Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-20
MORNING STAR
HAS EXPERIENCE
DOWN ON OHIO
Captain Walter A. Blair's Big
Packet Attempts to Stem
Rapids in River.
THE CANAL BEING CLOSED
Another Steamer, in Similar Plight
Joins a Three-Hours' Struggle
No Damage Done.

Especial Correspondence Of The Argus.j
Louisville. May ls.-The tourists on
Captain Walter A. Blair's staunch
steamer, Morning Star. enroute from
Rock Island TO Cincinnati and return,
had an experience yesterday that to
tho minds OF those on board threaten
ed in a lesser degree 10 duplicate
some of the exciting incidents OF old
ocean, although as a matter OF fact,
there was nothing TO worry about.
Nevertheless, there we're thoughts Of
the women and children first, Of life
boats and life preservers. In the midst
of II all Frank =. Welch, the Rock Is-
land capitalist was the real hero that
he has always claimed 10 be; he never
for an instant lost his presence OF
mind-or his head. His hat may have
been in the ring for anything that
might have happened, but his head was
always in his hat-and at proper tilt
that is his hat.
II was q mighty struggle, how
ever, that the Morning Star Of
the Northern steamboat feet and the
Tarrascon OF the Louisville and Evans
vile Packet company were obliged 10
participate in. It was as pretty bat
tie as ever was waged between steam
power and water. II was not in the
dead OF night, though, but it was in
broad day light and was witnessed by
hundreds of people alongshore.
CAUGHT IN THE FALLS.
Both these great packets were
caught amidstream attempting TO
steam up over the Ohio river falls.
For three hours the big boats had bat
tied with the swift current
At various intervals the Morning
Star sounded its distress whistles,
but there was no boat in port of sufii-
eient power 10 90 TO its assistance. A
crew from the United States life saw
ing station went TO the scene at ia
o'clock TO be near in the event that
their services were necessary.
It is generally believed by those at
the life saving station and rivermen
that boats were in no danger. 1t was
the general impression of those &C
Quainted with the river and the boats
that It was merely a question whether
the boats would be forced 10 give up
the fight and thus not be able to dock
at the regular uptown port.
NEAR TO A COLLISION.
The life-savers did not venture out
until after a collision of the two boats
had been narrowly averted. At HIS
o'clock the Morning Star seemed to
take a squirt and make progress, and it
appeared that IL would be able TO
come through. Then it began losing
ground. Hardly a half hour later the
Tarrascou, who was in the lead, was
swept back by the current and was
swung around so that it nearly
struck the Morning Star.
The two boats dropped down below
a pier. A few minutes later the Tar
rascon headed upstream and renewed
the fight.
CANAL IL CLOSED.
The necessity of the struggle was
occasioned by the work, now undel
course OF construction, OF placing new
gates in the canal. preventing the
boats from going through. The cap
tains of the two vessels decided TO a.
tempt TO clear the falls. when the!
learned they could not pass through
the canal The journey was rattle
slow. but without mishap until short
~ after 9 o'clock, when they reached
point where the current was so swift
they were unable 10 make headway
There is a stage OF but about nine fee
on the falls and the current is exceed
ingly powerful. Several times tn