The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-22
IN HORRIBLE
DEATH TRAP
$50 People are Caught by
Flames on River.
IS LIVES WRENCHED OUT
Terrible Agonizing Cries Rend
Early Sabbath Morning,

! steamer, City Of Pittsburg, was burned TO
the waters edge Sunday morning shortly
after o'clock at Ogden's Landing, "a
miles from this city. The boat carried 80
passengers and it is calculated that at
| least half this number lost their lives.
The steamer was en- route from Cincin-
natl to Memphis. Many of those who
were brought TO the city are suffering
from injuries, exposure and fright. The
number aboard was about equally d.
vided between passengers and crew, the
latter suffering the greater loss in cas-
| ualties. The names of many Of the
roustabouts were not known and the
number burned OF drowned IS not likely
to be ascertained.
The fire started in the lower part Of
the steamer, in the freight material, or
possibly in the engine room, and shut off
the means of escape there, while pas
sengers jumped overheard from the up
per decks. Within ten minutes of the
discovery of the fire at m, survlv-
ors say the upper decks were swept by
flames and passengers were penned in on
all sides, even the life preservers be-
ing cut off by flames. The panic that
followed caused greater loss of life
than would have ensued if the officers
could have controlled the terror-stricken
people. Some dashed through the flames
and persisted, others tainted and sank
down to be cremated. Many. IN their
nightrobes, some afire. jumped over
board and were drowned. Those that got
into boats saw others drowning as their
overcrowded craft pulled tc shore The
barely clad survivors on the shore not
only witnessed horrifying scenes around
the charred hull, but also, suffered from
early morning until relief came in the
afternoon. The captain says there were
slxty-six passengers. not including
dozen babies. There were as many wo-
men as men in the cabin and the indica-
tons are that the greater percentage of
losses was among the women and chill
dren. AS the register, with all other
records, was burned and the survivors
scattered in every direction, there is great
difficulty in getting a list of the surviv-
ors. 1t Is conceded that many bodies
never will be recovered. That there viii
never be a complete list Of the victims
1t is 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 re-
mains can be made.
c. N 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 in
vestigating the disaster ever since yester-
ra,o,-%oS (oYI
The City of Pittsburg with q crew Of
seventy-nine and a passenger list wnfcE
included sixty-six men. women and chill
dren was on her way from Cincinnati to
Memphis At 4:05 a. m, at point three
miles above Turner'S Landing, fire was
discovered in the forward matches. This
was apparently seen at the same instant
by the engineer on watch and the first
mate Arthur Shriver. The former di-
rected a deck hand to open valve, which
would turn the water on. flooding the
hold, when the man exclaimed that the
valve was red hot. indicating that its con-
nection below was in contact with the
flames. Mate Shriver was just going on
watch. accompanied by his wife. who had
gotten up early to keep him company.
Seeing the flames. and recognizing the
gravity Of the situation. he rushed to the
roof and shouted to the 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 passeng-
ers. The big bell was rung four times IN
quick succession and then with one con-
tinuous clang spread the news Of the dire
calamity.
BY this time. brief though It was, the
forward part of the boat was IN flames.
Pilot Doss remained bravely at his post
until the bow Of the boat struck the bank.
Then he rang the bell for the engines to
stop. The Texas" benath him. was
blazing and he was enveloped in smoke.
He leaped from the pilot house to the
Texas" thence 10 tho roof made his
way to the wheel house leaped into the
river and swan ashore. Wesley Doss.
his aged father. an old time pilot. who
vas making trip for pleasure had been
in the pilot house with him. but LEFT
few minutes before Harry did making
his way 10 the after guards, where he
sprung into the river. and despite his G.
wears. swan ashore IN safety, but died a
few minutes later from exhaustion and
excitement. His body was brought TO
cairo.
The flames spread with such rapidity
that passengers had no tine 20 dress. but
they rushed TO the guards. and while
many OF them sprang overheard TO take
,-eir chances between death by drowning
or death By burning. others wre assisted
into yawl by Mate Shriver and Sailor
I'D B. Houey The latter had climbed
one OF the supports that kept the yawl
suspended. cut The ropes and let the craft
into the water. where women and chill
dren were placed until it was fun and
hurriedly taken ashore. fourteen persons
al a time. Several trips were made az the
immediate risk Of their lives until 81 was
TOO late To aid further in the rescue from
the boats direct. when the men set them
selves 10 tho work 81 saving those who
were aaoat ia the rver- Quite NUM-
Der were rescued mile or Two below
th' wreck