Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-27
four LOSE LIVES
IN BURNING j. S.
Handsome Steamer Set on Fire
by Drunken Man Impris-
oned in Brig.
is BEACHED ON AN ISLAND
Fifteen Hundred Passenger Are
Rescued Through Goodness of
Captain John Streckfus.

Captain John Streckfus and the
members of his family who were with
hi maboard the ill-fated ]. S., arrived
in the city today from the scene of the
disaster. He was accompanied by Mrs.
Streckfus, Misses May and Anna, and
Roy and Verne Streckfus All their
{ personal possessions which were on
7 the boat were lost.
FLAMES were discovered in the hold
Of the boat about amidships, where the
I brig Ca ships jaiD is located" Captain
Streckfus said THE matches were
battered down and the boat was run
on the beach at Bad AK island. The
passengers were advised that the boat
was on fire and that they must leave it.
but were warned not TO lose their
heads, as there was no occasion for
hurry. Nevertheless many of them did
lose their heads, and a small panic re-
suited as they marched off the gang
plank to the island and safety. When
all were off, the boat was cut loose and
f1oated to deep water, where orders
were given the crew to scuttle it. If
this had been possible the fire would
have been eXtinguished at once and the
beat could have been raised again at
nominal expense. The inside of the
hull was so intensely hot, however,
that none of the crew was hardy
enough to do the work of scuttling the
boat, and it remained afoat. Finally,
about two hours after the discovery of
the fire, the flames appeared on the
deck, after having eaten their way
time until the whole ship was one
mass of flames. 1t burned to the wa
ter's edge, and the burned and black
ened hull sank"
The 81. S. was built in 1901 at an ex-
pense of $4,000, and it was regarded
as the finest excursion steamer on the
river. Insurance on the boat amounts
to $4,000, and the remainder IS al
most total loss. The possibility of
building another boat to replace the
j. s." has not been considered as
yet
Streckfus a Hero.
La Crosse. Wis, June 27.-CSpecial) /
The indomitabIe courage and the
heroism of the captain, engineer. mem
bers of the crew and passengers on
the Mississippi river excursion steam
er j. s., which took fire on Saturday
night on the upper Mississippi while
loaded to the waters edge with 1900
excursionists, saved the lives of all
except four of the panic-stricken pas
sengers.
The list of dead in the disaster was
kept down to that number while only
five were seriously injured. Four hun
dred more. most of them women and
children, are suffering from burns.
All of those saved from the steamer,
which, at the time, seemed likely to
become a great funeral pyre. have Cap
tain John StreckfUs, a cool-headed
courageous old Mississippi river mas
ter and pilot, 10 thank for their lives.
In the face of the greatest danger,
while the flames were fast making
Roadway, while fear-Crazed men, wO-
men and children were rushing from
one end of the steamer to the other,
threatening to throw themselves over
board. the hardy old captain stood at
his post, commanding, directing and
encouraging his pilot in the effort to
find landing place where the passen-
gers might reach shore in safety.
None of Crew Quits Post.
The members of the crew were I'M
der perfect discipline during ali that
mad rush of passengers. Not one de-
serted his post. COOl-headed men in
the crowd, too. assisted the captain
and crew. They restrained hundreds
from hurting themselves into the
river; they shouted words of encour-
hgement and cheer, and, when land
ing finally was made, fOrgetful of
selves. they assisted the women and