Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-04-25
RIVER STEAMER BURNED
frightful Panic on City Of Pitts
burg When Fire Started.
2 PERsoNs pEAD: % MISSING

Terror-strieken Passengers lnterfered
With Work Of Rescue. and Steamer
Was Headed to the Shore, But Peo-
pie Were Forced to Jump Into River.
Cairo. H.. April 21-The side-wheel
steamer City Of Pittsburg. from Gin
cinnati to Memphis, was harmed to
the waters edge at 4.05 o'clock yes
terday morning at Ogdens Landing
near Olmstead, Ill, IL miles from
Mound City, H., and "a miles from
this city. It is stated that p lives
we're lost and that 40 persons are
missing, but the list of casualties is
not yet definitely determined. AS the
register Of the steamer was burned,
no list can be given. either Of the vic
tins or OF the survivors.
Most Of the passengers were still
in bed when Second Clerk Oliver
Phillips gave the alarm. The engi-
neers 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 clouds Of
smoke, the passengers rushed from
their staterooms and a frightful panic
ensued. The appeals OF the officers
and crew could not appease the
panic-stricken crowds that interfered
with those throwing water on the
flames, as well as with those working
with the life boats. Few could adjust
life preservers or do anything foI
themselves.
The smoke was sitting. Great
clouds foated through the blazing
steamer, choking the passengers and
adding to the terror. Children CRIED
pitifully, begging that they be saved
Life boats we're Manned and every eff
fort was made to save the passenger
from the floating furnace of flames
From the river banks the sparks from
the burning craft and the dens
clouds Of smoke, tinged with flames
made a most impressive and weir
spectacle.
Boats were sent from shore to he'll
in the work Of rescue. Boats laden t
their limit with passengers in tn
scant attire they were able to gather
were landed at the river banks. A
fast as the boats could be emptie
0 they returned to the Inflated steamer
s the rescuers losing no time from thei
S work.
s The burning steamer was quick
+ headed to the bank, but passenger
Il were forced to jump from the steri
II and in trying to swim ashore throug
0 the swift current, many were drowne
J. Many also persisted in the flames. Onl
r )ne yawl was saved, without oars. an
u The women were taken off. About
l. DR. 80 We're taken off in the yawl tt
d rest were picked up cut of the waite
D, Help, except from people livir
n Nearby, did not arrive until 2.3O o'cloC
ID yesterday afternoon, and passenger
II with only night clothes, and witho
H. food, suffered terribly.
ID Mrs. Sherman McCullom, with b.
b. three children, was going to Carut
le ersville, Mo, to join her husband. 81
ut Jumped overheard and landed in Il
er yawl, but her three children landed
er the water and she saw them sink fro
n sight. She is nearly frantic wi
IN grief. The body Of the youngest
OF the little ones was recovered at Mou
a. City, and its remains were identif
he by the mother.
es Another terribly sad circumstan
Il. was the loss of one of the children
Nv Pilot All Pritchard The little one "
tossed from the burning steamer
arms waiting to catch it in the ya'
bit its head struck against the 81
It's OF the boat and it fell into the riV
as and was lost