Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-22
ABOUT IS LOST
BY Burning Of the Steamer
City Of Pittsburg'
Scores Saved by Efforts Of Mate
Shriver and Sailor HOLLY.
Some Burned, Some Drowned and
Others Die from Exposure.

Cairo, ILL.,, April 21.-After searching
two days the dead roll of the burned
steamer City of Pittsburg has not been
reduced at all from the first reports.
or the 145 people on the boat when 1t
was burned, yesterday, about one-ha1
are still missing. and, tonight, no fur
Their hope for the others safety is ex-
pressed. The books and valuables of
the boat, crew and passengers are still
in the ruins.
The wreck is above water and still
smouldering, tonight. Owing to the
heated condition Of the hull, search for
those cremated in it has not been begun
and very few of the bodies of those
who We're drowned have been recov-
cred, owing to the swift current.
At the coroner's inquest, today, over
the bodies of Capt. Sylvester DOss and
Miss Maria Tissam, a verdict was rem
dercd that the former came to death
from exhaustion and the latter from
inhaling smoke, and nothing was de-
velOped as to the origin, cause or re-
sponsibility for the disaster. Capt.
Phillips testified that he could not ac-
count for the origin of the fire, unless
an electric wire had started it. He
stated that, so far as he knew, SO lives
were lost. The coroner was advised
of other bodies having been recovered
at distances from this city, but none
of them had been identified.
Sensational reports have been circu-
lated an alleged quarrel between the
officers OF the steamer and the rousta-
Inf Gro 10 hanyl
of incendiary origin, but no credence
is given to them.
Many Of those who were brought to
this city are suffering from injuries.
exposure and fright. The number
aboard was about equally divided be-
tween passengers and crew, the latter
suffering the greater loss in casualties.
The names of many of the "roust
abouts' were not known and the num-
Der drowned or burned is not likely
ever to be ascertained.
Capt. j. NJ. Phillips, master of the
boat, cannot give any explanation of
the fire, but thinks it possible the in
sulation on one of the electric wires
may have been cut and the wire ex-
posed. Capt Phillips fioated ashore on
cramped, making swimming impossible.
Capt. Dana Scott, chief clerk. says
all the crew who were lost were good
swimmers. Mr.. and Mrs. Allen of
Pittsburg, were taken from the relief
boat Kilgore and brought here.
C. NJ. Ellis and Friend council, two
newspaper men of this place, who were
the first on the scene from Cairo. yes
terday, and sent to Mayor Wright for
aid, have been investigating the disas-
ter and report as follows:
The City of Pittsburg. with a crew
of SO and a passenger list which in
cluded &C men, women and children,
was on her way from Cincinnati to
Memphis. At 4.05 A. NJ, at point
three miles above Turner's Landing,
fire was discovered in the forward
matches. This was apparently seen
about the same instant by the engineer
on watch and the first mate, Arthur
Shriver. The former directed a deck
hand to open a valve which would turn
on the water for the purpose of flood
ing the hold. The deckhand exclaimed
that the valve was red hot indicating
that it's connection below was in con-
tact with the flames.
Mate Shriver was just going on
watch. Seeing the flames he rushed
to the roof and shouted to Pilot Harry
Doss that the boat was on fire and to
run to the shore with all spped. Then
he hurried back to the cabin and aid
ed in arousing the sleeping passengers.
The big bell was rung four times in
quick succession and then with one
continuous clang. BY this time. brief
though it was. the forward part Of the
boat was in flames.
Pilot Doss remained bravely at his
post until the bow Of the boat struck
the bank. Then he rang the bells for
the engines to stop. The Texas be-
meath him was blazing and he was en-
veloped in smoke. He leaped into the
river and swan ashore. Wesley Doss
his aged father and an old-time pilot
who was making a trip for pleasure
also sprang into the river and despite
his 81 years swan ashore in safety. bu
died a few minutes later from exhaus
ton and excitement. His body was
brought to Cairo.
The flames spread with such rapidly
that passengers had no time to dress
but they rushed to the guards and
while many sprang overheard to take
tHeiT CHdICeS UetWeeu uedln ny UTOWIl-
ing or by burning, many others were
assisted into a yawl by Mate Shriver
and Sailor Ed B. Holly. The latter had
climbed one Of the supports that kept
the yawl suspended, cut the ropes and
dropped the boat into the river, where
1t was filled with women and children
and hurriedly taken ashore. IA persons
at time.
Several trips were made. but it finally
became impossible to approach the
burning steamer and the men set them
selves to saving those who were afloat.
quite a number were rescued a mile
or two below the wreck
The captain says there were es passen-
gers, not including a dozen babies There
were as many women as men in the cab
In. and the indications are that the great
er percentage of loss was among the wo-
men and children. As the register with
all other records were burned and tha
survivors scattered in every direction
there IL great difficulty in getting a list
of survivors " 49,
1t Is conceded that many bodies will
never be recovered. so that there will
never be complete list of the Victims