State of Missouri
Cincinnati Post, Monday, 21 January 1895, page 1
Louisville Ky. The loss of life caused by the sinking of the steamer State of Missouri, near Hardin's Landing Ky. Saturday evening, will be smaller than was at first supposed. Some of those reported drowned have since turned up and at present the missing, as know to survivors at present in the city are: Charles Meredith, white, freight handler, of Cincinnati; Jacob Barbour, colored, deck hand of Cincinnati; Wash Smith, colored, deck hand of Cincinnati; Steffan Simmons, colored deck hand of Memphis.
Page 6-Officers and Crew Saved
Joseph Conlon, Captain, Cincinnati
James Pell Sr.
pilot, Dayton Ky.
James Pell Jr. pilot, Dayton Ky.
Joseph McCabe,
barkeeper, Cincinnati
Henry McAdams, mate, Ironton, Ohio
Julius Wehrman,
chief clerk, Newport Ky.
Charles Howard, second clerk, Metropolis Ill.
R
Laws, third clerk, Smithland Ky.
Fred Hartelem, steward, Cincinnati
John
Botts, cook, Cincinnati
Isaac Brown, head pantryman, Cincinnati
Joseph
Gardner, deck watchman, Cincinnati
Dick Brogan, cabin watchman, Dayton Ky.
Willard Alexander, head engineer, Newport Ky.
Jack Hall, second engineer,
Cincinnati
Amos James, colored second mate, Cincinnati
Fred Swain,
carpenter, Metropolis Ill.
-- White, deck sweeper, Newport Ky.
and
twenty-five negroes.
The State of Missouri was bound from Cincinnati to New Orleans, Saturday evening. The boat was near the mouth of Wolf Creek when she went down. Pilot Pell was at the wheel and while running the bend just below Wolf Creek, he pulled the bow of the boat out into the river. The river is narrow at this point and the current was very strong. It caught the boat causing her stern to swing into the shore. Noting this the pilot rang for full power and died everything he could to drive the boat ahead and swing her around. But the stern drifted in striking the rocks and tearing a great hole in her side.
James Pell Jr. was at the wheel when she struck. He tried to run her nose against the bank. Her stages were run out and negro tried to fasten a line to a young tree, but the tree snapped and the boat seemed to slide, sinking rapidly all the while about 40 yards out in the river. The captain and head engineer were the last to leave after seeing everybody else off in safety. The Missouri was a familiar vessel to Coney Island visitors, having run in that trade under command of Captain Newton several years.