Steamer Golden Rule
Photo of the steamer Golden Rule up the Licking River at Newport about 1887.
The film for this report is very dark, lengthy and difficult to
read. I have transcribed as much as I could make out.
The Kentucky Post, Friday, April 1, 1892, page 1
NINE!
The Number of Golden Rule Victims
Five of Them are Positively Identified-But no Bodies Have Been Recovered
The Known Lost:
Miss Nellie Maloney
Frank T Billy
William Madison
Mat Homer
Buck Warner
Four unknown Roustabouts
Missing:
Mrs. O'Leary
Mrs. Rev George B Easton-Addyston O
The worst is not yet known. Nothing is left of the Golden Rule, but a water logged sunken hull and a partially consumed wheel. The Memphis wharf boat is a skeleton of charred timbers and the Fleetwood is damaged.
The Blaze
It was 4:15 when Captain O P Shinkle of the Golden Rule was standing on the bow of the boat talking to a friend. Suddenly a frightened negro ran up to him, shouting that the boat was on fire. The cry was too true. Smoke was pouring from the hold amidships, and flames could be seen licking and twining themselves around the light woodwork of the cabin. The alarm was given, but not a minute too soon, for with sudden fury, the flames burst out with a roar, enveloping the entire center and rear of the boat.
There were fearful to contemplate and in the twinkling of an eye they found there way to the bow of the boat and she was doomed. The flames not satisfied with their all conquering march, leaped from the boat to the roof of the Memphis wharf boat where they danced about as though playing hide and go seek. Up in under the light and dry shingles they crept, only to appear at some little opening large in size and waving and dancing to the breeze in high glee.
On to the Fleetwood they leaped but willing hands stayed their progress after they had consumed a part of the star board stern. The Golden Rule burned from her moorings and floated down about 100 feet and all that was left of her, a freight laden hull, sank in 20 feet of water.
The Loss of Life
As near as can be roughly estimated, the boat had a passenger list of about 80 with a crew of perhaps 10 stevedores and the regular list of officers, cooks etc. At the first cry of fire, the passengers many of whom were in the cabin, made hast or run for their lives and almost all of them were saved. The only passenger known to be dead is Miss Nellie Maloney. She was a friend of Captain Shinkle's family and had gone down to the boat to bid her friend good-by. She was talking to a Mrs. Peters when the cry of fire went up. She and Mrs. Peters made their way to the rear. Mrs. Peters jumped from the boiler deck of the Golden Rule to the Keystone State, a distance of 15 feet. Miss Maloney sprang after her, but the jump was short and she fell into the water. She struggled bravely and Frank Bondant, a steamboat clerk, sprang to save her but the waters closed over her for the last time.
Her death must have been fearful, as it is thought that her body was caught by the wheel of the Hercules Carrel, as a shred of dress was found hanging to the wheel.
The other names of the dead are Mate Frank Riley, Buck Warner, and William Madison, two deck hands, Mat homer and four unknown roustabouts. There were at work in the hold of the vessel with five or six others and the general supposition is that all were lost and their bodies were caught in the hull where they now remain. Billie was second mate and Madison was a boss deck hand, while Warner was a common laborer. Miss Maloney lived with Mrs. Ryan at 345 West Seventh Street and was a dressmaker. She had but tow living relatives, J T Maloney, a brother in the grocery business at Memphis, and Mrs. Ryan, who is her widowed sister.
The Loss
The loss will reach fully $100,000 and is but partially covered by insurance. The loss to the Rule will be $25,000 which is covered with an insurance of $15,000. The boat was laden to the guards with freight for down river points, probably amounting to 1000 tons burden. All of this is lost and there is no insurance on it.
Scenes and Incidents
The narrow escapes were many and varied. James Bohan/Hohan the steward of the Golden Rule, went nearly crazy when the flames broke out. First he jumped from the boat and then rushed back to save his wife and little son. In his frenzy he threw his son down a hatchway and tried to rush into the flames himself. He thought his wife had burned to death, and he did not want to live. He was restrained by force. At last he found his wife and the two fell into each others arms sobbing for joy. The little boy was unhurt by his tumble and was carried to safety by a deck hand.
