The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-16
the CATASTROPHE ON THE POTOMAC.
Additional Particulars Of the Collision Of the
Steamers West Point and
George Peabody,
&ese 6ess &os
WASHINGTON, August is, 1855

The follow ing s received from our correspondent at
Aqria Greek Landing. va, dated August 10, 1so2;-
The sad Affair OF Wednesday nghtshas causei deep
feeling OF commseratin for the fate u tho gallant sol
dcrs who, having recovered from seke wero en- 70 s
here 20 lon thor ccn,radee II would b. very sh re
battle ~ which severity soldiers killed, Jet tha.
nrrbrr here ingloriouely pershed Of the sad ea
tarss of the esr a.so tho drowning Of three aaies
ard the child Of o ,hcm. Tho ladies' we're wives Of
slccrs IN Gen. Eurnsie's commando had boon VISIT
Ing attending Their sick husbands the hostal at
HcwTorts Ne 3.
Tho of the accident describe the which
ensuea upon tho striking OF tho steiners rs heart
rcnding in the extreme. With the first shock
the rrah OF the wafer WINS heard making it's way in
through the yawnng gaa at the bows and the hod
ard cabins flooded. Immediately all conf sion
TIE air rent with crias, cxhcrations aud prayers
The boats were lowe ed away but the confusion the
ladies' who TO have been placed in them FIRST, con'd
be found. else the frantic gave them little
heed me divcsted themselves Of their clothing and
boldly plunged into the ater with the intention ef
swnm drifting the Shore and others fran,icaly
clurg The wood work until the vessel ut last
gnlphcd.
The steamer john Faron, from Newborn with quarter
masters stores and in charge Of Captains Pggs ana
Hall, was lying at anchor mile or more from the
Of the accident, and the cries Of the drowning
could be distinctly heard. At first II was supposed
that party OF soldiers bathing in the river from
transport and that the noise their Joyous
clam,tiors. Tho George Peabody, however, fired
two gins, and the true state Of Affairs coniecured
though tho whsing Of tho shot from the guns which
hap cred TO he loaded AT tho me created some appre
hcnsinns that something Of entirely different nature
was trans oiring.
The Farm the funbaat Reiinc and an unknown bark
schooner t. the assistance Of the III starred
sell ane Through their eser!>ns two hundred and three
persous in al rescued Captains B q and IFa and
The catain of the Faron did all Ii their power aidei
by the oiccrs relieve the unfortunate As fast
as, they aboard thy were provided with warm dry
clothing and h.aFkcts and rat'ons were dealt cut 70
them srol. The steamers stores.
The aamge the Peabody Is just forward Of tho port
whco hot Gc where the bow Of tho other st amer On
tered, shng in its progress iro, bar between the
iaddes tn locking the wheel and preventing its revoiu
ton For this Peabody was unable render
any sistancc oscept wi,h her small boats. drfs
down the stream and for several hours, until tho iron
bar withdrawn, noated at the mercy OF the tide
Tho saved were then put on board Of her, and when
Cartan Bigs with his boats and lanterns, had made
tour Of the vicinity, striving CATCH through the dark
ness, any sound voice of still surviving swimmer
she started up the river and anchor off this place
yetsrday morning
Bcforc nnal!y leaving the spot, Captain BHES visited
tho wreck and from between the submerged decks drew
forth the body of drowned soldier lie also picked up
apotber which was floating by. Neither has been iden'
titled, al d they have been since buried
The total humber ssing is seventy six, seventy
three as telegraphed last night. This number may be
redue4d somew hat several observed floating
boards and pans to the surrounding shore who
may turn up in day two The list Of the mssing
which you full be obtained present
The list aboard with soldiers down with the
eamer and until be had the records of
tho surgeons in charge OF the hospital at Ncworts News
the remaining win not bo positively and fully
known.
Or. NEWELL Of the Forty eighth Pcnnsyly ana, Of
the victims was beloved By a who knew him, for his
professional, social and gcntcmany qualities, and the
testify to his gallant conduct In cndeavorng to
the 10 rescue the unfortunate ladies' He remained
by them, exerng himself for their safety, and had he
been chivalric might have escaped with his lise
Lieutenant Colonel Scott whore wife drowned hay
ing all tho boats carried away, Invested himself of
portion of his clothing and sprang into the with
the intention of swimming to Of the vessels near by
and bringing recr but before he could succeed the
had gone down. and his wife borne away by
the tide.
The investigation which commenced before Colonel
Welsh, commaniant Of the pSst, last night, has been
transferred TO Washington.