Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-17
By HENRY S. PoWARs.

| The earliest steamboat accident that
the Gray Eagle about the year 1852. A
| fiue in the boiler blew out when the
boat was just below the present ferry
landing and a score or more of pas
sengers were badly scalded. So far as
know there were no fatalities at the
time, but it is likely that some of the
injured died later. The Gray Eagle
was packet plying between St Louis
and st. Paul. 1t was bound north
when the accident happened, and car
ried a large number of foreigners as
deck passengers, going from st. Louis
to settle in the northwest, this being a
favorite route for this class of settlers
in those days. The immigrants were
near the boiler when the accident hap
pened and many of them we're terribly
scalded. The boat was landed here
and the injured ones were treated. be-
ing left on board while repairs we're
in progress. I distinctly recall my
feeling of horror when l went on board
the boat and saw the victims of the
scalding steam lying about on cots and
other improvised beds, moaning with
pain. When the boat left it took all
the injured with it on their way to
their destinations.
There has been some discussion
lately over an incident that took place
in the 40's when a considerable num-
Der of people were ftmflammed by a
Snowman l distinctly remember the
20,
years old at the time, so 1t must have
been in IA or '45. Some claim it was
Yankee Robinson who turned the
trick, but l am positive 1t was Dan
Rice, who afterward also became well
known as a circus owner. l remember
Dan Rice, because as a boy first saw
him on my fathers boat on the Missis-
sippi Dan was a passenger and, with
fathers consent he gave an exhibition
for the benefit of the other travellers.
He sang negro melodies and perform
ed feats OF strength, one of which con-
sisted in bending heavy iron rod by
striking it across the biceps of his
right arm. year or so later he came
to Rock Island and advertised show
on certain date, to be given in hall
west Of the Rock Island house. This
building, we'll recall, had a saloon in
the basement with the hall above
which was used for dancing and for
public exhibitions. There was a stage
at one end, with curtains. On the
night of the show" an assistant Of
Rice's presided at the door and col;
lected rs cents from each who entered.
In time the hall was fairly well filled,
but at the hour when the performance
was to have begun there was nothing
doing. Whistles and calls for the
show to begin we're started and grad
uaIly became louder. Finally, after
half an hour or more had passed,
someone grew bold enough to look be-
hind the curtains. All was dark and
drear
Rice and his assistant had dropped
out OF window back of the stage and
hurried across the river in a skiff
that they had left at a convenient
point along shore.
That was the last heard OF Rice for
several years. Finally, however he
came back at the head of full-fedged
tent circus and showed to a good
crowd. He had not forgotten his for
mer visit and he would give free
ticket to anyone who was willing to
admit he was a member of the audi
ence on his last appearance in the
city. Nobody was willing to confess. |
however, that he had been one of those
taken in" and so Rice got out of the
predicament without fits having cost
him a cent.
The first effort Rock Island mer-
chant ever made to draw trade from
the country was made, believe, in |
1S47. In that year things were usual