Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-21

SURVIVORS Is yet ObtalnaDle, lnNeStl-
CATION today indicates that almost
half Of the Is people on the City of
steamers burned yesterday mt Ogden :
landing. 1t is thought the greater
percentage of losses was among the
women and children.
Cairo. Ills, April 21.-The side-wheel
steamer City of Pittsburg en- route
from Cincinnati to Memphis. was
burned to the waters edge early yes
tcrday morning at Turner's landing.
near Olmstead, Ills. eleven miles from
Mound City, Ills. and twenty-four
miles from this city. The early re-
ports stated that sixty-five lives were
lost. and that many were badly burned
and otherwise injured. Two boats and
every available craft from this city
went TO the scene for relies. 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 into play.
Frightful Panic Follows the Alarm.
Amid the streams of water on all
sides. the flames from the lower deck.
and dense clouds of smoke. the pass
cngers rushed from their staterooms
and frightful panic ensued. The ap-
peals of the officers and crew could not
appease the terror-stTicken crowds
that interfered with those throwing
water on the flames as well as with
those working with the life boats. Few
could adjust life preservers Or-dO any
thing else for themselves. The smoke
was sitting. Great clouds fioated
through the blazing steamer. choking
the passengers and adding to the ter
rOr. Children cried pitifully, begging
that they be saved.
Steamer Headed to the Bank.
Boats were manned and every effort
was made ts save the passengers from
the floating furnace. Boats were sent
from the shore to help in the work of
rescue and Il number of boat loads
We're landed. The burning steamer
was quickly headed to the bank. but
passengers had to jump off the stern.
and trying TO swim ashore through the
swift current many were drawned.
Many also perished in the flames.
Help. except from people living near
by, did not arrive until 2;3O p. IN. yes
terdlay. and passengers with only night
clothes. and without food, suffered
terribly.
List of the Missing and Injured.
Among the missing is a child of
Pilot Al Pritchard. Clay Breeze and
lis wife and son. and Il son of Archie
NJ. Allen. of PittSburg.
Among the crew missing are: Joe
Redding and Fred Jones. striker engi-
neers; Tom Smith, striker pilot: Viii
liam BOllinger. first steward: Henry
Thomas. cOlered. second steward; John
Bolts. cook Tony GilfOyle. baker. and
the following members of the crew
whose names are unknown: first PAN
tryman. three colored firemen, six cab
in boys. two chambermaids. and six
or eight deckhands. \ striker is n
sort of apprentice.
captain Phillips says twenty or
twenty-five of the passengers are miss
ing and the same number of the crew.
Two women passengers were severely
burned. but will recover. They are
Mrs. :. X. Leach. of Bridgeport. o..
and Mrs. Ellen Fenmore. Arbuckle,
W. Va.
Mrs. Fannie McCuIlum. Of Leavens-
worth. Ind. lost three children; Pat
Burt. of OwensbOro, Ky. wife and six
children. were all lost.
The body of child dressed in night
clothes was taken from the, river at
Mound City. Among the first bodies
recovered were those of Captain Wes-
ley Doss. of Cincinnati. and Miss Ma
rie Tissim. of CanneltOn. Ind. There
were seventy passengers and seventy
all told in the crew.