The men on the Keystone State did splendid service in rescuing people from the Golden Rule. R S Taylor, steward was on the lower deck and pulled a well-dressed man out of the water after he had gone down twice. George Donnally, third clerk on board, got a man out of the cabin who was afraid to jump. H H Wilson, a cabin boy, was standing at the guard rail when the alarm was given. He rushed on board of the Fleetwood, three off his coat and vest and jumped into the water. He rescued a Mrs. Perkins and her young daughter and also two colored women, who were in the river. All were assisted on board of the Keystone State.
Charles McHale, a wharf boat employee, deserved credit for saving three women and a young girl. He procured a plank and placed it from the wharf boat to the cabin deck of the Golden Rule. Three women, a girl and a man slide down the plank safely. Another man started down and he was thrown into the river. McHale and a companion righted the plank and climbed to the burning boat. They started off for the cabin but the flames cut them off and they jumped to the deck of the Keystone State. All of the officers and crew had narrow escapes and all got away with their lives.
They Were Safe
Mrs. Fitzsimmons and her two daughters, who were reported missing during the progress of the fire, got off the boat safely with a party of friends. Miss Minnie Fitzsimmons was so overcome with fright that she is confined to her bed at her home, 226 Main Street, Covington.
Lost All
N O Householders, a tobacco raiser of Owensboro, Ky. sold his crop yesterday and taking the proceeds, $700, put it with an additional $800, in his trunk, where it was consumed with the boat.
The Cook
A man named Frank Langdon says that the female cook of the boat was burned to death in front of him and that it was impossible to render her any assistance.
What Captain Shinkle Says
Captain Shinkle says that his nephew Edgar Shinkle, rushed up to him and said, "Uncle, the Rule's all on fire." "I immediately rushed on board" said the captain "and at the foot of the steps leading to the cabin, was confronted by volumes of smoke.: The captain, realizing that the cabin passengers were in a terrible position, and at the risk of being choked to death, rushed up the steps and gave the passengers the alarm. A panic ensued at once and in their haste to save themselves, they fell over one another and a scene was witnessed that has seldom been equaled.
There were over 40 passengers in the cabin and for a few moments there appeared no means of escape and the fate of being burned to death stared them in the face. The Keystone State at this moment had backed up to the Golden Rule, the bow almost touching the now fast burning boat.
"Jump for your life onto the Keystone State for this is your only chance." shouted the captain. Three and four at a time jumped at the risk of losing their lives, but the all succeeded with the exception of Miss Maloney, who missed her footing and fell between the boats. The captain saw that all the passengers were off the boat and he did not desert the boat until the last moment. In fact he said he was the last one to leave the Golden Rule.
Fireman Injured
Fireman Jack Congers, of the Thirteens, was struck on the head by a falling rafter and badly injured. He was taken to his home where his injuries were dressed. He will recover.
Nine Victims
It is now known that at least nine persons perished. John Quincy, a laborer was at work in the hold on the larboard side of the boat directly opposite where the fire broke out. When he saw the flames he rushed up the stairs of the hatchway and escaped just in time. Quincy says that William Madison, Frank Riley, Nat Homer and four roustabouts, whose names he does not know were at work on the starboard side of the boat, when the fire broke out. Quincy says that no one on that side of the boat escaped.
Preacher's Wife Missing
The wife of Rev George Easton, formerly of Addyston, may be among the lost. Her brother has been busy telephoning, but has been unable to locate her and fears the worst. Rev Easton was formerly in active business life, but entered the ministry and was given the Addyston charge which he built up into a good church. A new church structure has been erected by his efforts. He recently accepted a call to Ames M E Church in New Orleans, the largest of the city.
