The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-21

worst disasters III tpS iiiSsoA' -
&EF6 river navigation occurred short
ly after o'clock this morning near og-
dens Landing near this city.
While almost all aboard were asleep the
steamer City of Pittsburg was discovered
on fire and in a few MON ents was burn
ed to the water. The loss of over $SO'OOO
on the steamer does not include the cargo
both being total loss. The latest estl-
mates are that there were $50 persons
aboard and that not more than haif Oh
them were saved, many of the latter
being burned or injured. AS the register
of the steamer was burned no list can
be given either of the victims or of the
Survivors and in the confusion 1t has been
impossible to get complete lists. Captain
Phillips admits that the death list may
reach sixty.
Two boats and every available craft
from this city went to the scene for re-
lief Efforts were made to catch the New
South of the same line at Paducah and
have her steam back, but she had passed
Paducah upwar~ bound before the tele-
gram was received.
Most of the passengers were still In bed
when Second Clerk oliver Phillips gave
the alarm. The engineers at once started
all the pumping engines while the crew
brought all the hose into play. Amid the
streams of water on all sides the flames
from the lower deck and dense columns
of smoke, the passengers rushed from
their state rooms and a frightful panic
ensued. The appeals of the officers and
crew could not appease the terror-strick-
en- crowds that interferred with those
throwing water on the flames as well as
those working with the life boats.
Few could adjust life preservers or do
anything else for themselves. .,
Smoke Was Sitting.
The smoke was sitting Great clouds
floated through the blazing steamer,
choking the passengers and adding to the
terror Children cried pitifully, begging
that they be saved. They knew, as well
as their elders. that death confronted
them and clung to their mothers as
though they alone could save them. Life
boats were manned and every effort was
made to save the passengers from the
furnace of flames. Sturdy boatmen row.
ed desperately III tiieii Heioic WIN VI
rescue,
From the river banks the sparks from
the burning craft and the dense clouds
of smoke, tinged with tongues of flames
made a most impressive, yet weird spect-
acle.
Boats were sent from the shore to do all
they could in the work of rescue.
Boats laden to their limit with pas
sengers in the scant attire they were
able to gather, were landed at the river
hanks. AS fast as one boat could be emp
tied, it returned to the Inflated steamer,
the rescuers not waiting to catch
breath of rest. The burning steamer was
quickly headed to the bank. but passen-
rers had to jump off the stern and try
ing to swim ashore through the swift cur
rent many were drowned. Many also
perished In the flames. Only one yawl
was saved without oars and the women
were taken off. About 20 or 30 were taken
off tho yawl the rest being picked up out
of the water. Help except from, people
living nearby, did not arrive until 2:3O
this afternoon and passengers with only
their night clothes and without food suf-
The following partial lists We're revised
up to midnight so far as possible with
meagre information obtainable:
Passengers known to Have Been Lost
Capt. Wesley Doss. retired river pilot,
is26 Eastern avenue, Cincinnati.
Miss Marie Tessim, Cannelton, Ind.
Three children of Mrs. Fannie McCul-
lum of Leavenworth, IND.
Patrick Burk and seven members OF his
family of Owensboro, KY.
Child of Pilot AL Pritchard of Memphis,
Tenn.
CLAY Breeze, wife and son, Uniontown,
KY.
Child of Archie M. Allen of Pittsburg,
Pa,
Miss Mary Lister, Carrollton, o.
Mr.. Adams of Ohio.
Mr. Downs of Memphis.
Miss Sweeny of Owensboro, KY
L. L. Hunter of Litinti, Pa
Members of the crew missing:
Probably Dead.
Joe Redding, 1915 Budd street, Gin
cfnnati: striker to engineer.
Fred JONES' Newport, KY. striker to
engineer.
Tom Smith, Memphis Tenn, steers
man.
William Rentz Bollinger, II Walnut
street, Cincinnati, first steward.
Henry Jones (colored) Cincinnati, Sec
ond steward.
John Bolts, Cincinnati, cook.
Tony Gifoyle, Cincinnati, baker
These mem bers of the crew, names
unknown, also missing:
First pantry man. Three colored fire.
men. Six cabin boys. Two chambermaids
Six deck hands. Two cooks.
Bodies already recovered:
Captain Wesley Doss, Miss Marie Tes-
sim. Youngest of the McCulium children.
Passengers Saved.
Emma Smith, Paducah, KY.
Adue M. Allen and wife, Pittsburg
l.. M McGraw, Louisville.
Mrs. Judge Mulkcy. Metropolis. Ill