Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-16
DREADFUL DIsAsrKR on THE POrO.
MAC.

Collision Of the West Psipt and Peabody.
The following are the pcr,icula n Of the d,..
astey
AQUA CRstk, Va, Aug. Il "A eollis,oc O..
geo e0int, between ID steamers Peabody and
~ est eini, Involving the loss Of seventy three
tSes The West Point was bound to this place
from Newport News, with convalescent troops of
Gen Burnsidef army. The Peabody brought
the rescued soldier and passengers to this point,
and from Lieut. Col. Charles Scott of TIE Ssh
New Hampshire, who was on board Of the H.
f,ted vessel, and In charge Of the troops, I have
obtained the following account OF the affair:
We Ieft Newport News on Tuesday, the 18th
Inst, with 9S soldiers, four oficers three ladies
and one child. At Fortress Monroe we took on
IL men, making In all 27e souls.
On Wednesday evening, the 18th inst :, about q
O'Clock, on Ragged Point, on the Poton,sc we
We're startled by shock, and soon discovered
that collision had taken place between our
bound down the river. The West Point began
to leak very fast, and Il was ascertaiped ths sbe
would sink In less than ten minutes The Pea
oody, which mad been partially disabled, could
render no assistance, except with the small boats
From other sources l learn valuable assistance
was rendered BE- Captains Biggs and Hall, and
their astistant Qusrtefmastsrs, Of General Burn.
sides army, who were passing In the steamer
Jcsiyn, Of the gunboat Reliance. An unknown
bark also rendered valuable assistance, and, by
the combined efforts OF all, two hundred and
three persons were fescied.
The West Point went down In four fsthons Of
water, about one and half miles from the Mary.
land shore, and nothing can now be seen of her
out her smoke stacks, masts, and some wrenched
up pianks on her decks All Of her crow was
saved except one fireman, named John Russell
The brief period during which the w est Point
remained anoat after sthfing, and the consterna.
Ton which prevailed, prevented the efforts to
save all from being a. successful - could be de-
M
the last 10 leave the vessel Without attributiny
the blame 70 either party, give you the state.
msnts on both sides.
The following is the Statement, Of wm.P.
by Capt TfsveFs, who was on deck at the time
Of the collision:
The steamship George Peabody lef, Aou,s
Creek, August Ii, for Fortress Monroe at Al
O'Clock p. IN. The Steamer proceeded down the
liver, when about OF Ragged Point, and steering
east oy south, made an unknown steamer, which
was the West Point on our port bow. I gave
one blow Of our steam whistle, which was an
sWefeo In return by the steamer West Point
When the steamer neafed ported our wheel
The pilot or whoever had charged Of the steamer
w est Point, starboarded his wheel and struck our
bows on the port side, forward OF our water
wheel, at five minutes past eight o'clock D. IN
The following IL the statement Of Capt Doyle,
Of the West Point
J.. K. G. Doyle, master Of the steamer Yves,
Point, ce,tihes that between and 0 o,clock n
m, Of August 10, steering from Ragged Point 10
get soundings, about five miles above Lower
Machodie, about west by south scross the chan
mel, heard whistle blow once two points on the
asrboard bow. Immediately answered it,
which signal means, keep 70 the right;'' our
lights all burning at the time, our green light
being the only one that could be seen from the
other steamer, with which collision occurred.
saw the boat coming down on US, immediately
stopped the engine and backed the boat; tha
oshef boat apparently going full speed, her port
guard and paddle box took our bow and stove Il
In, taking away abou, ten feet, Leaving US In a
sinking condition. / Immediately b ailed him TO
stay by, as we were In distress. He passed US,
diaely, which order was complied with Nv
steamer headed FOR the Maryland shore, aud San
IN about four fathoms water. did everything
70 avoid oollision, and used my utmost eIertions
70 save all could. The entire number missing
10 seventy-ihree, Of whom portion NAV be
saved, az q mum Der were picked I'D by small
bocb and schoopeYs In the yicinity