the boat refusing to obey her rudder
when she struck the strong current just
below the suspension bridge. The Long
fellow was valued ct SD 500 and insured