The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-10-28

selected last week, had been routed
over the Frisco.
Martin Lorberg had 500 worth of
beds on board, but his new $500 hearse
was left behind because the workmen
delayed in tuning up the rneine. The
delay saved Mr.. Lorberg money. he
said.
Two automobiles were on the tcat
and rolled off into the river as the boat
listed sharply, while settling.
H. A. Nussbsum of the Inter City
Grocery Co., said his firm had about
s4OO worth Of freight on the boat, and
the Vogelsanger Hardware Company
had consignment Of stoves on board.
According to advices from St. Louis,
none of the passengers on board was
from Cape Girardeau. Many st. Louis
ans were among the passengers and
there wre some women and children.
While on return trip by rail from
St. Louis to the Cape, Capt. Stout yes
terday morning met Charles Balm, of
Wittenburg, a farmer, and two Of the
latter's companions, who had been pas
sengers on the vessel and told their ex-
periences in getting off.
They told Captain Stout that they
did not known the facts about how the
vessel struck the submerged piling
that tore the hole in the bottom of the
hull. When they were aroused, the
boat was filling rapidly and the prepa-
rations were under way for taking the
passengers off.
At the place where the accident oc-
Cured, there Formerly was railroad
transfer crossing. The piling for the
railroad incline leading to the cradle
still is standing in a delapidated con-
dition at that point. Some of the pill
ing was removed by a Government
boat, to remove a hazard from the
river.
The boat had swung around with
bow upstream and was either making
landing or coming away from the
landing, Balm said, when the rear end
crashed into the submerged piling.
Virtually the entire rear end of the
hull was caved in and the water rush
ed in rapidly.
The bow of the vessel at the same
time was held in near the shore and
the remainder of the incline. When
the passengers were wanted removed,
BAN said, the stage plank was swung
from the vessel to the incline and the
passengers and crew escaped by that
means.
Balm and his companions walked in
to Chester. The accident ocrurred at
2 o'clock yesterday morning. At Ches-
ter the three men crossed the river on
the ferry and walked to the Perryville
Junction where they caught the Frisco
train for Wittenburg.
According to advice received from
the St. Louis office Of the packet COM
pany, the boat was trying to make the
landing at the incline when the gale
or squat struck and crashed the yes
sci into the piling. Capt. Buck Leyhe,
who was in command of the vessel, had |
held off from the landing for several !
hours on account of the gale that was
blowing.
After midnight, however, the wind |
had ceased blowing and he
ordered the landing. The boat was
drawing close ashore when the squall |
struck.
Henry Wride, ships carpenter, went
below to endeavor to repair the hole
in the hull. He remained too long and
his life was endangered by inrushing
water, so that it was necessary to let
a rope down to him in order to get
him out Of the hold of the vessel.
Members of the crew were ordered
to arouse the passengers, all of whom
we're asleep in their staterooms at the
time of the crash. Many were awaken
ed by the crash as the vessel hit the
Diling. They were told they were not
in danger, but were advised to be
ready for departure from the ship.
1t required two hours for the vessel
% sink. Some of the crew and pas
,engers walked to Chester. six miles
yaya and various kinds Of vehicles
we're drafted into service to get them
nto town.
The crew of the steamer included
rom 35 to so or go persons. George
Street and Tom Hines were pilots on
BOARD, Aler Fraley was first mate, and
'ren con Grinigen was purser. Other
positions that were filled on the vessel ,
we're that of roof Waterman, four cabin
Iarkc ono cabin watchnaD tIpo Sfa1y |