The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-04-21
Early Account of the Disaster.
reach sixty.


 Cairo, Ills, April 2O-The side wheel steamer City of Pittsburg, from Cin- cinnati to Memphis, was burned to the waters edge early this morning at Tur- ner's Landing, near Olmstead Ills, eleven miles from Mound City, Ills, and twenty-four miles from this city. The early reports stated that sixty-five lives were lost, and that many were badly burned and otherwise injured, but the list Of casualties is not yet definitely determined. Two boats and all availa- ble craft from this city went to the res- cue and relief. Efforts were made to catch the New South of the same line at Paducah and have her steam back for relief but the steamer had passed Pa ducah upward 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 in 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 state rooms and a frightful panic ensued. The appeals of the officers and crew could not appease the terror stricken crowds that inter- fered 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 for themselves.
 The smoke was stifling. Great clouds foated through the blazing steamer, choking the passengers and adding to the terror. Children cried pitifully beg ging that they be saved.
 Life boats were manned and every effort was made to save the passen- gers from the floating furnace of flames.
 From the river banks the sparks from the burning craft and the dense clouds Of smoke tinged with flames made most impressive and weird spectacle.
 Boats were sent from shore to help in the work Of rescue. Boats were landed at the river banks. As fast as the boats could be emptied they re- turned to the i'll fated steamer, the res cuers losing no time from their work.
 The burning steamer was quickly headed to the bank, but passengers were forced to jump from the stern, and trying to swim ashore through the swift current many were drowned. Many also perished in the flames Only one yawl was saved without oars and the women were taken off. About twenty or thirty were taken off in this boat. The rest were picked up out of the wa ter
 Help, except from people living near by, d'd not arrive until 2:50 o'clock this afternoon. and passengers, with only night clothes, and without food, suffered terribly.
 Captain Phillips says twenty or twen- ty-five of the passengers are missing woman passenger lost three children
 Patrick Burke of Owensboro, Ky, wife and six children, were all ost.
 The body of a child. dressed in night | clothes was taken from the river at Mound City.
 The fire was discovered at 4 :05 a. m. There were seventy passengers and seventy, all told, in the crew
 The fire started in the forward hatch i larbard and burned fiercely and when , the steamer ran ashore escapes were made over the cabin railing. Very few* passengers or members Of the crew were aware of the fire until it was too l late.
 The captain and clerk late tonight claim in all eighty persons have been accounted for, leaving sixty people lost or unaccounted for. The steamer Maud Kilgore brought the survivors to this place at 6 F. m.
 Just prior to the boats departure, she underwent her annual inspection by the United States inspectors and was granted first class papers.
 Mrs. Sherman McCullom jumped over- board and landed in the yawl, but her three children landed in the water and she saw them sink from sight. She is nearly frantic with grief. The body of
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