The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-09

BIC OHIO Steamer sinks
The LongfellOw Goes to the Bottom in
Thirty Feet Of Water.
LIST OF KILLED AND INJURED
The Large Craft Strikes Span Of the
Chesapeake Bridge and Sinks in
Three Minutes-Two Persons
Drowned-SeVeralM Missing.

Cincinnati, o.. March S-The hand
scme Cincinnati and New Orleans
packet Longfellow went to the bottom
of the Ohio river at Z o'clock this
morning. She sank in thirty feet of
water opposite the Mermel Coal land
ing, at the foot OF Smith street. She
struck the channel span Of the Chesa-
peuke bridge. and sank within three
minutes. a man and Il girl, an invalid
from New Yohk, are known to have
been drowned: five men and one woman
are missing, and four men were quite
seriously hurt.
Following Is the list of the victims as
far as known: Dead, James Miller,
porter; unknown girl. Missing, Cap
tain John l.. Carter. Newport, KY, COM
inGnder of the Longfellow; David Aid
ridge, Rome, n. Y, passenger; Gus
Schevan. New Orleans: unknown deck
hand; - Reardon. deck hand: fe-
male physician, Dr. Anderson. New
York, travelling with the dead girl. In
juced. William Colbert, foot mashed: :
Wilson ID. Hart. foot smashed; Captain
Keherer, hands cut; Mate Burney King.
legs cut
The Longfellow was to have left here
last night for New Orleans. but the
fog was so dense that she was not sent
out. This morning the fog was still
very thick, but it was decided to sail.
The boat had aboard about 100 pas
sengers.
The Longfellow put out from her
wharf shortly before I o'clock and the
towboat Hercules Carrell was sent out
to 5iG her in passing both bridges. The
Carrell was secured to the stern of the
Longfellow. and both boats passed
down the river to a point about fifty
yards above the Chesapeake and Ohio
bridge, where the Longfellow became
unmanageable.
Collision Inc yitablc.
Watchers on shore saw that the bow
was pointed directly for the Kentucky
shore. and when fully fifty yards dis
tant it was seen a collision was newt
able. The Carrel swung around and
the strain almost caused the hawsers
to part, but they held fast for the time
being and ii was thought for a moment
that the collision could be averted, but
moment later 1t became apparent that
she would strike.
Many of the passengers were in their
state rooms. The shrill blasts of the
whistle on both the Carrel and Long
fellow were the first warnings of any
danger. The fog was 50 dense that
nothing could be seen. The officers
We're cool and collected and retained
their presence of mind. The crew were
,,nn nd rot fn
removing the passengers to the Carrel,
which was still moored alongside.
The sound when the boat was struck
could be heard for several squares
away. A moment later the river was
black with floating wreckage and
freight. The passengers escaped to the
Carrell and when the collision occurred
the hawser broke, while the Carroll
drifted to the Kentucky side of the
river. The wreck sank quickly, and
three minutes later scarcely vestige
remained.
The steamer Longfellow was one of
the largest, best known and handsomest
packets on the Ohio river
History of the Craft
The Longfellow was built in 1876 at
Cincinnati and named the Y. +.
Schenck, It's tonnage was 6l7S; Its
length when built was 29l feet, and its
beam forty-two feet. About two years
ago 1t was heightened thirty feet and
named anew. and since then has been
making regular trips. The boat was
valued at $500 and was insured for
$4,000. When first built she was mod
eleG for freight carrying, but when re-
modelled was made into as large and
roomy passenger steamer as the river
carried. She was commanded by John
K Kirker. In addition to the officers
there were thirty roustabouts. two bak-
ers, two chambermaids, four fireman
and second mate. After the boat went
to pieces the cabin and parts of the
hull noated down the river Tugs
chased them and succeeded in landing
them at different points down the river.
In the wreckage the body OF Mrs. Aull
was found
The boat carried 500 tons of freight.
mainly insured. Among the items were
500 threshing machines of the Walter
A Wood cnYnpa sold In tb. onnth