The New York herald., 1851-12-10
THE MISSISSIPPI CALAMITY.

THE MISSISSIPPI CALAMITY.
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Partic ulars OF the Loss Of the Steamer
Archer, on the MississiPpi-Thirty Lives
said 20 be Lost.
We have already published brief accounts Of the
loss of the steamer Archer BY collision, with the
Die Vernon, on the Mississippi, just above the
mouth of illinois river. We now give the full par
ticulars as gathered from the st. Louis papers,
At six o'clock, on Wednesday afternoon, Noven-
Der 10Th, the steamer Archer, bound for Upper
Mississippi, left port, crowded with deck passengers
and with about eighty tons of freight; about two
O'Clock on the succeeding morning she passed the
mouth OF the Illinois river, and Immediately below
Enterprise Island four miles above, she met the Die
Die, states that he had perceived the approach of
an upward bound boat for several minutes previous,
and had rung his bell several times These signals
were not answered. and before q collision could be
avoided, his boat struck the farboard side of the
Archer about midships, cutting through the strong
guards and hull of the latter. The engine room
and boiler deck of the Archer were the plases
where the passengers were sleeping, and Of some
persons escaped, the remainder having been
crushed or drowned. The door leading to the
engine room being closed, the unfortunate inmates
were unable to get out OF their confined apartments,
notwithstanding the strenuous efforts Of Captain
nj. Rogers, who, in order to afford them relief ex.
posed himself to the most imminent danger
Although the fires of her furnaces could not be
from the bow, yet her signal light kept steadily
burning. She had also two excellent pilots, Capt
Coll and Mr. Cormick When the accident oc.
CURED, Mr.. Biakesley, also distinguished pilot
the Archer consisted of fifteen deck hands and fire.
men; of these, ten lost their lives The emigrants
on deck were principally from Ohio and Indiana, on
the way to settle in Illinois and Iowa. On account
Of the short space of time they ha ii been on the
Archer, the clsrk had not obtained list Of their
names, but hopes yet to succeed in doing SO. A
MIR. Cady narrowly escaped with his life, and was
severely bruised One of the engineers, Captain
;. Cabbell, was seriously injured as was likewise
the mate The freight on the Archer chiefly con-
sisted of 225 bags of SALT % bags of Coffee Is Dbls
whiskey several lots of chandize and furniture
probably twenty tons, and large quantity of
luggage belonging to the passengers.
Report says that twenty-five to thirty lives were
lost-all deck hands and deck passengers on the
Archer. Ten persons, women and children of two
non and the officers Of the Ar sher are unable to say
how many, and perhaps the exact number never
will be known.
The Archer has no cabin, and therefore had of
course few or no passengers above the first deck.
The officers are all safe. The Die Vernon sustained
little injury, and after laying by the wreckfor
four hours, rendering every assistance, arrived in
port shortly after daylight on Thursday morning.
The accident is said to have been entirely acci-
dental, and blame can be attached to no one.
Here are the statements Of the pilots Of the
boats
persons lost:-James Smyers, Sen, Jane Smyers,
Mary Smyers, Caroline Snyers, Susan Dick, Jas
Smyers, Jr., Margaret Ann Smyers, Sarah my.
ers, Ellen Smyers, deck passengers.
An Irish family, consisting of seven or eight
persons; an American family Of three or four, and
five or six other deck passengers, all drowned.
Ten Of the deck hands and fremen belonging to
the Archer are also missing killed or drowned.
of the deck passenger registered, and having lost
the book containing the names Of the deck hands
and fremen, is unable to give even these. He
thinks that the total number missing may be safely
set down at twenty eight to thirty.
Mr.. Blakesley the pilot Of the Die Vernon, says,
when first saw the Archer, was at the head of
Enterprise island, the Archer being then about
half way between two islands Seeing the boat
taps, asa signal that I.would keep my boat to the
left heard no answer. then worked the boat
slow, still holding on in the same position ndi.
Gated by my signal. At this point heard from the
Archer to stop her-my boat Immediately COM
menced backing my boat, when after three revols-
tions back the two boats came in collision.
Such is the statement of MIR. Blakesey, and it is
proper for US to say that these statements were
made in the presence of both these gentlemen, and
no exception was taken to them by either party.
Samuel Smysrs, the unfortunate boy, twelve or
thirteen years Of age, and Miss Sarah Dick, lone
and unprotected female, survivors from the wreck
of the illfated Archer, are now in the city, proba-
bly, destitute of means, and several hundred miles
from their friends. Would not the cause of hu
manlty De served by contribution nom our clsi-
zens, sufficient to defray their expenses to their
friends in Pennsylvania The boy Smyers has
lost his father, mother, and eve brothers and sis.
ters, and every article OF furniture and clothing
possessed by his parents. Miss Dick was taken
from the wreck in her night clothes, and is entire
ly destitute. Her sister law, and perhaps BROTH
er, were both drowned. We bespcak for these un-
fortsnates donation sufficient to send them to
their friends.
In reference to the unfortunate event recorded
above, We have just conversed with the pilots Of
both boats, viz;-Mr. l.. b. Coll, the pilo Of the
Archer, and Mr.. Willis Blakesley, the pilot Of the
Die Vernon. Their state ments are az follows;-
Mr. Coll, the pilot OF the Archer, says that his
boat was ascending the river, the time being about
half past one A. M, when he discovered the Die
Vernon coming down at the bead Of Enterprise
ltland He attempted to ring his bell, to give the
descending boat the usual signal when, finding the
bell foul and not ringing, he became afraid to meet
the descending boat in the middle Of the river. /
then called on the mate Of the Archer to clear the
bell, and while he was SO doing attemted to run
my boat out Of the regular channel to avoid colli
SON. At this moment the descending boat struck US.
Mr.. Coll states further, that when he found the
bell defective, and the signal could not be made,
be then adhered to the old established rule, claim
ing the shore or upper bar for his boat He says,
moreover, that the confusion board his boat, aud
the escspement being very loud ard close to the
pilot house, totally precluded him from hearing any
requests made by the descending boat.