The Cairo bulletin., 1909-05-10
STR. GEORGIA LEE
SUNK At PAOUCAH
CABLES BROKE AND BIG BOAT
DASHED OFF WAYS INTO
RIVER.
IN 80 FEET OF WATER
And Badly Twsted-May be Total
Loss-Was Finest of Lee Line
Steamers Cost
$65,o0O.

Paducah, April 9-Straining under
the weight of the handsome LOO tons
steamer Georgia Lee, of the Lee Line
Steamboat company, the cradle chairs
at the Paducah Marine Railway com
pany, First and Washington streets,
broke about 4 o'clock Saturday after
noon, letting the steamer back into
the river and sinking the big steam
lieved that the steamer IS broken in
twain and in this case she will be a.
most total loss. She was built at a
cost of $4,000
The boat was on the cradles of the
ways and being pulled out for re
pairs to her hull, Ten minutes more
would have seen her safe at the
top. The boat whirled around in
the descent and sank within three
minutes, eight of the crew on board
havirg narrow escape from drown
ing. Fortunately there was no in
juries to the crew or employees of
the ways.
The accident which is said to
have been unavoidable, occurred in
space of only a few minutes. The
boat was on the cradles with the
bow south and the boat well up out
of the water Suddenly the big chain
holding the north end cradle pop
f1xI n Tt
and in quick succession the chains
of the four more cradles broke. The
stern of the lpat was being sent
rapidly down the incline into the
water when the prov of the boa
was dragged from the south end
cradles. The chains holding the
south cradle did not break and the
head of the big boat was pulled off
a big hole being knocked ia tho head
Of the hull.
When the first chain popped the
danger was Immediately seen and the
crew on the Lee rang the big bell as
a distress signal The head of the
steamer swung out around into the
river with the current while the bic
wheel of the boat was being made
fast by three ropes from the shore
feet of water, which reached to
the hurricane roof. The stern Is in
about ten feet of water, which is up
covering half the wheel. The boat
stopped and is now laying in the wa
ter at an angle of about Is degrees.
Mate Whit Nelson called out to
the towboat Harth, owned by the
West Kentucky Coal Company. The
Harth was coaling at the docks sew
aral yards distant and responded
nobly. She swung onto the PROV
and showed for all she was worth
but failed to move the sunken boat
Her efforts were greatly appreciate
by the crew on board. In order that
the Lee could not slide any further
into the river three hawsers were
made fast to the stern from the ma
rine ways The river is rising ant
much uneasiness is felt by the crew
as to the boats safety.
The Lee was brought here Friday
from Memphis, arriying about
o'clock in the afternoon. She was in
charge of Capt. Zeigler who lef
Saturday morning at 8 O'Clock for
St. Louis. The boat was placed OF
the cradles late Friday Afternoon
and Saturday the work of pulling hel
on the ways was begun. The need
ed repairs were light and could have
been completed within three or foul
days A small hole was stove il
the hull of the boat one week ago a
Helena. Ark, and by heroic work th'
boat was saved from sinking.
The Lee was built at the Jefferson
Ind. shipyards and has been plying
the Mississippi river trade betweei
Memphis. Tenn, and Vicksburg
Miss, for eight years. She coul'
have gotten along without immediate
repairs, Il Capt. Lee refused to
allow the boat to continue the trad'
further unless she was in tip top con
dition.
The Lee is 215 feet in length will
44-foot beam. She is probably tn
handsomest of all the Lee fine boats
lShe has 40 handsome state rooms an
magnificent cabin which is value'
at thousands Of dollars. The cabii
is said to be the finest of any steam
lboat on western waters.