Mate Riley's Bravery
When the barrel of oil burst Riley was on the dock, and was sent below to see how much was lost in order to replace it in this city. Just as he reached the hatchway the explosion occurred, but Riley who was a man of dauntless courage plunged into the smoke and flames to put it out. He was overpowered by the smoke and perished with those who were below.
Keystone State Censured
Mate Barney O'Connell, of the Golden Rule, says that the Keystone State is responsible for the loss of many of the lives. It it had stayed near the Rule a short time longer, every person could have been saved without trouble. The pulling away of the State cut off the last means of escape for those on the boat. The daughters of Captain Shinkle of the Rule, got off on the Keystone State before it pushed away. The pilot, Walter Shinkle, then took his mother to the stairs of the boat where they dropped her off upon a barge.
May be Many More
John Nairn, of 40 Lock Street and Jones Wheatley, colored, of 240 East Sixth Street, called at Hammond Street Station, at noon Friday and stated that they are positive that William Madison and a roustabout names Monroe were burned to death. They were working with the men and say that they did not escape. Nairn and Wheatley were at the hold when the cry was raised..
The Kentucky Post, Saturday, April 2,
1892, page 1
DOWN IN THE DEEP
Hemmed In The Golden Rule's Hull, The Bodies on Nine Unfortunates Lie
They Cannot Be Reached for Several Days
The Known Dead
Miss Nellie Maloney
Second Mate Frank Riley
Stevedore William Warner alias Bill Madison
Deckhand Mat Holman
Stevedore James Monroe
Five Unknown Roustabouts
Diver Earhart's efforts to find the bodies of those who perished
in the hold of the steamer Golden Rule were fruitless Friday afternoon.
From a float anchored out in the stream he made his perilous trips down to the
sunken steamer. He found the rear of the deck in comparatively good
condition, but from the scuttle forward, the hole was blocked with boxes and
barrels and the deck was covered with freight and wreckage from the wharf.
The indications were that the boat had been broken in two, and he decided that
the only way to reach the forward part of it, where he believed the bodies to be
was to use dynamite to clear the way.
The boat lays hard aground but is in a swift current, making it difficult work for the diver. Both of Second Mate Reilley's brothers came on board the float and anxiously watched Earhart's search. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon, he decided it was useless tomake any further attempts that day.
Mrs. Easton Not Lost
Mrs. George Easton, of Addyston, who was at first thought to be missing, has been heard from and tells a thrilling story of her escape. She was in the cabin with her mother and brother-in-law Mr. Burwell, when the alarm was given. Driven back and forth by the fire they finally got out of the cabin on the side of the boat nearest the shore. A man on the wharf boat got them a plank and fixed it against the burning boat for them to slide down. In this way they made their escape.
Firing the Cannon
Friday noon, W A Leman, a friend of Miss Maloney, came down to the wreck to make an effort to recover her body. After consulting with Captain Shinkle, a cannon was put on the river bank and a dozen or more loads fired in the hope that the concussion might bring her body to the surface. The effort was fruitless, however. Diver Earhart said that undoubtedly her body had floated down stream and this seems to be the general opionion.
Madison and Warner One
Bill and Madison and Buck Warner are one and the same person. He was called Madison frequently because he was raised by a grandmother bearing that name, but his wife gives his name as Warner.
Charles Wilmore's Story
Charles Wilmore, who was a deckhand on the burned steamer Golden Rule, was the man who rang the bell when the alarm of fire was given. He was asked to go down in the hold when the benzine exploded and refused. He states positively that on the larboard side of the hold where the fire brok out, there were five white men at work and four negroes. One of the latter was James Monroe, who is among the missing and who maybe placed on the list of known dead.
Snow is Alive
Morning paper reporters are much exercised over the probable burning of the cook of the Rule. Yesterday that individual Dick Snow by name, called on a Post reporter, and state that to the best of his knowledge and belief, he was still alive. His word was taken without further investigation.
