Hello Bill, I received the article from my cousin in Las Vegas concerning the Steamboat Miriam. It is from 'Old Stories From the Past'. I apologize for the length of it, but has several names here for genealogist. I'm hoping someone can fill me in more on William Berry the engineer as I feel that this is my g-grandfather. Tuesday, April 28, 1908 Destruction of Mariam. Storm capsized Steamer above Helena and fifty of sixty passengers cling to hulk till rescued. Helena, April 27-Twelve were drowned, one a woman when the Steamer Mariam capsized eight miles above the St. Francis river Sunday afternoon. Capt. W. A. Joyce, of Newport, who was in charge, returned to Helena this afternoon, bringing information. previously luggage, known to have been on the Mariam, see floating down the river, aroused fear here. The Mariam had been engaged to transport the Wright Carnival Company from Helena to Caruthersville. It was a 65-ton boatand left at 12:30 Sunday afternoon, and three hours later when 18 miles above Helena encounterered the gale that made quick work of its destruction. When the boat capsized, the show people, most of whom were asleep, together with the crew, clambered on top of the over turned boat, which luckily had lost her boilers in capsizing, allowing the hulk to float. Engineer Berry and a black man set out for the shore in a skiiff, bhut the waves capsized the frail shell and bother were drowned in sight of those for whom they had undertaker a perilous and fatal trip to secure aid. Waves, ten feet in height, dashed upon the terror stricken party clinging to the old hulk, washing a numer from their hold and carring them away to watery graves before the eyes of their helpless companions. After floating down river two hous a gasoline launch owned and operated by T. E. Schaefer of Halbert Point, came up to the boat and rescued some of those on it. Two more trips were necessary to take survivors to shore. where they were marooned in the swamp in night dress, cold and suffering for nearly 24 hours until the relief boat, Zerah, Jr. from Helena arrived with assistance of all kinds. Story of Capsizing The accident occured on the widest stretch of the Mississippi between Helena and Memphis. Capt Joyce, master, owner and pilot of the boat saw the wind coming and made a run for the bank. With hurricane force the wind lifted the steamer, and whirled her completely around, throwing her livingg freight intoi the stream, The steamer capsized the momentt she settled into the water, and her terrified and dazed passengers had barely time to climb upon the rail that was above the surface. Clinging desperately to their frail support, they fought for life. Waves running 10 and 15 high broke over them and the vessel seemed about to flounder time and time again as she drifted. Captain's Narrow Escape Captain Joyce was in the pilothouse when the storm picked his craft from the water, and when she capsized he found the door jammed. Breaking the windows of his prison, he fought his way to the surface of the water, and fearing that at any moment the boat might go down in the stern-whipped waters of the Mississippi, the passengers saw one after another of their number give up their fight for life, and heard their cries for assistance as they sank. Men, women and children alike, irrespective of color or occupation, clung to the common support, each one fighting desperately for life. Not a man could move to aid a neighbor. See Woman Drown Each moment the waves threatened to engulf them all. But when one woman, weakened by the strain and chilled by exposure, cried out for help, a heroic effort was made to give her needed aid, but too late came the rescuers, and before their very eyes Anna Golden of St. Louis released her hold, threw her hand upward in a last appeal and disappeared. Sinking lower and lower, the steamer grounded on a sandbar just before dusk, and with night coming on and no prospect of relief, the remaining members of the passengers and crew lost hope, when the little gasoline boat "Home Run." moved in sight. Fears for the safety of the Miriam were entertained at Helena shortly after the storm when trunks, wooden horses, from the "flying ginny" and a box of snakes were seen floating down the Mississippi. Dead and Missing The following is the list missing: Frank Berg, Chicago Anna Golden, St Louis Frank Fisher, Memphis Albert Jordan, Memphis Blinkie Dale, St Louis William Berry, engineer, Newport, Ar. Can Thomas, Marion Hiram Wright Will Smith Charles Webb Thomas Boyd, deckhand Lawrence Martin, deckhand Irene Fleming, Negro girl, 13 years old of Memphis