New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-21
RIVER STEAMER BURNS
MANY FACE DEATH NEAR
PEORIA, ILL.
Erciting Rescues of Passengers
Engineer Rozgs ashore in
Flaming Small Boat.

Peoria. Ill, Aug. 20.-The steamer Fred Swain.
Captain Verne Swain.of the Peoria and La Sale
Packet Company, with twenty passengers
and fifteen SAILORS aboard. burned to the waters
edse. to-day. The flaming craft piloted
into four feet of water where the occupants es-
capped TO the bank of the Illinois River up
which the steamer was bound when it caught
fire. Many narrowly escaped death.
No lives were lost but Joseph Casrider the
engineer. was burned about the face and body
and Charles Reicheberger. of Peoria, suffered
broken arm Most of the passengers lost their
belongings.
The escapes OF the passengers, most Of whom
were women and children. exciting. and at
one time. when flames were discovered issuing
from a stateroom the second deck panic
reigned Fears were partly Gained as the burn
ing steamer drew nearer shore and scores Of
rowboats were seen hurriedy putting out TO the
rescue.
The gangplank was lowered to the waters
edge when the steamer had been beached. and
one rowbOat after another took off loads of
passengers and sailors After two boats had
been loaded and started for shore the gangplank
caught fire and fell away from the steamer. let
ting fifteen persons. including several women
and children, into the water. Thomas Powers.
Of Peoria. and f. A. Caron. of Worcester Mass,
the lives Of two children. half carrying and half
swimmings with the tots their shoulders to
old tree stumps, where they awaited the arrival
of resCuers
The others who thrown into the water
by the collapse OF the gangplank were taken in
boats TO safety. Those still aboard the steamer
managed TO let out a new gang plank at place
further from the flames. which rapidly
creeping over the boat.
The fire was discovered in a stateroom by
Miss Furbish. stewardess. She gave the
alarm. but all efforts TO subdue the flames
proved fruitless. the fire spreading rapidly. Cap
tain Swain. realizing that the vessel was
doomed. ordered Martin Huston. the pilot To
beach the boat. and instructed his crew 70 give
out life preservers.
Cassidy. the engineer. after attending 10 the
boilers TO guard against explosion. went 70
the pumps. remaining there until the flames
licked his face. Severely burned and almost
blind. he turned 20 escape only 10 find that a
rowboat which had been left for him had caught
fire. He got into the boat, however and. beat
ing the flames from him and rowing hard.
reached shore. He was taken 20 hospital
William Bittie. hardware merchant OF
Peoria, who. with his young son Harold. was
rescued by a motor boat, said:
IL With my son. was sitting on the front end
Of the second deok when heard little girl re-
mark 10 her mother. Mamma. look AT The ire.'
The woman turned in her chair. and on sighting
the flames, shrieked. The boats afire,' In
stsntly panic ensu-d. all making a rush 20 the
lower deck When the gangpiank was lowered
after the bow sent into the willow trees and
stumps near the bank all scrambled on IL. and
all were plunged into the water when the cables
were parted by the flames. I grabbed my boy.
and for while thought that surely would
both be lost. but managed TO cling 20 a small
willow tree with the boy until rescued"
Miss Furbish who discovered the fire. said:
"I was at work busting and cleaning a state
room in which the fire started. The whole room
was in flames the smoke binding me. / gave
the alarm and rushed 10 inform Captain Swain
do not know how the fire started. unless II
originated through sparks from the engine
room"
u. 81. Swain. OF saltwater. MINI. owner Of
the burned steamer. was in the Avery Manu-
featuring Company's plant at Averyville. a sub
urb Of Peoria. near where the steamer caught
fire. and ne aided in rescuing the passengers
and crew. His son. Verne captain OF the vessel
was the last 20 leave the burning ship.
Futile efforts made by the Peoria and
Averyville fire departments 10 save the hull OF
the boat.
The steamer Fred Swain was built al Clear
water. Wis. nine years ago. and was one Of the
finest packets plying the Illinois River.