The eastern clarion., 1859-04-13
ours truly.
CHAS. \. SMITH.
Quitman, April ., 1859.

e - e
THE TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER on
THE OHIo.-We had a brief announcement
last week of the collision between the
steamboats, David Gibson and Nat Holmes.
that recently occurred on the Ohio River,
near Aurora, Indiana. by which both
boats and large number of lives were
lost. The Cincinnati Commercial has a
brief notice of the awful disaster as fol-
lows:
The stern-whecl steamer Nat Holmes.
Capt. Kennedy, descending. and side
wheel steamer David Gibson. Capt Nc
Kinley, ascending, came in collision oppo-
site Aurora, Indiana, last night at :
o'clock. Our correspondents inform Us
that both boats were sunk, the wrecks
floating by the town. The night being
very dark and stormy, il is feared that
great many lives were lost.
The Nat Holmes was bound from Pitts
burg for st. Louis with a full cargo of
manufactures, and filed with passengers
the majority Of the latter being destined
for Missouri River and Pixies Peak. with
considerable live stock
The David Gibson was on her way here
from New Orleans, with a valuable cargo
Of groceries and a number of passengers
The loss Of property j. heavy. The David
Gibson Is owned by Capt. Mckinley and
others in this city. The Nat Holmes is
owned and partially insured in Pittsburg
FURTHLR PARTICULARS.-The CONNER
cial of the Both, has the following partic-
ulars of the disaster, obtained from pas
sengers and the clerks Of the David Glib
son, and Mr.. Scott, one of the pilots of
the Nat Holmes:
Captain Kennedy and clerks Lamont
and Terrence, Of the Holmes. were at the
wreck all day, but were expected here
! last night.
The night was dark and stormy. Pilot
| VIM. Irwin, who was at the wheel of the
| Gibson, states he was coming up the Ken
/ lucky shore. and reached the point below
/ Petersburg. when the Holmes. descend
/ ing. blew her whistle. lie saws the
/ clouds of smoke and steam together with
I the state Of the weather, prevented him
! from seeing the Holmes until She was
I within shsrt distance Of the Gibson
He Immediately stopped the engines and
| commenced backing the Gibson, when
/ the boats came together. her bow striking
the Holmes on the larboard side opposite
NlAt AolNAAh filtA vi AllN NolltI-s / ne
7 Holmes being laden principally with iron
went down almostinstantlv headfOremost
/ the cabin separating from the hull and
floating off The Gibson remained by the
| wreck until it was discovered that she
was also sinking, when she was immedi
ately headed for shore. and went down on
the Kentucky side, at the point above
Aurora. The cabin of the Gibson also
parted from the hull when she struck tho
bank, and was swept off
The scene was terrible beyond descrip
tion. As the Holmes went down in til,
middle of the river, the cries Of the unfor
tunate passengers were heard on eithe
shore. The editor Of the La,rrcaccJU1
Register thus describes the scene:
1--WE were at Aurora nj the time Of tn,
catastrophe. and the walls that went M
from the Sufferers would make the stout
est heart quake. As soon rs the cry o
distress was heard at Aurora, all that wa
in the power of the citizens was rendered
Every skiff that could be found in tn,
dark night went to their aid Men rowe,
with almost supcrhuman power, and loa,
after load was landed upon the beach
among whom were many women who hal
lost their children, and children who haC
lost their parents, and Others who hat
lost all they had. Their situation wa
truly agonizing. We saw an old MAJ
from Wheeling, who had lost two chill
dren, but had saved his wife and othc
children. Another told us he had ii,
children, and he could find but three
and did not know whether the remainde
were lost or not. We observed girl
five years old, who could not find rela
tive, but she, like the rest, found plent,
of friends in the citizens of Aurora
There was also another little girl, abou
seven year. old named Welsh, from
Wheeling, who was 50 near gone that sh,
could not stand. Her parents could no
De found, but after awhile, her brother
a lad about sixteen years old was fortu
nately found. We also saw a young lad,
who was badly scalded. An agonized mo
ther could not find her infant child. an,
her grief bordered on insanity.