New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-21
THIRTY-sEVEN LIVES LOST.
RIVER STEAMER GOES DOWN
,c PACKET STATE OF MISSOURI
STRIKES ROCK IN THE OHIO.


nooMEp PEoPLE-PAssINo STEAM
ERs AND FARMERS RES
CUE THE SUR
vIvORs.
>vensboro KY. Jan. 2o-Briec and frag-
r,ntary details of the destruction OF the big
passenger steamer State Of Missouri Saturday
above here have been received. She struck
rock and sank in fifty feet Of water. The re-
ports say that at least thrty-seven passengers
were drowned, but no names are given.
The State Of Missouri was a long stern-wheeler,
plying between Cincinnati and New-Orleans
She had board fairly large cargo OF freight
and many passengers, besides a crew OF sixty.
A, Alton the river narrows. and the water being
high an extremely swift current results. This
threw the stern Of the boat in toward the Indiana
shore Before the pilot could regain control Of
the boat she hit rock. tearing long hole in the
hold at the water line.
The shock was terrific and the boat trembed
from bow to stern. CONSERVATION seized upon
the passengers and in moment they were
frantic Without regard to consequences they
rushed to the upper decks. IN the hope Of de-
laying the ineNltdDle, as tne pOdl was
sinking. Women and children were trampled
upon. but 1t is believed all got out of the cabin.
Then the scramble for seats in the yawls began.
II was fight for lie. in which many combat
ants are believed to have gone to their death.
The first yaw launched was sunk within twenty
feet OF where 1t struck the water 1t Is believed
every one in II was drowned In sight Of the
affrghted people hudded together on the sinking
steamer second yawl then pushed off.
II contained four women. This is believed TO
have reached shore Just when there seemed
some hope that by means Of this yaw the pas
eengers could be saved the steamer gave another
terrific lurch and literally broke into pieces, and
in ten minutes from the moment the rock was
struck nothing but the hull remained The
cabin. texas and pilothouse foated away. drag
ging down 40 the water every one upon 1t. the
lighter freight washed from the main deck.
and this men, women and children clung as
best they could, many, however, only to fall
back into the ice-cold water. Several succeeded
by this means il getting into the willows and
trees and were rescued by farmers and passing
steamers.
On the City of Owensboro. which passed mere
tonight were four of the passengers who had
been rescued from the trees. Two Of them were
w. c. Leathers. Of Hopkins County, Ky, and
y
rames Of the other two could not be learned Mr..
Leathers thinks at least thirty-seven people were
drowned He saw four go under within
five feet Of him. but the current swift he
could render no assistance Mr.. Leathers says
there were fifteen cabin passengers, thirty deck
passengers and crew Of sixty on board.
The steamer Tell City. bound for Louisville.
hove In sight early this morning and took most
OF the survivors 10 Louisville.
The terrific current running at the time can
be partly appreciated by the fact that the
wreckage began passing here early to-day. which
would indicate at least ten miles an hour The
normal is about four miles. Alton, Ind. where
the wreck occurred. is thirty miles from a tele-
graph station. with almost impassabe roads.
The news secured came by steamers passing
here to-day
Evansville. Ind. Jan. 2o-The officers Of the
steamer City OF Owensboro. arriving at p m.
reported the sinking Of the State Of Missouri
a short distance below Wolf Creek, KY. Satur-
day evening at about $50 o'clock The Missouri
left Louisville at 10 o'clock Saturday morning
and passed Wolf Creek at about $50 p m.
After striking the boat drifted off and sank In
five minutes in fifty feet Of water. The people
aboard were panic-stricken when they heard the
crash. They had time to prepare for their
safety. and officers passengers and crew seized
anything In sight that would keep them above
water. Captain Joe" Conlon. First Clerk Wer-
man and Second Clerk Howard. who Is
nephew OF Captain Ben" Howard and
brother of Captain Jim" Howard. OF the
steamer John S. Hopkins. with five female pas
sengers and Pilot Pell and his son. managed to
reach shore unnjured. The second mate ana
engineer on watch were picked up by the
steamer Tell City, and the City OF Owensboro
picked up four men and left them at owens
boro. The others thirtyfve to forty In num-
ber including male passengers and members OF
the crew. it is thought, went down with the
vessel
When the Owensboro passed Wolf Creek the
people were greatly excited They could tell
but little about the terrible affair and did not
know the names of the rescued women or those
who were thought 10 have been drowned The.
Owensboro left Louisville Saturday at p. M
bound for this point. and passed Wolf Creek
about 9 o'clock. After leaving the scene OF the
wreck parts Of the unfortunate vessel and her
cargo were sighted far down the river as
Rockport where the texas and pothouse were
noticed floating slowly down the river In the
vicinity of the wreck and at Troy the river
was dotted with skiffs. the occupants picking up
the floating articles of the cargo and FURNISH
ings OF the boat Captain Conlon and others
who reached shore were cared for by Mr. mar
din who lives there and later were taken 10
Alton. three miles below. Thence they pro
ceeded to Louisville. Wolf Creek is seventy
fve miles below Louisville. This was the hrst
trip OF the season for the missouri.
The wrecked boat belonged TO the White COZ
lar Line" Cincinnati and Memphis Packet COM
pany). She was about four years old and was
built when the A. l.. Mason and the state or
Kansas. stern-wheel boats. were constructed Tor
the ST. Louis and Kansas City Merchant Line.
The three boats cost 100000 They were too
large for the river between these points. The
Mason sank while working In the trade about
two years ago. The Kansas Is now left alone
The Missouri. It Is stated. was we'll insured.
Captain Conlon master OF the vessel. Is only
twenty-eight years DID, but Is an experienced
river man.