The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-20

NCO0I1EueQ from fa86 OuS.J
been accounted for. All on board were
members Of the crew or members of
the ship band.
o'clock this morning. The large steam
or, an hour before had discharged 900
excursionists at Alton. ILL.,, and was
headed. down stream for st. Louis -
miles below.
The boat struck squarsly against the
cribbinG Of the new intake tower OF
the st. Louis waterworks from which
q red light was burning and sank to
the bottom OF the river. The water
did not cover the vessel. however, the
upper deck remaining above the sur.
face and to this the persons on board
hsstened AZ soon ~ the crash oc-
CURED.
At Chain OF Rocks.
The accident occurred at the Chain
OF Rocks, q natural formation OF rock
that starts from the Missouri side at
the extreme northern limits OF st.
Louis, or fifteen miles above the heart
of the city and runs two thousand feet
into the stream, offering q barrier to
navigation around which steamers
must pass. The city intake tower 10
at the end Of this rock barrier. and
the water is pumped through a tunnel
In the rock to tho settling basins on
shore.
The boat was owned by. the Wishart
line of Quincy, Ill. 1t carried six life
boats and on these nineteen Of the
crew and others on board escaped to
the Missouri shore. Six officers re-
manned on the upper deck. ana were
there when reporters and police off,
GERS arrived at the scene an hour after
the accident.
waterwcrks employees saw the YES
just above the chain Of rocks. A mo-
ment later they heard . crash and the
lights OF the vessel disappeared.
sank Bow Foremost.
The steamboat had gone down. bow
foremost Lacking boats the water
works employees were powerless to
aid those on board and telephoned ITO
police headquarters here and to the
harbor master for assistance. Auto
mobiles loaded with police were rush.
and Illinois sides. Rowboats and
power launches also were summoned
to aid. There was momentary panic
on board as the vessel struck the
cribbing and the sleeping crew and
rushed to the upper decks.
The main deck caught fire. but the
flames were put out a. the vessel list
ed. The vessel then righted herself
per deck and the smokestacks remain
ing visible, an the crew pulled away in
boats. Those who escaped to the
Missouri shore built . bonfire around
which they warmed themselves. and
there they soon were Joined by po-
licemen and newspaper reporters
Men put out from shore in q row.
boat and when they reached the Ma
jestic they found the vessel had settled
bow foremost and that much Of the
stern was out Of the water. Il
Did Not Know It Was There.
When the Majestic left Alton for
st. Louis, S. B. Withrow Of Winona,
Mimi. was at the wheel. The other
pilot on board was John Pearson.
Withrow told the following story OF
the accident.
''It was not my turn 1T tho wheel
but Pearson had gone below to get his
pay and 1 relieved him. never had
heard that the city Of st. Louis was
building a new intake tower, near the
old tower with which all Mississippi
river pilots are familiar. l watched
the government lights along the I'LL
nois side and the red light on the old
intake tower, steering the boat In the
main channel Of the river.
II did not see a red light on the
submerged foundation Of the new in
take tower and the Majestic was trav-
cling almost in the center of The
channel when We collided with the
new foundation"
Captain Frank Gill was below when
the crash came. He hurried to the
ifeboats. Almost perfect order pre-
vailed, he said.
IT scarcely had reached the upper
deck" he continued, when the lights
went out. 1t was dark and I could
see but diYnly what was the condition
were able to reach the four life
boats that were put into the water
and only a few jumped overheard.
Two were unable to swim and l fear
they were drowned"
Investigation developed that two
red lights had been placed on timberp
projecting from tSe new intake tower.
The Majestic was on its first trip to
st. Louis. 1t sank in twenty feet Of
water and is considered q total loss
by its captain.
About 20 of those on board took to
the life boats. and several leaped over
board. Clyde Wilson, q deck hand,
swan three miles in the swift river
before he could land on the Missouri
shore. Rolla Wisherd, nephew Of the
principal owner of the steamer and
Albert Gabel, musician. swan two
miles to an island below the Chain Of
Rocks. Captain Gill insisted on stay
ing on the upper deck hours after the
accident and searched wherever pos
sible for some of the valuables on
board, including several thousand dol
lars collected from excursionists last
night. After daylight, the steamboat
lay on the rock, threatening to part in
the middle.
Was Worth 100000.
Quincy, ILL.,. June 20.-Captain Fuller
Wisherd. principal owner Of the steam
er Majestic. places the value of the
steamer at $4,000. 1t was originally
known as the Keystone State. and was
built at Harmar. o., in 1890. In Jam
uary Of this year 1t was purchased by
the Wisherd company Of Quincy and
completely overhauled and the name
changed to the Majestic.
1t had hull 226 feet long, 81 foot
beam and six feet deep, with engines