The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-04-24
SEVENTY LOSE LIFE
In a Frightful Fire Horror on
River Near Cairo, Illinois.
STEAMER TOTALLY DESTROYED
!II-Fated Vessel Was the City Of Pitts.
hurg-Heart-rending Scenes En-.
acted While Angry Flames
Roared,

A special from Cairo, Ill., says: One
of the worst disasters in the history
Of river navigation occurred shortly af-
ter o'clock Sunday morning near o.
dens landing. While almost all aboard
were asleep the steamer City of Pitts
burg was discovered on fire, and in a
few minutes was burned to the water.
The latest estimates are that there
were $50 persons aboard, and that not
more than half Of them were saved,
many of the latter being burned or in
jured. AS the register of the steamer
was burned, no list could be given at
the time, either of the victims or of the
survivors. Captain Phillips admits
that the death list may reach sixty.
At Caledonia, three miles below the
scene of the disaster, the flames could
be plainly seen and the shouts Of the
passengers were heard, and the peo-
pie put out in skiffs to the wreck. They
assisted in saving some Of the passen-
gers.
Many passengers clung by finger tips
to the burning boat, with bodies sub
merged, until, overcome by fire or wa
ter, they sank to death.
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.
Amid the streams Of water on all sides,
the flames from the lower deck and
clouds of smoke, the passengers rush
cd from their state rooms and fright
full panic ensued. The appeals Of the
officers and crew could not appease
the terror-stricken crowds that inter
fered with those throwing water on the
flames, as well as those working with
the lifeboats. Few could adjust life
preservers or do anything else for
themselves.
Children Beg to Be Saved.
The smoke was sitting Great clouds
floated through the blazing steamer,
choking the passengers and adding to
their terror. Children cried pitifully,
begging that they be saved. They
knew, as we'll as their elders, that
death confronted them and clung to
their mothers as though they alone
could save them. Lifeboats were man.
ned and every effort was made to save
the passengers from the furnace OF
flames. Sturdy boatmen rowed desper-
ately in their heroic work of rescue.
Boats were sent from the shore to do
all they could in the work of rescue.
Laden to their limit with passengers,
in the scant attire they We're able to
gather, boats were landed at the river
banks. AS fast as one boat could >se
emptied it returned to the ill-fated
steamer, the rescuers not waiting to
catch a breath Of rest.
The burning steamer was quickly
headed to the bank, but passengers
had to lump off the stern and trying to
swim ashore through the swift current
many were drowned. Many also per-
ished in the flames. Only one yawl was
saved without oars and the women
were taken off. About twenty or thirty
were taken off the yawl, the rest being
picked up out of the water. Help ex-
cept from people, living near by, did
not arrive until 2:3O Sunday afternoon,
and passengers, with only their night
clothes and without food, suffered ter
ribly. 4
The fire started in the forward hatch
larboard and burned fercely, when
the steamer was run ashore and es'
capes were made over the cabin rail-
ing. Very few passengers or the crew
were aware of fire until it was too late.
Up to midnight Sunday night, the
known death list was forty-nine, with
only three bodies recovered.
The loss is over $4,000 on the
steamer and does not include the car
20, both being total loss.