The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1902-04-24

Cairo, ILL.,. April 21.-The side-wheel
steamer City of Pittsburg, en- route
from Cincinnati 10 Memphis, was
burned to the waters edge early yes
terday morning at Turner's Landing,
near Olmstead, ILL.,, IL miles from
Mound City, ILL.,, and "a miles from
this city. The early reports stated
that 65 lives were lost, and that many
were badly burned and otherwise in
iured, but the list of casualties is not
yet definitely determined. Two boats
and every available craft from this
city went to the scene for relief. Eff
forts were made to catch the New
South of the same line at Paducah
and have here steam back for relief,
but the New South had passed Pa
ducah upward-bound before the tele-
gram was received.
Most of the passengers were still in
bed when Second Clerk Oliver Phil
lips gave the alarm. The engineers at
once started all of 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 pas
sengers rushed from tn ,ir state
rooms and a frightful panic ensued.
The appeals of the officers and crew
could not appease the terror-stricken
crowd that interfered with those
throwing water on the flames as we'll
as those working with the lifeboats.
Few could adjust life prescrvers or do
anything else for themselves. The
smoke was sitting. Great clouds
foated through the burning steamer.
choking the passengers, adding to the
terror. Children cried pitiously and
begging that they be saved. They
knew as well as their elders that
death confronted them, and chung to
their mothers as though they alone
could save them.
The lifeboats were manned and ev-
cry effort was made to save the pas
sengers from the floating furnace of
flames. Sturdy boatmen rowed as
they never rowed before in the heroic
work of rescue.
From the river banks the sparks
from the burning craft and the dense
clouds of smoke, tinged with tongues
of flames from the vicious bed of fire
made most impressive, yet weird,
spectacle.
Boats were sent from the shore to
work in the rescue, but the flames
were only too surely consummating
their work of destruction to save all
from the inferno. Boats laden to
their limit with passengers in such
scant attire as they were able to
gather, were landed at the river
banks. As fast as one boat could be
emptied it returned to the Inflated
steamer, heroic rescuers not waiting
TO catch a breath of rest.
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 drowned
Many also persisted in the flames.
Only one yawl was saved without
oars, and the women were taken off.
About twenty or thirty were taken
off in the yawl. The rest were picked
up out of the water. Help, except
from people living near by, did not
arrive until $3.50 p. m, ana passen-
gers with only nightclothes and with
out food suffered terribly.
The fire started in the forward
hatch, larboard, and burned fiercely. |
When the steamer run ashore escapes
were made over the cabin railing
Very few of the passengers or the
crew were aware of the fire until |
ii was too late. The captain and |
clerk claim in all so persons have
been accounted for. The steamer
Maud Kilgore, Capt. Cole, brought |
the survivors to this place at 6 p. m,
and the several societies of the city |
rendered all assistance in the way of |
clothing, etc.