Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-04-24
OVER SIXTY LIVES LOST.
Burning of the Steamer City Of
Pittsburg Off Turner's
Landing, Illinois.
PASSENGERS IN BED AT TIME OF ALARM.
An Indescrlbable Panic Ensned on Board
and Many Lives Were Lost by Jamp-
ing Overheard. While a Number Are
Known to Have Perished Miserabiy in
the Flames.

"A y NV ""ht q ohhD NV
Known to Have Perished Miserabiy in
the Flames.
Cairo, ILL.,. April 21.-The side-wheel
steamer City of P~ittsburg, en- route
from Cincinnati to Memphis, was
burned to the waters edge early yes
terday morning at Turner's Landing,
near Olmstead, H., IL miles from
Mound City. ILL.,, and "a miles from
this city. The early reports stated
that s. lives were lost, and that many
were badly burned and otherwise in
jured, but the list of casualties is not
yet definitely determined. Two boats
and every available craft from this
city went to the scene for relief. Eff
forts were made to catch the New
South of the same line at Paducah
and have here steam back for relief,
but the New South had passed Pa
ducah upward-bound before the tele-
gram was received.
Most OF the passengers were still in
bed when Second Clerk Oliver Phil
lips gave the alarm. The engineers at
ortce started all of the pumping n
gines, 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 Das-
sengers rushed from h,ir state
rooms and a frightful panic ensued.
The appeals of the officers and crew
could not appease the terror-stricken
crowd that interfered with those
throwing water on the flames as well
as those working with the lifeboats.
Few could adjust life prescrvers or do
anything else for themselves. The
smoke was sitting. Great clouds
fioated through the burning steamer,
choking the passengers, adding to the
terror. Children cried pitiously and
begging that they be saved. They
knew as well as their elders that
death confronted them. and chung to
their mothers as though they alone
CDlliu save tIlt1Il.
The lifeboatS were manned and ev-
cry effort was made to save the pas
sengers from the floating furnace Of
flames. Sturdy boatmen rowed as
they never rowed before in the heroic
work of rescue.
From the river banks the sparks
from the burning craft and the dense
clouds of smoke, tinged with tongues
of flames from the vicious bed of fire
made a most impressive, vet weird,
spectacle.
Boats were sent from the shore to
work in the rescue, but the flames
were only too surely concentrating
their work of destruction to save all
from the inferno. Boats laden to
their limit with passengers in such
scant attire as they were able to
gather, were landed at the river
banks. AS fast as one boat could be
emptied it returned to the Inflated
steamer, heroic rescuers not waiting
to catch ii breath of rest.
The burning steamer was quickly
headed to the bank, but passengers
had to jump off the stern and trying
to swim ashore through the swift
current many were drowned.
Many also persisted in the flames.
Only one yawl was saved without
oars, and the women were taken off.
About twenty or thirty were taken
OF in the yawl. The rest were picked
up out of the water. Help. except
from people living near by, did not
arrive until 2:30 p. M, and passcn-
gers with only n%ightclothes and with
out food suffered terribly.
The fire started in the forward
hatch, larboard, and burned fieroely.
When the steamer run ashore escapes
were made over the cabin railing.
Very few of the passengers or the
crew were aware of the fire until
it was too late. The captain and
clerk claim in all so persons have
been accounted for. The steamer
Maud kilgore, Capt. Cole. brought
the survivors to this place at 6 p. m.,
and the several societies of the city
rendered all assistance in the way of
clothing, etc.
Just prior to the boats departure
from Cincinnati she underwent her
annual inspection by United States
Inspectors Cameron and Fearn. and
was granted first-class papers.
II. 4. Gardner, Of Logansport, Ind,
relates his experiences as follows:
"About five o'clock | was awakened
by the electric bells and the screams
of passengers. My stateromm was
halfway back. | put on a life pre-
server and my clothes and went out
and jumped overheard. | was almost
caught under the wheel, and saw one
MAI drowned who was carried under
the boat by the swift current. ! was
badly bruised about the limbs. but /
am 4 good swimmer and managed to
get ashore"