Rock Island Argus., 1898-06-20
THE DELAY OF THE DUBUQUE
The Accident Which Causes Her Laying up
at ST. Louis.


The accident which overlook the
palatial Diamond 10 line steamer Du-
buque at st. Louis the other dav is
much more serious than was at first
felt. The st. Louis Republic of
Friday morning describes it:
A boiler flue collapsed on the
packet steamer Dubuque while in
midstream, injuring coal passer so
badly that he will doubtless die. and
soaring 80 passengers into Il belief
that the boat was on fire and sinking
Presence of mind on the part of Pilot
Arthur Williams. who headed the boat
for the west shore, lessened the fright
of the women, and some of the men
on board, and effected a prompt land
ing for those who were PRAYING for
land. Every Thursday the steamer
Dubuque, which is one of the Dia-
mond 10 Line of boats, leaves for st
Paul and intermediate points. At 1
p. III. yesterday she cleared her land
ing at the foot of Washington avenue
and started up the river. The
freight on board was the
heaviest 50 far this season
and the passenger list was long one.
When about half way between the
two bridges that span the Mississippi
river at this point, loud report
shook the steamer from end to end
and volumes of steam tloated up from
the lower deck. Great excitement
prevailed. One passenger attempted
to Jump overheard, but was pre-
vented by another, vino hung to his
coat. Women tainted and children
cried. In fact, the usual hysteria
that accompanies an accident on
water was manifest in all parts of the
boat. Luckily the steamer is manned
by competent officers. They waded
through the cloud of white vapor
which enveloped the upper deck. and
by cool words calmed the frightened
people. Meanwhile the boat was fast
approaching the west shore of the
river. and ropes We're thrown out to
Il landing at the Burlington yards,
two blocks above the foot of Mound
street. Examination showed that
one of the boilers flues had
been defective. A heavy pressure
of steam had blown of an iron
door, terribly scalding Charles Storr,
one OF the coal passers on the boat.
who happened to stand directly in
front of the sheet of water when it
@ushed forth. Storr was blown 10
feet by the force OF the explosion.
and when picked up was in fearful
agony. An ambulance was sum-
moned and he was taken to the city
dispensary, where attento II was
given him by Drs. Reber and Pcirsal.
Later he was removed to the city
hospital. There he begged the doe
tors to Kill him. Storr is ~ wears old
and lives at 2l5 Spruce street. Ne
groes comprise the working crew of
the Dubuque, and they are extremely
supcrstitious. One of them
had seen gray cat on board
before the boat started and
had predicted catastrophe. A
hunt was made for the cat after the
accident had occurred and sure
enough Il mammoth gray tom was
found hiding between two piles of
lumber. II was the work of an in
slant to chuck the animal overheard,
one OF the first persons to arrive af-
Ter the accident was |. p. Lusk. G.. =.
A. of the Diamond Jo line. He great
Y regretted that the accident had
happened, for, trivial as il was. re-
suits were serious. Money was re-
funded to THOSE passengers who
wished to get away at once. for ii will
he several days before the boat can be
repaired. A deeply disappointed pair
were Mr.. and Mrs. {. Won Weise. mar
ricd Yesterday and bound for Prairie
du Chen. 1t was their wedding
journey"