The Kentucky Post, Friday, April 8, 1892,
page 1
TWO BODIES Recovered from the Rule Wreck
William Madison's Charred Corpse Take Out
Mate Reily's Body Next Brought to Surface
With the hope of finding the bodies of the victims in the hold of
the wrecked Golden Rule, The Post Thursday evening chartered J A Smith's big
pump boat, and at its own expense completed arrangements with the veteran diver,
Vic Earhart, and a full crew to go out to the wreck and make another effort to
recover the bodies of the missing men. Bright and early Friday morning
Diver Earhart and his associates were hard at work storing his apparatus on the
boat to go out to the wreck. The outlook was discouraging. During
the night the water had raised several inches and the big cold waves were
dashing over the wreck with a force that increased the danger of the hazardous
undertaking.
Dangerous Passage
Jack Johnson, who has been Earhart's assistant for years, handled the life line and air hose, whiel Wm Swabland and Wm Taylor, attended to the pumping machine, Frank McKern steadying the ladder. Earhardt was down only a few minutes and came up and reported that he had landed against the outer side of the hull. The deck was floated almost away from the hull and toward the center of the river. The boat was then pulled about six feet nearer the shore.
Body Found
At 10:30 Earhart made the first successful descent. He went down aft and soon a disarrangement of the life line was felt. Earhart came up and reported a body found. Great exitement was caused and when the people heard the news a cheer went up from the crowd on the bank. Earhart took down a rope and fastened it around the body. Slowly the line came up and a body was seen to rise above the water. It was carefully drawn on board the float and it was see to be the body of a white man.
It was fearfully burned and blistered. The flesh was dropping from the bones. It presented a horrible sight. Only a piece of shirt was left upon him. It was taken to the ban to await the arrival of the patrol wagon. It was then moved to the morgue. It was identified by the mate of the boat as that of William Madison. A few minutes after 11 o'clock Diver Earhart again went into the water taking with him a line with the belief that he would find more bodies where he located this one.
Frank Reilley's Body Found
A few minutes later, the diver came up and said, "pull on the line." The body that was then brought to the surface was that of poor Fred Reilley. His clothes were still on him and he did not present the appearance of being much burned only his hands. He was found under several kegs of nails with just his foot sticking out. When the patrolman saw the body floating in the water he broke down, his eyes filling with tears and his hands clasped tightly together.
He (Earhart) announced at 1 o'clock he would take down Hiram Schnell, a young diver who has been taught by Earhart, and declares is a good diver, Schnell is nervy and thoroughly understands his business.
The Kentucky Post, Saturday, April 9, 1892, page 1
THE FIFTH!
Another Body Buried Under Nail Kegs In the Hull of the Wrecked Golden Rule
Bodies Recovered
William Madison, alias Buck Warner, deck-hand
Mate Frank Reilley
Mat Holman, deck-hand
Barnby Grym, roustabout
Thomas Edwards, roustabout
It was cold and raw down on the river Saturday morning, the thermometer having dropped several degrees during the night, while a steady wind was blowing. The water had risen 11 inches since work was suspended Friday and every hour it was slowly creeping up over the wreck, threatening to completely hide from sight.
Who the Post's Divers Are
J V Earhart, familiarly known as "Vic" was born in Switzerland in 1846. He was brought to this country when he was 8 years old, his parents locating in Cincinnati. After a time they moved to Indiana, but for the last 12 years Vic had made his home in Cincinnati. He did his first diving at New Orleans and has has an experience of 20 years in the business.
Herman Schnell
Is a Bavarian by birth, coming to this country when he was 18 years old. He is now 28 and has been diving for eight years. He lives in Cincinnati and is a favorite pupil of Earhart's. Genial in his manners, quick to learn and full of nerve, he has a great future before him in the dangerous pursuit he has chosen.
First Trip Saturday
At 20 minutes after 8 o'clock Earhart stepped on the ladder and begun his first trip. Earhart was down over 20 minutes and when he came up he reported that he had explored fully 15 feet further aft than he was yesterday. He found that part of the boat in terrible condition. He was right about where he supposed the hatch to be. He says the boat is badly burned at that point. Even the bottom timbers are charred and the destruction is almost complete. He rested a few minutes while the ladder was moved four feet forward and at 8:50 made his second trip down.
