New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-02
THE mussIssIPPI COLLISION,
Sinking OF the Steamer Niagara, and Great
Loss Of Life and Property.
From The Memphis Argus, Nov. .

The large and elegant side-wheel Atlantic
and Mississippi Steamship CompaDy's packet Niagara
bound for St Louis from New Orleans with about 274
cabin and deck passengers, rs tuns of Eastern freight
and 100 bales Of cotton while mile below the mouth
of the St. Francis River colided with the Post Boy
another large sdewheel boat which heavily laden
with merchandise grain stock etc, the latter striking
the Niagara on the arboard side, between the cook
house and the end of her boilers breaking through her
hull and sinking her inside Of five minutes The COL
lison occurred between and O'Clock Friday night.
The night was clear the moon sbone brightly and it
impossible that this disaster could have occurred
except through the earelessness OF one OF the pilots
Who Of them Is TO blame consider prudent 70 Wlth
hold, the proper authorities will disclose that fact
The Niagara was under the command Of Capt William
Fitzgerad pilot Enoch King was at the wheel, anu
promptly signaRd to Capt. VIM. Baxter, pilot Of the
Post Boy. who answered the signal Immediately. Mr.
John GIeenOugh clerk OF the Niagara was in the pilot
house at the time and informs that everything went
smoothly for few moments, when Mr. krgg said 10
him. What in the h-ll is that fellow doing lie Is
going to run into us; yes, I'll be d-d if be don't"
The words bad hardly fallen from bis lips before the
Post boy struck with terrible and crushing force re.
suting as already stated. There was at the time OF
the disaster about 100 discharged soldiers on the lower
deck, most of whom were negroes. and very few Of
them escaped to the upper deck 1t is thought that
few OF the deckhands Of the boat were also drowned
but all the officers OF the boat escaped There were n
the cabin Is ladies' and few children, beside about 70
male passengers in tie main cabin The shock caused
considerable excitement but through the cool aid able
management the excitement kept under urtii The
boat settled TO depth Of 20 feet, when every thing
quieted down.
The Memphis and White River packet, Kate Hart
Capt Clark soon arrived at the scene OF the disaster
from Helena. and rendered fortunate and timely assist
ance by taking all but few Of the Niagaras passen
gers, bringing them TO this port The survivors OF the
disaster spoke highly Of the kind treatment they re-
ceiyed at the hands Of Capt Dan Clark, Clerk Catrey
and the rest of the Kate's gallant crew.
The Niagara at the time of her Isinking was valued
at sl30OO0 al very large staneb and gorgeous craft
ranking among the fastest and the best steamers aoat
in Western waters. She built at Cincinnati IN
August ls65, by Capt. c. a Drayo Gate OF the Ben.
Sticlney) Messrs. Borker Hart Cook, Henry Jones,
esq ana C. G.. Pearce all of Cincinnati Her machln-
cy from Niiess Works, and hull and boiler were
bu by Dan Morton. Tue boat is thought to be total
loss. hat NAV possibly be raised This depends al
together uDon the Of the hole In her hull The IN.
jury done t0 the Post Boy Is immaterial She continued
her journey 10 New.Orleans yesterday morning.
We learn further that last Thursday, the day previous
to The sinking the Niagara caught fire. and would
have been entirely destroyed but for the prompt and
judcious management Of her officers and in justice 70
Capt. Fitzgerrold Mr. John GTeenough, aud the rest
Of the officers Of the niagara Il Is proper 70 say that
their conduct during the time OF the disaster was
oommendable and cool in the highest degree they
rejecting great credit upon themselves by their noble
actions. Such are the remarks Of the passengers who
arrived here the Kate Hart, who are unsparing ~
the Of adjectves Of the superatiye degree when
speaking Of the conduct Of the officers.