The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-03-30
The Collision on the River at Aurora.
LOSS OF THE STEAMERS DAvII
GIBSON AND NAT. HOLMES.
FULL PARTICULARS.
Forty-three Lives Lostl
Incidents of the Disastrous Affair

OF the unfortunate and terrible collision that
took place between the steamers David Gibson
and Nat. Holmes, on Monday evening, near
Aurora, Indiana.
We made many efforts by telegraphing, to
gain full account of the collision, but they
proved unsatisfactory, and we feel ourselves
deeply grateful to the Cincinnati Gazette Co.
(whO dispatched special Reporter to the scene
of the disaster for their kindness in furnish
able accident.
On Monday evening last, about eight o'clock,
the steamers Nathaniel Holmes, bound from
Pittsburg for st. Louis, and the David Gibson,
from New Orleans for Cincinnati, came in col
lision a short distance below Petersburg, KY,
and two miles above, and in sight of Aurora,
with such force as to sink the former instantly,
and latter in few minutes. The Holmes had
a heavy cargo of nails, iron, and general mer
chandise. The Gibson had over six hundred
hogsheads sugar for Cincinnati.
The night was dark, and the wind was blow
ing violently when the collision occurred, and
IL is supposed that smoke obsoured the lights
80 that neither pilot saw the approaching boat
until too near to prevent the accident. The
Holmes was cut in pieces and sunk instantly.
The Gibson swung around and was run for the
shore, but before reaching 1t she sunk, the cabin
floating of.
INHUMAN wRETCHEs.
There was a small trading boat named Annie
Laurie No. 5, near by, but the owner refused
to let any one have the use Of the skif to 60 to
the assistance of the sufferers. He armed him
self with hatchet, and his wife with Bowie
knife, and the pair threatened to kill any one
who should touch the skiff. William Nichol-
| son is the name of this man.
At present writing, we are unable to give
| the names or the number of the lost, but the
last is supposed to be about sixty. There we're
but few passengers on the Gibson, and these,
| with the crew, SO far as we have been able to
| learn, were saved. ....
The Holmes had large number Of passen-
| gers, most of whom were emigrants to Pixies
Peak. She went down in the middle of the
river, and nearly every person between decks
was drowned, while many of those in the cabir
were lost. ...- i.
As soon as the citizens of Aurora heard o.
the accident they did everything in their powei
to render assistance. Every skiff within reach
was brought into requisition. Men rowed with
almost superhuman power, and load after load
was landed upon the beach, among whom were
many women who had lost their children, and
| children who had lost their parents, and other
who had lost all they had.
/ e''oe'
thirty deck passengers. The crew we're al
saved, except Mr.. Caldwell, the engineer, an
a cabin n-boy.
MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF AURORA.
Yesterday TUESDAY afternoon) the citizen
of Aurora held q meeting at the City Hall, t
devise means to relieve the sufferers. Mayo
Tenney presided, and John Gaff was chosel
Secretary.
The Mayor stated the object of the meetin
to be to find out the number of sufferers, an
to provide for the wants of the destitute.
It was suggested by Mr.. Wilson that person
present, who were on either of the ill-fate
boats, should give such particulars of the acci
dent as were within their knowledge. An oil
/ man then came forward and stated as follows
STATEMENT OF JAS. L. GRIFFITH.
was talking with the cook of the Holme
on the guards, when the boats struck tt
cook exclaimed: "My God, we are all going
> the bottom" CONSERVATION at once spres
: among the passengers and crew. l hastene
9 to the ladies cabin to look after my family, ar
when reached there they were not to be foun
There were eight of us, viz; myself, wife, tv
daughters, two sons and their wives. The boz
= was sinking rapidly, and at this time was !
10 to my waist in water. / went back to Il
= door of the state-room, occupied by myself al
wife. I found a man entangled in ropes al
d pieces of the RATS. fell over into the watt
|. became frantic, and thought l was to be IL
sr alone; saw young man save one of my daug
= ters; Captain came along in life-boat; foul
III my wife and took her ashore; came bs
and saved my son and daughter-in-law.
not know how got to the shore. My young
Is daughter, Emma, aged twenty-one years, q
i my youngest son, Hiram, are missing. !
q name is James L. Griffith. This happened
the Holmes. took passage at Wheeling wi
4 my family for Burlington, Iowa; had on boa
+, So 900 in money-all of which lost, and
d now destitute. All ask is to be sent home
n Wheeling, Va. Too .....
10 Thereupon a Committee was appointed
Us apply to the City Council for means to puroht
ID clothing for the sufferers; and to apply
v. steamboats, and railroad companies to cal
,o them TO their respective homes free of char
40 The Mayor was instructed to issue certifca
he to the unfortunate passehgers, to be used
IN procuring passage The City Council wor
IN meet in the evening, to carry out the instr
tions of the meeting.
OHIO AND MIssIssIP PPI RAILROAD.
st The following dispatch was forwarded fir
or Aurora to A. IL. Lewis, of the Ohio and NJ
n, sissppi R. r. Co., in this city.
oeI A. II. LEWIS: The citizens have held me
- ing and passed resolution, requesting
Mayor to give all the sufferers from the wrt
ra Of last night his certificate. 1t is hoped d
all the railroad and steamboat lines will p
eli either way those unfortunate persons bear
us such certificates. Can / assure the Comm
Council, at its meeting this P. M, that the
and NJ. R. r.. Co. will honor those certifcat
rs. and will you give conductors orders to I
"a, effect2 A. g. BROOKS
To this the following reply was promI
transmitted: .I. ..,.t..... ...
oh. G. Brooks, AurOra--Yes, sir.