New-York tribune., 1902-04-22
STEAMER FIRE INCENDLARI? ?
HEATED HULL AND SWIFT CURRENT
PREVENT SEARCH FOR BODIES.

Cairo. Ill, April 21.-After searching for two
days. the death roll of the burned steamer City
of Pittsburg has not been reduced from the
estimate Of the first reports. OF the 145 people
on the boat when it burned yesterday morning.
about one-half are still missing and tonight
no further hope for them is expressed. The
books and valuables of the boat. crew and pas
sengers are still in the ruins. The wreck is
above water and still smouldering to-msht
Owing to the heated condition of the hull, search
for those cremated in 1t has not begun. and few
of the bodies Of those who drowned have
been recovered. owing to the swift current at
the scene of the disaster.
At the corOners inquest to-day over the bodies
OF Captain Sylvester Doss and Miss Maria
Tissin, verdict was rendered that the former
came TO death from exhaustion and the latter
from inhaling smoke and nothing was developed
as to the origin. cause or responsibility for the
disaster. Captain Phillips testified that he could
not account for the origin of the fire. unless an
electric wire had started 1t. He stated that so
far as he knew. ffty-stx lives were lost. The
coroner was advised that other bodies had been
recovered at distances from this city, but none
have been identified.
Sensational reports have been circulated about
an alleged quarrel between the officers of the
steamer and the rousta bouts, and that the fire
credence is given to these reports. Many stories
have been told to-day by survivors of their
thrilling experiences in escaping from the burn
ing decks. and some of them are Of most
startling character.
The victims were from points along the Ohio
Valley, and they have left trail of bereave-
ment from Pittsburg to the Mississippi
A careful estimate tonight by those who were
aboard the City OF Pittsburg puts the loss OF life
at sixty-three at the lowest. The opinion OF
uSr iC hot
the list viii approximate one hundred There is
no way obtain the exact figures. the regis
ter of passengers and the list of the crew were
burned, and the purser, Dana Scott, and others
rely on their memories In making the estimate.
Of this appalling death list only three bodies
have been recovered and identified up to a late
hour tonight. The coroner's inquest this after
noon developed nothing new. The insurance
men and wreckers arrived tonight from Cincfn-
natl and it is thought their investigation will
bring out more than has been disclosed to-day.
All the injured doing well. and being
tenderly cared for. All who escaped from the
burning boat without their effects have been
clothed, and most Of them have departed for
their homes.
Inquiries to-day confirmed the report that
Harlow Dove, OF Ashland, KY. among
those who perished. L. L. Hunter who had been
listed from Tidioute, Penn. is said to have
large lumber interests. with headquarters at
Pittsburg. and friends have arrived to search
for his body. No attempt to recover bodies has
yet been made either at the wreck or In the
river. but watch is kept for bodies that may
rise from the wreck.
Mrs Fennimore and her daughter are at St
Mary's Infirmary. and both improving.
They are from Arbucker. w Va. Mr.. sweeney,
OF Skeston, No. who went to Owensboro some
tire ago to see to the moving of Patrick Burk
and his family. was left when the boat departed.
He in to-day. The little girl who was
saved out of the Burk family of thirteen Is his
child Mr.. Sweeney viii make a search for the
body Of a who lost. and who has been
listed with the Burk family
A passenger and his two sons were driven by
the heat TO the rear Of the boat. and, stepping
off the end the three dropped into the river.
saying I'VE will all die together" They were
drowned.
c. II. Clifford, William Whitney and Mrs. Fen
nimore say that they were on the outer side of
the wheelhouse. which was the last to burn as
the wind was blowing from 1t. They could not
be seen from the shore, and remained there until
their cries were heard by people the Illinois
shore who crossed the river and rescued them