Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-22

Feared Seventy.five Lives We're Lost
In city Of Pittsburg Fire.
SWIFT PROGRESS OF FLAMES
Upper Decks of Ill Fated Ohio River
Vessel Were Swept Within Ten
Minutes After the Fire
Had Been Discovered.

Cairo, ILL.,, April 22.-Although no
complete list Of either the victims or Of
the survivors is yet obtainable, investi-
cation indicates that almost one-half OF
the $50 people on the City Of Pittsburg
We're lost when that i'll fated steamer
was burned at Ogden's Landing, be-
tween this city and Paducah. Many Of
those who were brought to this city are
suffering from injuries, exposure and
fright.
The number aboard was about equal
ly divided between passengers and
crew, the latter suffering the greater
loss in casualties. The names Of many
of the roustabOuts were not known, and
the number drowned or burned Is not
likely ever to be ascertained.
The fire started in the lower part Of
the steamer in the freight material, or
possibly in the engine room, and shut
off the means of escape there, while
passengers jumped overheard from the
upper decks. Within ten minutes Of
the discovery of fire. survivors say, the
upper decks were swept by flames, and
passengers were penned in on all sides,
even the life preservers being cut of
by the flames. .... -.,-,.
Panic Was Terrible.
The panic that followed caused
greater loss Of life than would have
ensped II the officers could have con-
trolled the terror stricken people: Some
rushed through the flames and perish
ed; others tainted and sank down to be
cremated. Many in their nightrobes,
some Of them atire, jumped overheard
and were drowned. Those that got
into the boats saw others drowning a.
their overcrowded craft pulled to shore.
The half clad survivors on the shore
not only witnessed horrifying scenes
around the charred hull, but also suffer
ed from early morning till relief came
in the afternoon. .''
The captain says there were sixty
six passengers, not including dozen
babies. There were as many women
as men in the cabin, and the indica-
lions are that the greater percentage
of losses was among the women and
children. As the register, with all 9TH
err records, was burned and the surviv. |
ors scattered in every direction, there !
is great difficulty in getting list Of
the survivors.
1t is conceded that many bodies will
never be recovered, so that there will !,
never be complete list Of the victims. |
to %ho,,rht ho% IN rrod hpd. |
les will be found in the hull Of the
burned steamer when the mass Of en-
bers ceases burning, so that the search
for the remains can be made,
Imperfect Insulat!an Hlamed.
Captain J. NJ. Phillips, master of the
boat, cannot give any explanation Of |
the fire, but thinks it possible the in.
sulation of one Of the electric wires |
may have been cut and the wire ex- |
posed. Captain Phillips floated ashore
on a feed trough, his limbs having
become cramped, rendering swimming |
Captain Dana Scott, chief clerk, says
nil the crew who were lost were good
swimmers, and he cannot account for
their loss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Archer Allen of Pitts.
burg were taken from the relief boat
Kilg0re and brought to the Holiday
hotel here. They are heartbroken over
the loss of their only child and are suf-
fering from wounds caused by wreck
age striking them. Their condition is
most pitiable.
OF family of thirteen the father,
mother and ten children persisted in
the fire.