Another Body Found
He came up in 10 minutes and reported that he had found another body, but is was buried under at least 50 kegs. He found it just forward of where the foot of the ladder was resting. By reaching his arm down between the kegs he could feel the body. It was decided that the only way to get it out was to raise some of the kegs. Ropes were sent for and that work commenced. Provided with the grappling hooks Diver Earhart went down and began sending up the nail kegs that were piled on the body.
The Fifth Body
At 10:15 the signal was given to pull on the line and the body of an unknown colored roustabout was brought to the surface. He was burned beyond recognition, some of his clothes still clinging to him. One side of his face was burned almost off, while his hands and arms were in a terrible condition. When the diver found him he at first thought it was a woman. The body was on its back, with hands down at the side as though the poor creature, losing all hope with consciousness going, had sunk back on the bottom of the hold and met death. The body was towed ashore and Patrol 2 took it to the Morgue.
The Body Identified
When the body reached the Morgue a hasty search was made of the pockets for means of identification. Nothing was found in the pockets but a little small change, a package of cigarettes and a couple of Chinese laundry tickets. He was dressed in a red and gray undershirt, blue flannel overshirt, black pants and heavy brogans. Just after the search concluded Detective Bulmer arrived at the Morgue and identified the man as Thomas Edwards, a roustabout from St Louis. The identification was assured by the peculiar style of the brogans.
At Half Mast
The flag on the Public Landing was swung at half mast Saturday morning in memory of Mate Frank Reilley, whose body was recovered Friday afternoon. He was a popular officer and the greatest sympathy is felt for his mother and brothers. The remains of Mate Reilley were buried Saturday from his late residence in St Joseph Cemetery. The funeral of Mat Holman will take place from Camp Washington. The remains of William Madison will be buried by Captain Oliver P Shinkle of the Rule.
Madison's Family
A low frame building of a single floor at Front and Lawrence Streets is the home of the widow of William Warner of Madison, the deckhand, who perished and whose body was found the the Post's diver. Thither a Post emissary went immediately upon the bringing forth of the body. Two blue eyed boys played about the doorway and assured the inquirer: "Yes, this is where Mr. Warner used to live." The single apartment of some 15 feet square contains all the necessities of crude housekeeping. A bed occupies one corner and near by is a cook stove, a household safe and a bureau, from which the mirror has long since departed. On a peg hung a few garments-a coat and vest-evidently the Sunday raiment of the deceased.
At a tub of "sudsey" water the mother was passing the meager family washing through the wringer, while little Rosie who was aged eleven last January sits by, adopting all sorts of womanish ways to keep baby Joe, a yearling youngster from bawling at the intruder. The children in the doorway are Johnny, 13, and Eddy, 7, who wears a pert little Polo cap, through the meshes of which his blonde hair peeks. All of them have blue eyes like the patient woman at the washtub and the departed father.
"I am left without anything in the world by my husband's death" said the poor widow. "and we have been living the last few days on the kindness of neighbors. After two or three days from now I don't know how we'll get along. We had only been living here a week before this happened. We had been living down on Butler street. We moved down here so he would be nearer his work for often he would get a night job to make a little extra money. I don't know how I'll get along now unless I get a position at some kind of light work for I cant do washing for a living. I'm not strong enough."
At this juncture Johnny rushed noisily in,
followed by his black and tan dog, Pompey, who seemed as excited as his young
master, and broke the news, which the reporter was about to impart. "Oh
ma" shouted he, "they've found papa's body. A man comin' up from the river
says they sent him to the Morgue. I'm goin' up there" and off he ran.
The woman stood transfixed. Tears had long since been exhausted and she
could but heave a deep sigh. She at once prepared to go to the Morgue.
Unless neighbors and friends aid in burying the body, it will have to be
interred at public expense. She needs assistance badly, being altogether
destitute.