The Portland daily press., 1895-01-21
FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
Panic Stricken Men Trample Women
Under Foot.
A RIVER STEAMER SUNK AND 81
PEOPLE DROWNED.

A Rush Was Made for the Boats and in the
Confusion One Was Swamped-Women
and Children Thrown Aside by the
Cowardly Men-The Upper Part of the
Boat Washed Away by the Fierce
Current
Cincinnati. January 20.-The passen-
ger steamer State of Missouri, plying be-
tween here and Memphis, sank at Wolf
Greek, 200 miles below here today.
Twenty-Five TO forty persons are reported
drowned, but details are lacking. 1t is
believed by the owners that the loss of
life is exaggerated.
FOUR SURVIVORS.
Owensboro, KY, January 2O.-Four
survivors from the wrecked steamer
State of Missouri, were on the mail
packet City of Owensboro, when she
passed here today. They saved their
lives by swimming. 1t is believed by
them that from 20 to 40 lives were lost.
A yawl containing a woman and chill
dren was upset by men trying to climb
in, and all were drowned. 1t is thought
that more than a hundred people were
on the boat.
THIRTY-SEVEN WE'RE DROWNED.
Owensburg, KY, January 20.-Brief
and fragmentary details of the destruc-
tion of the big passenger steamer State
of Missouri Saturday evening, at Alton,
Ind, 100 miles above here are received.
She struck a rock and sank in 10 feet
of water. Reports say at least 81 pas
sengers were drowned. The vessel was
a very large stern wheeler, plying be-
tween Cincinnati and New Orleans. and
had on board a fairly large cargo OF
freight and a hundred persons, includ-
ing the crew of co. At Alton river mar
rows the water being high, and extreme
ly swift, the current that resulted threw
the boat in towards the Indiana shore
Before the pilot could regain control
she hit rock, tearing long hole in
the hull, at the water line. Consterna-
tion seized upon the passengers. They
and children were trampled upon, but
it is believed that all got out of the
cabin. A fight for life then began 60 get
into the small boats. The first yawl
launched SINK within 20 feet from where
it struck the water. 1t is believed every
one in it was drowned. The second yawI
was pushed off and contained four wom-
cen. This is believed to have reached
the shore. Just when it seemed OF some
hope that by means of this yawl the pas
sengers could be saved, the steamer gave
a terrible lurch and sliteraliy broke in
pieces, and in ten minutes from = the
moment the rock was struck nothing
but the hull remained. The bin and
pilot house ioated away, dragging down
into the water every one then on the
vessel. The lighter freight washed
from the main deck, and to this men,
women and children clung as best they
could. Many fell back ino the ice cold
water Several succeeded in getting
into the trees and were rescued by pass
ing steamers. On the City of Owensboro,
which passed here tonight, were four
passengers rescued from trees. One thinks
that at least 35 people were drowned. He
says there were Is cabin passengers, and
80 deck passengers of the 60 ON board.
The steamer Castle City hove in sight
early this morning and took most of the
survivors to Louisville. terrific current
was running at the time and can be partly
appreciated by the fact that wreckage be-
gan passing here early today. which would
indicate ten Bmiles per hour. Alton
Ind. where the wreck occurred, is thirty
miles from telegraph station with almost
came by steamers passing here today.