Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-05-09


into the turgid stream and VIII,
out with life extinct, were some
gineering profession Of the Soutl
Hope of finding Prof. r. s. Nc
Nelly of Nashville alive has vir-
tually been abandoned.
Mayor Paine of Memphis said the %
persons perished due to the swift cur
rent of the river at Coahoma. landing.
and failure of the steamers Chisca and
Monitor which patrolled the river all
night to find any bodies, gave strength
to the conclusions
Thorough Check Made
Elaborate efforts were made through,
out the night to locate every engineer
attending the Mid-South association
convention which was in session here
and other persons who had gone on the
Norman and the Choctaw. another gov
ernment boat, to Cow Island to view
government work there. The officials
announced that all had been accounted
for except the % named in the mayors
list.
The boats left Memphis at 1880
O'Clock yesterday afternoon The trip
to the island was made in safety and
return trip started At $40 o'clock,
when off Coahoma landing the beat be-
gan to list rapidly from what cause no
one has been able to determine. Major
D. H. Connolly, in charge Of U. S.
engineers, here. noticed the list and
spoke of it to Captain Howard T. Fer
ton, commander Of the vessel.
Captain Fenton thought too many
persons were on one side of the boat
and Major Connolly endeavored to scat,
ter them. The list continued as Cap
tain Fenton attempted to flank II the
vessel into Coahoma landing.
Then, according to Captain Fenton,
the rudder refused to work. Three
minutes later the vessel went over on
its side and capsized. There was no
cry body did all they could to help, 9TH
ers. Women did not wait for help from
the men, They struck out for them,
selves.
Survivors Tell Story
Graphic stories by persons precipi-
tated into the swift current, said to be
the worst stretch Of water in the river
between Memphis and Helena, Ark. told
how the boat overturned almost at once,
too quickly for life boats to be launched
From out of the swamps of Arkansas
came the hero of the occasion---a big
black negro-Tom Lee. On his broad
shoulders and the motor boat of his
employers at Helena. Ark, fell the bur-
den Of life saving. Lee. slow metho
dical man, went about his work az
methodically as any of the silent,
methodical men who made up the bulk
of the party. He loaded his boat with
victims of the disaster, took them
ashore and went back for another load.
When the final count was taken he had
rescued perhaps 80 of the sixty or
more persons on the steamer.
But there were other heroes. Some
of them survived; some are missing.
Their stories are told by other sur
vivors. None had anything to say Of
his own efforts but all had much to say
Of what the other fellow did.
Many Were Heroic
Dramatic stories were told of the wild
staggering Of the steamer just before
she went down.
"Trim the ship" came the order.
There was no excitement. The engin-
eers as man rose and without haste
left the cabin. Hardly had they reached
the deck before the ship wildly careen-
ed to starboard. She refused to answer
her helm. Three minutes later she was
hulk lying upside down in the stream.
her passengers and crew struggling in
the swift water.
Clarence Miller, 20 years old, noted
throughout the south as a swimmer,
leaped into the stream and swan
ashore. Exhausted. he lay painting on
the bank. Mrs. Charles E. Shearer was
struggling in the water with her four
year old son. Miller leaped in again.
Breasting the heavy current he reached
the woman, tied life preserver about
her and took the boy ashore 1t took
two men to pull him and the boy ashore.
Charles e. Shearer probably gave his
life to save others. Miss Lillian Weyl
of Indianapolis, who was visiting at the
Shearer home, tells the story.
Saves Child, Mother browns
"Mr. Shearer tied life preserver
around me just before / was thrown in
to the swift current, she said. "That
was the last / saw of him."
L. L. Hidinger, Memphis engineer
saved his year old son, Leroy. Jr., but
Continued on Page Two)