STEAMER TENNESSEE
IS SUNK BY A SNAG.
IN EIGHT FEET OF WATER NEAR
MOUTH OF LITTLE BLUE.
Much of the Cargo Is Saved and No
One Is Injured -- Extent of
Damage to Boat
Not Known.
With a large hole torn in the bow, the steamer Tennessee, en route to Kansas City from St. Louis, sank in eight feet of water near the mouth of the Little Blue river, about twenty-six miles below Kansas City, yesterday morning at 11 o'clock. Efforts to raise the steamer yesterday afternoon were not successful, although the government snagboat, Missouri, and its crew worked all afternoon. The damage to the cargo will not be great.
The Tennessee, a freight and passenger steamer, which is the property of the Kansas City Transportation and Steamboat Company, was due in Kansas City yesterday afternoon, and had a successful trip from St. Louis until the snag was struck. Owing to the low stage of the river, the pilot was unable to tell the exact position of the snag, and a large hole had been torn in the vessel before the danger was realized. Captain Earp, who was in charge of the boat, gave orders at once that as much of the cargo as possible be removed to the barge, and it was due to his prompt action that much of the freight was saved. The steamer carried a fair load of freight consigned to about 100 different merchants in Kansas City.
Owing to the nature of the river banks at the place where the accident occurred, it was impossible to beach the boat, and it was allowed to sink. Several passengers were aboard, but none was injured. Because of the low stage of the river the steamer's decks are above water.
Word of the accident to the steamer was received in Kansas City about 12 o'clock yesterday, and William Volker, president of the company, left on the snagboat for the scene.
As soon as the snagboat arrived workmen built staging form the steamer to the banks, and much of the cargo was removed. It was impossible for the owners last night to estimate the damage to the steamer.
