The Topeka state journal., 1902-04-21
BURN AND DROWN
Scores Of Persons Lose Their
Lives on the Ohio
BY the Burning of the Steamer,
City Of Pittsburg.
WE'RE STILL IN BED.
Passengers Plunge Into the
River in a Panic.
The Fire Originated in the For
ward Hold.
WE'RE STILL IN BED.

Cairo. III. April 2l-Although no
complete list of either the victims or
survivors is yetobtainable, investigation
TODAY indicates that almost one-half Of
the 15o. people on the City of Pittsburg
were lost when that Inflated steamer
was burned yesterday at Ogden's
landing. between this city and Padueah-
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 rousta bouts
were not known. and the number
drowned or burned is not likely ever 10
be ascertained. The fire started in the
lower part of the steamer in the freight
material or possibly in the engine
lsom, and shut off the means of escape.
PASSENGERS jumped overheard from the
upper decks. Within ten minutes of the
discovery of the fire at 4 a. m. sur
vivors say the upper decks were swept
by flames and passengers were penned
i'm on all sides, even the life preseryers
being cut off by the flames. The panic
that followed caused a greater loss OF
life than would have ensued if the OH
GERS could have controlled the terror
stricken people. Some rushed through
the flames and persisted; others tainted
and sank down to be cremated Many
in their night robes jumped overheard
and were drowned. Those that got
into the boats saw others drowning as
their overcrowded craft pulled TO shore
The barely clad survivors on the shore
not only Witnessed hOrrlEylng scenes
around the charred hull but also SUI
fered from early morning till relief
came in the afternoon. The captain
saws there were sixty-six passengers.
not including a dozen babies. There
were as many women as men in the
cabin, and the indications are that the
greater portion of the loss was among
the women and children AS the reg
lister with all other records was burned
ard the survivors scattered in every
direction, there is great difficulty in
getting a list of the survivors. 1t Is
conceded that many bodies never viii
be recovered, so that there viii never
be complete list of the victims. It
is thought that many charred bodies
viii be found in the hull Of the burned
steamer when the mass OF embers
ceases burning so that the search for
the remains can be made.
Cairo. H.. April 21-The sidewheel
steamer City of P1ttsburg. en- route
from Cincinnati to Memphis. was
burned to the waters edge shortly
after 4 o'clock Sunday morning at Tur-
ner's landing, near Olmstead. Ill. eleven
miles from Mound City, Ill. and
twenty-four miles from this city.
The early reports state that sixty
five lives We're lost, and that many
were badly burned and otherwise in
5ured
Two boats and every available craft
from this city went to the scene for
relief Efforts We're made to catch the
New South, of the same line. at Pa
ducah and have her steam back for
n1 4
Paducah upward bound before the tele-
gram was received.
Most of the passengers We're 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
The passengers rushed from their state
rooms and a frightful panic ensued. The
appeals Of the officers and crew had no
effect on the terror-stricken crowds
Few could adjust life preservers or do
anything else for themselves
The smoke was sitting. Great clouds
hoated through the blazing steamer
choklng the passengers and adding to
the terror Children cried pftffullv
begging that they be saved.
Boats were sent from the shore to
4elp IN the work of rescue, but the
flames had such headway that it was
impossible to save all those on board
Boats, laden to their limit with pas
seugers, in the scaut attire they were
able to gather, were landed at the river
could q
empted it returned with all speed to
the burning steamer.
Ihe steamer was headed to the bank
S0en the fire was discovered. but pas
ssngers had to jump off 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, and this without oars
Dut about twenty or thirty were taken
on in it. The rest of the saved were
picked up out of the water Helm ey-
cept from people living nearby. did not
arrive until 2:30 o'clock in fhe after
noon, and passengers with only night
ribly.
Among the missing are a child of
Riot Al Pritchard, Clay Breeze, wife
ana son, and a son of Archie Allen of
Pittsburg.
Among the crew missing are:
zoe Jedding, Cincinnati. striker engineer
EItd Jones. Newport. striker engineer
54l. III s71il1In memphis. striker pilot.
~ " imam bohingeF, Cincinnati frst stew
Henry Thomas. colored, Cincinnati. sec
John Bolts. Cincinnati. cook.
1g 1HSng esllIoyle Cincinnati. baker
Six cabin boys
Two chambermaids
Six or eight deckhands
James Neville, Dayton, Ky, boat car
Emma Smith, Paducah. Ky. passenger
Ardne "a, Allen and wife, 251 Fourth ave
J. NJ. A4cGraw. Louisville, XIV
Mrs. Judge Mulzey. Metropolis III
Arthur Shelley, Buckner City, KY.
Mrs. Tunnie NIyer. Point Pleasant. ".
Va badly burned, and daughter
Alalgarel Bridges. Louisville. Ky.
Jennie Bessick, Lexington XIV
* Stations and wife, C.areysville, KY
Mead Mate Sinners and wife
Miss Leech, badly burned
Pilot Pritchett, wife and child
Miss Marie Lysler. Carrollton. o. died
after being brought on shore
shore
The captain. clerk and engineers two
engineers strikers two cooks
The following Is a partial list Of those
lost.
NIB ADAMS, Ohio bound for ST. Louis.
MR. DOWNS, Memphis
IOM SMITH, steersma n Memphis
FAIllCl2 8UItEk. wi1is and SIX children,