Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1899 — PERISH IN THE MISSISSIPPI. [ARTICLE]

PERISH IN THE MISSISSIPPI.

Steamer Rowena Lee Sinks and Three • People Drown. The managers of the Lee line of steamers announced Thursday morning that only three lives were lost by the sinking of the Rowena Lee, near Tyler, Mo., Wednesday afternoon. The first report of the disaster which was received said that all on board had perished save the captain andean under officer of the steamer. It was estimated that between fifty and sixty persons went down. Telephone connection was secured to Mo., by the officials at Memphis, and a few minutes later the announcement was made that the Rowena Lee had sunk in thirty feet 6f water off the landing at Tyler, and three persons were drowned. Putting out from the Tyler landing the steamer hit a hidden obstruction, knocking in the hull, but succeeded in landing all the passengers and crew except the three missing. From the best information obtainable the disaster was caused in this way: The river at Tyler is over the banks, and the boat in landing ran up almost to the street of the little town. In backing to the landing it is thought the boat ran on to a stump, and broke in two. She floated down the river some distance and sank,»and will prove a total loss.