The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-11-18
OHIO R|vERSTEAMER
ChIlO SINKS NEAR
dam s. LAST NIGHT
Green Line Steamer and Its Entire
Cargo a LOss.-All on Board Saved
By Cool Healed Direction OF
Captain Ward.

Flowing its way upstream against
the current on the Ohio River one
half mile below Dam No. 30, at New
Richmond Thursday night, the river
packet Chilo hit an obstruction and
sank within twenty minutes. All on
board were saved. but the loss was
estimated at 100000.
The boat was proceeding eastward
at the rate of about seven miles an
hour when suddenly the quiet OF the
night was broken by loud crash,
There followed the sound OF twisted
steel grating against steel. A shiVer
passed through the steamer from stem
TO stern, as It came to a dead stop Ill
the middle of the river.
Shouts of the pilot aroused mem,
hers OF the crcew, who already mad
turned in for the night, when the DoaI
struck at 9:15 o'clock. Captain JACK
Ward. in command of the boat, TOOK
charge and coolv directed the move
ments of the crew, .o
Res,de the crew there were two
women passengers on the steamer,
The first thought Of the Captain was
for them. He ordered two OF his men
to lower skiff and take theh "
As soon as the women, one OF whom
wac the wife of First Mate Chopper
were on their way to the shore cap
tain Ward made a hurried examiIa-
tion Of the boat, and found that she
could not stay afloat more than nan
on bonr at the most. He then gave up
all hone of saving the cargo anu
turned his attention to saving "'s
men. or
Rockets were sent up warning men
at the dam, half a mile away, that tIe
boat was sinking, and the steamer .
remaining skiffs were dropped in.o
the water. Boatload after Doatioau
nnlled away from the flounderihs
steamer. Boats arrived from the uali'
under command Of Lock Master Stai-
ford and aided in the rescue WORK
While the men climbed over the sue
and dropped into small boats beiow,
the steamer continued to turn Slowly
on its side. About fifteen minutes
after she struck the boat had turned
over so far that Captain Ward ana
five of his men, who had remained VI,
hoard we're compelled to climb ou,
ON the side of the packet to aVo'd
being thrown into the water.
Ali the steamers boats had gone 10
shore. hut through the darkness the
Captain and his men could see IAN
tern bobbing toward them. The hgh'
was on one of the boats from sne
dam which was racing to the sihkihs
steamer. ..,od
slowly the boat turned and settled
in the water as the lifeboat ap-
poached. IT,, or
Just as Captain Ward and his men
were forced to climb over the rail on
the upper side of the steamer, the
lifeboat nosed its way up to the side
and they jumped into it.
AS they pulled away from the
steamer they saw that she had settled
over on one side in about sixteen feet
of water. The boat was $50 feet long
and 80 feet wide, and half her widtn
emerged from the yellow waters OF
the Ohio.
Passengers and crew were taken to
New Richmond, where they remained
for the night. After all on board were
safe, Captain Ward, who was the last
man to leave the boat, suffered
nervous collapse He revived in few
minutes, however.
Captain Ward said that the boat
and cargo represented an investment
Of about 100000, the boat being val
ued at about $50,000 and the cargo at
100000.
The captain said that he did not
know what his boat struck. He said
that the pilots he had with him were
old experienced men, and that they
knew the river thoroughly.
The Chilo was owned by the Greene
Line Packet Company, and was max
ing a trip from Cincinnati to Charles
ton, W. Va. Employees at the Greene
Line wharf said that the Chilo pulled
out at $50 o'clock Thursday night.
Its speed was about seven miles an
hour.
Employees at the wharf said that
CAPTAIN Greene and his wife were at
Point Pleasant, Ohio, experimenting
the construction of new boat. They
did not know whether the Chilo was
insured or not.
Captain Ward said last night that
the Chilo was a wreck. A large hole
was torn in the side and the Engines
and boilers were crushed. Its cargo
consisted of groceries, near beer and
miscellaneous merchandise. - Com
merial-Tribune.