The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-07-17

whose sense OF danger ~ ever keen. a
steamer, the James ID. Parker
was about to shoot the rapids in the lndi-
ana channel of the Ohio When she let go
the lines which moored her TO the wharf,
a crowd of friends Of the passengers stand
ing on the dock and along the river bank
began to cheer and wave their handker-
chiefs in JOY Mt the sight the vessel made
as she took the stream. The cheering died
away and silence settled upon the crowd
as the steamer pulled up the river n dis
lance. stopped and turned, righting herself
gracefully for the plunge into the rapids.
The moment the steamer entered the
chute the lookouts in the station house
had n premonition that she was going
to become unmauageuble and gave the
alarm. Instantly the lifeboats Reckless
and Ready were manned and started OF
| in the track Of the steamer, the oarsmen
pulling with n will and the boats outrun-
ming the current. The loukouts ON the
/ prows Of each lifeboat with strained vi
sion took note of everything that happened
to the steamer, "a did also the now anN-
ious spectators ON shore. This was the
alarming sight before them: After keep
ing her course splendidly for n few mo-
ments the steamer began to sheer and
wabble sidewise, and her bow gradually
disappeared altogether. Then she was seen
to careeu to starboard Her smokestacks
toppled over, and a cloud of steam arose
! from her into the air like the vapor from an
| explosion. Apparently she had gone down.
The Indiana channel at Louisville is
commonly called a falls, but is really n
rapids created by submerged ridge Of
/ limestone rock extending obliquely across
the river bed. The current has worn n
chute in the rocks which at high water
will admit the passage of vessels of heavy
burden. The fall of the river at that point
is about % feet for . q miles, and the cur
/ rent runs about 12 miles an hour. 1t re-
auires 80 feet of water in the channel for
| heavy vessels to clear the rocks. The al
tentative of passing through this channel
! Is to 20 around through the Louisville and
| Portland canal, which is always crowded
| with coal barges and nondescript river
craft. 1t was in order to escape the delay
of the blocked canal that the captain OF
the James d. Parker decided to make up a
days time lost in loading by shooting the
rapids, guided by the best pilots in the
! harbor.
The experience of the crew and the pas
sengers aboard the boat was equally star
Ting with that of the spectators outside.
| The vessel was stern wheeler, and the
weight of her cargo was evidently great
est in front, so that on reaching the in
cline of the channel her wheel and rudders
were lifted out of the water and could not
get grip by which she could he managed
and steered. She kept steering, and de
spite the efforts of the pilot, who saw the
danger ahead and tried to avoid it, she
presently struck reef. She Strengthened
for n moment and then went humping
against the rocks below until her bow was
completely submerged.
Presently her stern was entirely knock
ed off on the rocks, and swinging out into
the channel she sank in about is feet of
water. The first warning to the passen-
gers on board was n rapid succession of
bumps and fearful crash. Groups of ter
| rified women and children rushed from
the cabins up on deck The roof was
crushed in in places, and boxes and barrels
and bundles Of merchandise tumbled TO
the decks below and rolled about among
the passengers. The wreck was almost in
Simultaneous, and to those outside she APP
peared to be simply n mass of crushed and
splintered timbers, with boxes merchan-
disc, ships rigging and dismantled smoke
stacks lying unfortunately on her bat
tered decks.
The vessel was leaning upon one side,
and the floors We're so steep it was necessa-
ry for the passengers to use improvised
ladders to climb from one deck TO the 9TH
er. On the canted side the water rushed
into the cabins through broken doors and
windows. To add to the terror, stove in
the saloon was overturned, and the wreck
took fire. A sense of coming danger sick
ened every heart. Fortunately the steam
err crew put out the fire before it gained
Roadway. It burst forth a second time
and was again quenched.
The entire catastrophe took place inside
of 10 minutes, and within that time the
passengers had ali been released from their