Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-21

the upper deckS were swept by
flames and passengers were penned in
on all sides, even the life preservers be-
Ing cut Off by the flames The panic
that followed caused a greater loss OF
life than would have ensued II the
officers could have controlled the terror
stricken people. Some rushed into the
flames and persisted. others tainted and
sank down to be cremated. Many in
their night robes. some OF them aflre,
jumped overheard and were drowned.
Those that got into the boats saw 9TH
ers drowning as their oyer-crowded
craft pulled to shore. The barely clad
survivors on the shore not only wit
messed horrifying scenes around the
charred hull. but also suffered from
early morning until late in the after
noon. The .ceptaln says there were Sc
passengers, not including a dozen ba-
bies There were az many women as
men in the cabin and the Indications
are that the greater percentage of loss
was among the women and children.
As the register with all other records
were burned and the survivors scat
tered in every direction there is great
difficulty in getting list Of
the survivors. II Is conceded
that many bodies never will be recoy-
cred, so that there never Will be
complete list OF the victims. 1t IL
thought that many charred bodies will
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
c. NJ. Ellis Of the Telegram and Fred
Cornell Of this city, who were first on
the scene from Cairo yesterday, and
sent to Mayor Wright for aid, have
been investigating the disaster and re-
ported as follows;
The City Of Plttsburg with crew
of 70 and a passenger list, which in
Guided So men, women and children,
Was on her way from Cincinnati 10
Memphis. At 405 a. m at a point three
miles above Turner's Landing, fire was
discovered in the forward matches.
Thi was apparently seen ut about the
same instant by the engineer on watch
and the first mate, Arthur shriver. The
former directed deckhand to open q
valve which would turn the water ON,
flooding the hold when the man ex-
claimed that the valve was red hot, in
dlcating that It's connection below was
In contact with the flames Mate Shrly-
er was going on watch, accompanied by
his wife, who had gotten up early 70
Keep him company. Seeing the flames
and realizing the gravity Of the stua-
tion, he rushed TO the roof and shouted
to Pilot Harry Doss that the boat was
on fire and to run TO the nearest shore
with all speed Then he hurried back
to the cabin and aided IN arousing the
sleeping passengers. The big bell was
rung four times In quick succession and
then with one continuous clang spread
the news Of the dire calamity.
BY this time, brief though Il was.
the forward part of the boat was I'm
flames. Pilot Doss remained bfavely at
his post until the bow OF the boat
struck the bank Then he rang the
bells Tor the engines to stop. The |
Texas beneath him was blazing and he
was enveloped In smoke. He leaped |
from the pilot house to the Texas,
thence TO the roof. made his way TO |
the wheel house, leaped into the river
and swan ashore, Wesley Doss, his |
aged father, and an old-tlme pilot. who |
was making a trip for pleasure, had |
been In the pilot house with him. but
left a few minutes before Harry did. |
making his way TO the after guards, |
Whefe ne spfang INTO the river and |
despite his age, swan ashore In safety.
but died few minutes later from ex.
haustion and excitement. His body was
brought to Cairo The flames spread
With such rapidly that passengers had
no time 10 dress but they rushed to the
guards ana while many sprang over
board to take their chances between
ieath by drawing or death by burn
ng, Others were assisted into a yawl
~ Mate Shriyer and Sailor ed. 3.
Holly The latter had ~mbed one OF
be supports that kept the yawl sus-
pended, cut the ropes and let the craft
nto the water where women and chill
lren were placed until II was full and
lurriedly taken ashore, IA persons at a
line. Several trips were made at the
risk Of their lives. until II
vas too late to aid further IN the res
ue from the boats direct. when the
men set themselves to the task of saw
ng those who were anoat In the river
quite a number were rescued a mile or
wo below the wreck.