Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-20
Shocking Catastrophe Over
takes Passengers on Steam
er Golconda.
DROWNED IN AN INSTANT
Boat Turns Over and Cabin
Full of Dead---Another
Terrible Disaster.

Paducah, KY, Aug. 20.-Of the 60
persons aboard the steamboat City Of
Golconda, which upset last night
while trying to land at Crowells, six
miles from here, "a passengers and
several colored deckhands are report
ed drowned or missing. Until the
books are found it will not be known
just how many and who are lost.
The boat turned over while the pas
sengers were eating supper and most
of them were caught in the cabin,
there being no time to escape after
the boat struck. OF the women on
the board only one was saved. Most of
passengers were from Smithfield and
Galconda.
Cabin Full of Dead Bodies.
Divers at work on the wrecked ves-
sci report the loss of life will exceed
20. The cabin is full of dead bodies
Only three were recovered at noon
Paducah. Ky, Aug. 2O.-The steam
er City of Golconda was struck by 4
squaIl last night eight miles from this
city. 1t IS reported fifteen persons
Were drowned.
Appalling Marine Disaster.
t'Orj IOwnSeEG, ~ ASH, aug. ~
The steamer Queen has just arrived
from the north. bringing news Of one
of the most appalling marine diSas-
tiers on the Pacific coast. The steam
or Islander. sailing from Skagway on
Aug. H. when nearing the southwest
end of Douglass island. NJ > a. III. Aug.
j.. and running at fun speed. struck
q floating iceberg. and In less than
twenty minutes went To the bottom OF
the deep channel, carrying men. w0-
men and children to watery graves.
The Islander had 1OS passengers. and
all OF them were in bed when the YES
sci struck The shock was 80 sexere
that many were thrown from their
berthS. and the widest excitement pre-
vailed.
sIxty-seven Known To BE Dead.
Word was soon passed that the YES
sci was doomed. and "A general Scram-
ble for rhe lifebOats enSued- many
jumping overheard and attempting 10
swim 10 the shore. the distance being
short In tine scramble To- get into the
boats many were hurled headlOng into
the chilly water. which. according to
passengers arriving from the scene.
seemed alive with human beings Be
fore all the passengers had left the YES
sci she gave Il lurch and went down
bow first. II is known that sixty
seven lives were lost. 1t VIII be some
time before their names can be def
nitely learned. as the purser lost his
passenger list.
Was Question of Gold or Life.
lsflI zfn
tell Of thrilling experiences during the
disaster VI. Blumaur. OF Portland.
who was bringing out satchel con
tanning $4,000 in KlOndike gold. con-
cIuded to leave his gold and save him
self. sam Starten. Of Winnipeg. also
dropped q catchel laden with $1,000 in
geld. and friend lost his pOrtman-
teau with $1,000 in gold in it. One
man who had Just come out from the
Klondike (his name could not he
1earneD is reported to have taken his
portmanteau. containing S4O.OOO in
dust. from the care Of the purSer.
Jumped for a boat. missed il and
drowned.
How the Captain Lost His Life.
The death OF Captain FOOte was
very pathetic. He remained on the |
bridge until the steamer was founder |
ing. When the vessel commenced tn |
sink. and it was seen there was no |
earthly expedient could avail, the cap |
tain. it Is said. jumped to the life raft |
which was already taxed for accom- /
mOdatiOns. Realizing that his weight |
would work havoc there. he exclaimed: |
81 see there are too many here, so /
goodbye boys" and swan away. He /
was shortly afterward seen to sink.
Chief Engineer Brownlee had n mi /
racuIous escape. He was asleep. and /
was awakened by Third Engineer AL
len ringing his bell. He ran to the /
engine room and went down with the |
steamer. He rose from the whirlpool /
and grasped some wreckage. DIR. Phil
Iips. OF Seattle, came up after him. and /
together they clung to the wreckage l
until they were picked up.