Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-22
af Of Original Number, One Hundred and
FOrty-fvs, Still Missing.
isEcK IS sEoULDRISe on The RIVER
Work Of Rescue Greatly HEmPsrsd BY the
Excessive Hest Of Hull
OUR or VICTIMS DROWNED RECOVERED
Definite knowledge of Fires Origin
s'in LankinE. but Unaccredited
RuBOr says IL Wa of In
cendiary Character.

CAIRO, III. April 21-After seErchlns
TWO DAYS the death list Of the burned
steamer City OF PittsburE has not been re
duced any from The FIRST reports OF the
1s5 persons who were on the boat when 1t
burned yesterday morning. about half are
still missing and tonight no further hope
for them If expressed
The books and vAluRbles OF the boat
crew and passengers are still in the ruins
The wreck is above water and stu smol-
oerinE tonight. Owing 70 the heated oondi-
tion % the hull search for those cremhteo
| IN II has not been begun and very few OF
the bodies Of those drowned have been re-
covered, owing to the swift current
Al the coronsrs inquest today over the
body OF Captain Sylvester Doss and Miss
Maria Tissin, 8 verdict Was rendered thst
the former came TO death from exhaustion
and the latter from inhaling smoke, and
nothing was developed as TO the origin.
cause or responsibility for the disaster.
Unable TO Give abe Origin.
Captain Phillips testified that he could
not account for the origin OF The FIRE unless
an electric wire had started H. He stated
that 80 far as he knew there we're ffty-Eix
lives lost. The coroner Was advised OF
other bodies being recovered Bt distances
from this city, but none Of them has been
[ Identified
Sensational reports have been circulated
about an alleged quarrel between the Of
hcers OF the steamer and the roustabouts
and that the fire may have been Of incen-
diary origin, but no eredenoe Is given 10
these reports. Many stories have been told
| today by survivors Of their thrilling ex-
periences in escaping and some Of them are
| OF a most startling character. The VIC
I Tins were from points along the Ohio val
/ ley and they have left 3 trRn OF beresve
ment from Pittsburg TO the Mississippi
river.
Burns 10 waters Edge.
The steamer City Of PittsburE burned to
the waters edge about 4 o'clock ysstsr-
/ day morning seventeen miles down the
/ river. c. NJ. Ellis Of the Telegram ana
Fred COEnen Of TINS place xhe were tia
| first on the scene from Cairo yesterday
and sent to Mayor Wright for aid. nave
been investigating the disaster ever since
yesterday and report as follows
! City Of PittEburg with crew OF seventy
and passenger list which included sixty
six men, wcmen and children, was on itE
way from Cincinnati TO Memphis. At 4:O5
g. m. a. q point three miles above Turner's
Landing, FIRE was discovered in the forward
/ hatches This Was apparently seen about
( The same instant by the engineer on watch
and the first mate, Arthur shriver. The
former directed q deck hand 20 open a
valve which would turn the water for the
purpose Of flooding the hold. when he ex-
| claimed that the valve was red hot ibdI-
eating that its connection below WAS in
/ contact with the flames.
/ Mate Shriver vas just going on watch
accompanied by his wife, who had gotten
up early 10 keep him company. Seeing the
flames and realizing the gravity OF the sit
uRtion be rushed 10 the roof and shouted
10 Pilot Harry Doss that the boat wRs on
FIRE and TO run 10 shore will all speed He
then hurried back TO the cabin and aided
in Erouing the sleeping passengers.
Pilot stsys NJ Post.
then with one -t-ntnuous clAmor spread
the nsvs. Pilot Doss remained brsvely at
his post until the bow Of the boat struck
the bank. Then be rang the bells for the
/ engines 10 stop. The Texas" beneath him
vas blazing and he was euveloUed IN smoke
He lsEped from the pilot house 10 the
Texas" thence 10 the roof made his way
10 the wheel house, leaped in the river and
swan ashore. Wesley Doss his aged
father and an old-time pilot, who was
making the trip for pleasure had been IN
the pilot bouss with him. but left a few
minutes before Harry did, making his way
TO the after guards. where he sprsng into
the river and despite his 81 years swan
ashore IN safety. but died few minutes
later from exhaustion and excitement His
body was brought to Cairo.
The flames spread with such rspidity that
passengers had no time to dress, but they
rushed 10 the guards. and while many
/ sprHng overheard 10 take their chances be-
tween death by drowning. or death BY burn
( ing. others were assisted into q yGwl BY
Mate shrivsT and Sailor I'd p Holly. The
/ latter had climbed one Of the supports that
kept the yEwl suspended. cut the ropes and
/ let the craft into the water. where women
[ and children we're placed. until II WAS full
and hurriedly taken ashore. fourteen per
sons a. q time.
Men Risk Their Lives
/ Several trips we're made Al the innsdi-
ate risk Of their lives. until II was too late
10 aid further In the rescue from The boats
| direct when the men set themselves to the
work Of saving those who were Ehoat IN
the river A number were rescued a Fnfls
or TWO below the wreck
Dr. ". 7. DsuEhsrty, with his wife and
baby Was enrOute from Marion Ky. 20
Charleston, No. He placed . life preservef
around his wife. another on himself and.
taking HE baby IN his arms. lowered him
self 70 The water by q rope. Then be he'd
On until MS wife followed and with their
baby cl-nglng with her arms about his neck
they started for shore. but the swim cur
rent carried them down nearly tEo miles
before they we're rescued BY people on the
bank. The child had IN the EGSntlms b.
come exhausted with colo ana WEs uncon-
sli0uS Fier grasp relsIee bUt her father
ErasFsc her U.ghtdress iH hls teeth and
held her head out o. n. Natsr. Ngner they
we're Rescued ts. tso. Wzs nearly szsE1a.sd.
hut When TIE ehnd Wzs rsszEs1Etod Es VS.
happy.
H-~iE%s ,Ast OF NaaS.srs.