Evening journal., 1902-04-21
Many PERISH IN
STEAMBOAT FIRE
Twenty two Are Dead and
Forty Others Missing
FRlGHTFUL PANIC ENSUES
TcrrOr-Stricken Passengers Interfere
With Work Of Rescue Many
Forced TO Jump Into River

Cairo. III, April 21-The side-wheel
steamer City of Pittshurg. from Gin.
cinnati TO Memphis, was burned to
the waters edge at 4O5 o'clock yes.
terday morning at Ogden's Landing.
near Olmstead, ILL.,, IL miles from
Mound City ILL.,, and "a miles from
this city. 1t is stated that % lives
were 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
che 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 appeQse the
panic-striclIen crowds that interfered
with those throwing water on the
flames, as well as with those working
with the life boats. Few could adjust
life preseryers or do anything for
themselves
The smoke was sitting. Great
clouds fioated through the blazing
steamer. choking the passengers and
adding 10 the terror. Children cried
pitifully begging that they be saved.
Life boats were manned and every ef.
fort was made TO save the passengers
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 q most impressive and weird
spectacle.
Boats were sent from shore to heir
in the work OF rescue. Boats laden tc
their limit with passengers in the
scant attire they were able to gather
were landed at the river banks. As
fast as the boats could be emptiet
they returned 20 the il.fated steamer
the .rescuers losing no time from theil
work
The burning steamer was QuiclIl,
headed TO tho bank. but passenger.
were forced 20 jump from the stern
and in trying to swim ashore through
the swift current, many were drowned
Many also perished in tho flames. Onl.
one yawl was saved, without oars. an,
the women were taken on About p
or 80 were taken of in the yawl Thl
rest were picked up out OF the water
Help, except from people livinl
nearby, did not arrive until 2.30 o'clocl
yesterday afternoon. and passengers
with only night clothes. and withou
food, suffered terribly.
Mrs Sherman McCullom, with he
three children. was going 70 Caruth
ersville, Mo, to Join her husband. Shl
jumped overheard and landed in tn
yawl. but her three children landed il
the water and she saw them sink from
sight. She is nearly frantic Will
grief The body of the youngest o
the little ones was recovered at Noun
City. aud its remains were identifies
Dy the mother.
Another terribly sad circumstanc
was the loss OF one of the children O
Pilot al Pritchard. The little one wa
tossed from the burning steamer L
arms waiting to catch it in the yaw
but It's head struck against the sid
Of the boat and it fell into the rive
and was lost
A Passengers Experience.
Mrs. Mulkey wife Of Judge Nuke,
OF Metropolis, H.. boarded the Cit
OF Pittsburg shortly before the disa.
ter She said: Il got on the boat a
Metropolis 70 take passage to Cairo
All of the passengers were aslee
when went aboard, and ] went a
once to my stateroom and lay dow
with my clothes on. II must hav
been an hour or more before ! notice
bright light shining into my STATE
room and saw that the front cabin wa
on fire. But few passengers wer