Gilpin observer., 1902-04-24
BOAT BURNS; 60 DIE:
STEAMER CITY OF PiTTsBURG A
FLOATING FURNACE.
Many Perish In Flameo or Leap 70
Their Death In the River-Only
Half Of Those Aboard iil-F atcI Graft
Are Known to Be Safe.

Are Known to Be Safe.
Cairo. Ills, April 21.-One of the
worst disasters in the history OF river
navigation occurred shortly after u.
m. near Ogden's Landing. near this
city. While almost all on board were
asleep the steamer City of Pittsburg
was discovered on fire and In few
moments was burned to the waters
edge. The loss of over $4,000 on the
steamer does not include the cargo,
both being a total loss. The latest
estimates are that there were $50
persons on board and that not more
than half of them were saved, many of
the latter being burned or injured.
AS the register of the steamer IVES
burned, no list can be given either of
the victims or of the survivors, and in
the confusion 1t has been lmpossibie
to get complete lists. Captain Phillips
admits that the deaths may reach go.
Most of the passengers were still
in bed when Second Clerk Oliver Phil
lips gave the alarm. The engineers
at once started all the pumping en-
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 passengers rushed from their state
rooms and a frightul panic ensued.
The appeals of the officers and crew
could not appease the terror stricken
crowds that interfered with those
throwing water on the flames, aa well
as with those working with the life
boats. Few could adjust life pre-
servers or do anything else for them
selves.
Floating Furnace OF Flames.
The smoke was sitting. Great
clouds floated through the blazing
steamer, choking the passengers and
adding to the terror. Children cried
pitifully, begging that they be saved.
They knew as well as their elders
that death confronted them and clung
to their mothers as though they alone
could save them. Life boats wers
manned and every effort was made to
save the passengers from the floating
furnace of flames. From the river
banks the sparks from the burning
craft and dense clouds OF smoke,
tinged with tongues of flames from the
vicious bed of fire. made most Inn
pressive yet weird spectacle.
Boats were sent from the shore to
help in the work OF rescue. but the
flames were only too surely consum-
mating their work OF destruction to
save all from the inferno. Boats
laden to their limit with passengers
in the scant attire they were able to
gather were landed at the river banks.
AS fast as one boat could be emptiea
It returned to the ill-iated steamer,
the heroic rescuers not waiting 10
catch a breath OF rest.
The burning steamer was quickly
headed to the bank hut passengers
had to Jump of the stern and. trying
to swim ashore through the swift cur
rent, many were drowned. Many also
persisted in the flames.
The fire started in the forward
hatch and burned fercely. Very few
passengers or the crew We're aware OF
the fire until ii was too late.
At Caledonia, three miles below the
scene OF the disaster. the flames eouio
be plainly seen and the shouts OF the
messengers heard and the people put
ont In skIfYs to the wreck. They as
sisted In saving some OF the passen-
gers. among them Mrs. S. r. Leech OF
bridgeport. o.. who was terribly
burned about the head; Mrs. Fenni-
more OF Arbuckle. w Va. who was
burned about the hands and face, and
Mrs. Fannie McCullum Of Leaven-
worth. Ind. who was burned about the
breast Many passengers clung by
fingers tips 10 the burning boat. with
bodies submerged until overcome by
fire or water they sank TO death.
The case of Mrs. Fannie McCullum
is most pitiful With her three chill
dren she was going TO Caruthersville.
Mo-. to Join her husband. She jumped
overheard and landed in the yawi.
but her three children struck the
water and she saw them sink from.
sight. She is frantic with grief.
Another sad incident was the loss
of one OF the children OF Pilot Al
Pritchard. The little one WAS tossed
from the burning steamer into the
arms waiting to catch it In the yawi.
but its head struck against the side
of the boat and 1t fell into tho river
and was lost.
List of the Victims.
Tho following is partial list Of
the victims: Passengers known to
have been lost-Captain Wesley Doss.
Cincinnati; Miss Marie Tessin. Can
Melton. Ills: three children OF Mrs.
Fannie McCullum. I,eavonworth. Ind;
Patrick Burk and seven members of
his family. Owensboro, KY; child of
pilot AL Pritchard; Clay Breeze, Wife
and son. Uniontown. KY; child or
Archie NJ. Allen. Pittsburg Miss Efle
Lister, Carrollton. o.; Mr.. Adams,
Ohio; Mr.. Downs, Memphis; Miss
Sweeney. Owensboro, KY; l.. l.. Hunt
or ifinti Pa.