The Nevada Democrat., 1857-12-23
Frightrul steamship Catastrophe.


The steamship Opelousas, of the Vanderbilt
line, running from New Orle ms to Galveston,
was sank on the night of November 18th, by
coming in contact with the steamer Galveston,
of the same line. The collision happened near
Menteau Point, and eighteen passengers are
known to have been lost The New Orleans
Della gives the following narrative Of passeR-
ger
al was passenger on the Opcleusas, Capt.
Ellis, bound from Berwicks Bay to Galveston.
On the night of the 18th, about quarter past
IL o'clock, was awakened in my berth by
shock, as If the vessel was struck by lightning
rushed on deck and found it crowded with
passengers, all in the widest state Of excite
ment-the ladies screaming and the gentlemen
running to and fro The first consciousness
had of danger was hearing the mate and stew
ard calling on the passengers to save them
selves, as there were two life-preservers in each
stateroom. l hastily made for the cabin to get
life preserver, but on reaching it found the
water in it ankle deep. hastily retraced my
steps and on reaching the deck again found the
steamer sunk to their gunwales. The passen-
gers then ran to the hurricane deck, but in
about three minutes she had sunk to that deck
The scene of wild confusion and dismay which
then presented itself beggars all description
The life boat was cut away aud some fifteen or
twenty jumped into her, and Others jumped into
one of the quarter boats, when both boats start
ed for the Galveston, then some distance from
the wreck. CAT this time did not sec the Gal
weston, and was totally unconscious Of the cause
of the disaster.) The life boat before reaching
the Galveston was capsized, and several of the
passengers sunk to rise no mere. held on to
the stern of the Opelousas, and while in that
position was joined by the second engineer
This officer had secured plank, which enabled
him to shove off from the wreck. / did not do
SO, believing the Opelousas was aground. In
few moments however, the Opelousas from
the weight, suppose, of her machinery, broke
in two and turned bottom upwards Seeing
the Galveston in the distance struck out for
her. and, after swimming think, about quar-
ter of mile, was picked up by one of the Gal
Westerns boats. Captain Ellis, who was cling
ing to pirougue bottom, was also picked ND
at the same time. The first engineer. his wife,
a man whose name do not recollect, two ne
gro boys, and some others, / believe, clung to a
portion of the wreck, after she turned bottom
upwards, until daylight when they we're picked
up. A Mexican, name not known, who had res
cued a little boy was also found next morning
holding on to log, and himself and the boy
are among the saved.
The mate of the steamer Jasper, McFarlanc
running to Sabine Pass, was one Of the Passen-
gers of the Opelousas, and was rescued He
afterwards left the Galveston 10 endeavor to
save some of the other passengers, and unfor-
tunately pershed in the attempt.
From all the information l could obtain, in
the confused state of affairs, after was saved,
it appears that both boats being under full
headway, the Galveston struck the Opelousas
on the starboard side, little forward of the
wheehouse, cutting her nearly in two and
smashing her machinery 80 that the steam from
her boilers soon filled the cabin, rendering it
impossible to distinguish objects distinctly
The second mate of the OpeloHsas and the first
mate of the Galveston were ON watch on their
respective boats at the time of the collision.
Captain Washburu, Of the Galveston, was not
in charge Of the G. that trip, having left the
boat in Galveston. on account Of Sickness
Capt. Smith, / understand, had charge Of the
G. Captain Ellis asserts that he was in hisright
track or course when the collision took place
Immediately after the collision, Captain Ellis
leaped on board the Galveston with rope, for
the purpose of making the latter boat fast to
the wreck Of the Opelousas, in order to save the
passengers but being unable to accomplish his
purpose. leaped back on the wreck.
The Galveston staid by the wreck during the
night, and her officers and men used every ox-
ertion to save those floating in the water
The following is a list of those known to have
been lost
Gen. J. Hamilton South Carolina.
Judge John G. Cleland, N. o.
A. J. Veorhies, Princeton, N. J.
Mr.. Smith, mother and young lady, ST. Louis.
Miss Lucy Williams, Lavaca Tex.
c. w. Wilmot, Hardin county, Ky, (body
found)
Child of c. W. Wilmot, Ky.
Miss Mary Pittmay, Nashville, Tenn.
Mcfarland late mi 10 atpamer Taanar
Two children of G.. Williams Columbia, Tex.
Child Of Mrs. Fouts, Buchanan CO., Mo.
August Mendell, Dewitt Co., Tex
-. Dunn, Navarro CO., Tex.
Negro girl belonging to Mrs. Hurshberger.
Negro boy Sd cook on Opelousas.