The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-14
FIFTEEN DEAD.
First Authentic Account of the
Paducah Catastrophe.
Sank in Three Minutes After
Striking Snag.

ST. Louis. May 1.-THE first authentic
information concerning the wreck OF
the City of Paducah which occurred at
Brunkhorst Landing I'LL late Sunday
night, was obtained upon the arrival of
the steamer City of Clifton at this port
early today.
Fifteen persons lost their lives in the
catastrophe six whites and nine blacks
THE DEAD.
DR.. J. W. Bell, of Cuba Landing, Tenn
Miss Mabel Gardiner. St Louis
Charles Johnson, aged "a, deck watch
man.
Frank Gardner, Texas tender of Pa
ducah. Ky.
Two white men, names unknown
Grant Woods, colored, boat baker.
Eight colored roustabouts, names an
known.
The city of Paducah stopped at
Brunkhorst Landing at $50 o'clock
Sunday and took on a load of corn
When in the act of backing away from
the wharf the boat swung around and
struck the bank heavily with her stern.
A snag imbeded in the bank tore an
enormous hole in the hull through
which the water rushed with frightful
rapidity She at once began to settle
and at the end of three minutes nothing
but her roof, Texas deck and pilot
house remained above the surface.
The officers acted with great coolnes5
and as the boat settled helped the pas
sengers to the cabin roof from which
the boats were lowered and their
charges carried ashore
Miss Mabel Gardiner, of St.LOuis, was
asleep in her state room, when the shock
came and probably lost her life by re-
naming TO dress. Her body was found
in the forward part OF the cabin. The
body of DR.. Bell has not yet been recov-
cred.
The crew and their helpers being on
the lower deck when the vessel struck,
were placed in a position of most awful
peril. As the steamer careened in set
ting, the big cargo, consisting chiefly
of sacks of corn, shifted and before the
men could escape half of them were
pinned down and either crushed to
death OF held until the water brought
about their end.
The passengers lost all of their be-
longings and had to be supplied with
clothing by those on shore.
The City of Paducah lies in about 80
feet of water and the loss will be total.
She was valued at $4,000
Captain Mccoy, of the steamer City
of Clifton, which arrived this morning
from the scene of the wreck of the
steamer City of Paducah. said.
lat the hour the City of Clifton left
the scene of the wreck, 5 O'Clock yester-
not been recovered. Miss Gardiner, it
was then believed, was Killed by being
struck by a falling trunk. while sew
eral of the deck hands We're thought
ers being drowned
Miss Gardiner and her travelling
companions, Mrs Allen and Miss Min
ME Groed, were together when the ac-
cident occurred All but Miss Gardiner
We're rescued through a skylight Clerk
Truslow Of the boat and his wife were
saved by the same means, while Cap
tain Kirlzpa trick and Chief Mate Roll
rescued Rabbi Block and Mrs Block
through hole in the roof They and
DR.. Bell, who was lost. were among the
few passenge who had retired. The
women We're taken in roWboats to
Grand Tower, some of them wearing
only shawls over their night dresses.
The body of Charles Johnson, the
Waterman, SO years of age. was not re
covered. All the records of the City of
Paducah were lost
According to reports. the passengers
behaved sensibly and there was no
panic. The shock in striking the bank
did not seem to be great, but every
one realized at the time that he was in
danger and all acted coolly. The num-
Der of deck hands who were lost can
not de detern fned aceurat ely- Pos
sibly some of them had quit the ves-
sci at points between this city ana the