Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-10
The Cnrter Disaster
STATEMENT OF CHIEF ENGINEER ASH.
~n1Rn

WORTH
IPrcm the Memphis Post, Jan. Sl.j
Mr.. Ashworth states that the boat had
made fifteen TO twenty landings between
Memphis and the mouth of the Arkansas
river, and reached Napoleon between sun
down and dusk on Sunday evening. She
laid at this point about twenty minutes
discharging freight and, Just upon leaV-
ing, the Second Engineer came 10 the re-
lief Of Mr.. Ashworth, remarking that he
had Just had his supper. Mr.. A. asked
him if the bell had not rung. He replied
YES" and then, reaching up to the ready
bell, rang it as a signal that he WA ready
to start. Mr.. AEAworth then prepared to
leave the engines in charge of his assis-
tant remarking to him, before leaving,
"John, you have get no steami you
haven't got a hundred pounds" HIS re-
ply was, al don't care; I will have as
much as 1 want by the time l get under
way" He then started the "dootor," and
Nj. Ashwerth left him, with the parting
Injunction to 'keep the boilers full OF
water and &c along easy" He replied,
II amt going 10 shove her" Upon leav-
ing the engine room Mr.. A. went up into
the "Texas," and prepared for supper.
When he sat Down to the table the boat
had just left Napoleon, and the band had
commenced playing upon the hurricane
roof.
After supper our informant went up to
the Office; where Charlie johnson, the
second clerk, was engaged in writing.
Upon leaving the ofle0, Mr.. AshwSrth re-
paired 10 the forward deck, and engaged
in conversation with some passengers,
among whom were Mr.. Prebst and Mr..
Eidelbsrg, of Little Rock. The latter
gentleman had been absent fram home fer
some time, and knowing MI. Ashworth
AS a resident Of Little Rock, made in
quiries Of him concerning his wife. He
said that he was very anxious to see her.
After some further remarks concerning
the time the boat was makiRE, and about
when they would be likely to reach Little
Rock, Mr.. Ashworth left the gentlemen
and went upon the hurricane deck. There
he found several Of the soldiers eongre-
gated, and observed two members of the
company who had been tied to the chin
ney guys for drunkenness and disordeFly
conduct on board the boat. Mr.. Wherry, /
one of the Mississippi pilots was sitting
on the forward roof, 10 whom Mr.. Ash-
worth remarked that it was a Hpretty
Eyes" was the reply, Shouldn't
have chalked cut a better 1 think We
will be well up the river BY mSrning."
Mr.. Ashworth then repaired TO his room
and went to bed, having only three hour
10 sleep before his turn for watch re-
He states that he had Just got in
to a sort of doze and supposes it must
have been nearly eight o'clock, when a
report, as from a piece of artillery, |
hin up. He sprang cut of bed and
found everything sinking under him, and
it was with the utmost difficulty that he
his escape from the room. HaV-
ing managed to chamber out upon the
roof, he found it completely shattered and
lettering beneath his steps as he ran hall
way aft. A dead silence reigned OF
board the boat for few seconds, when the |
air was rent with wild cries Of agony from
suffering victims of the catastrophe.
The water was covered with fragments OF
the wreck and persons struggling for
their lives. The fire from the furnaces. |
had communicated with the cabin |
and was rushing aft, where nearly all the
survivors had congregated. Ii
was a scene Of horror that will never
be efTaced from his memory.
The fire drove Mr.. Ashworth to the
iterD, where a large number of soldiers
laying hands upon all the floating
material within their reach and jumping |
INTO the river. About this time the first
nate came upon deck, calling upon the
to take hold of the tiller and put the
lelm aport, so as to swing the boat in to-
yard the shore. At the same time Henry
MeNett, one of the pilots, came running
Up to Mr.. Ashworth, exclaiming, adam, |
or Gods sake, let's get the yswl down
md put the ladies into it, and try to say
hem if we can" The boat wss then
owered, but Mr.. A. was told by the car
that, as soon as it touched water, a
,rowed jumped into it and it Immediately 4
,wamped. By this time the flames were
Violently toward the stern, and
all efforts on the part Of Mr. A. to regain
he texas were unavailing. Every person
Upon the roof had now jumped into the
liver, and Mr.. Ashworth was left alone
upon the hurricane deck. 1t had been
cleared of all floating material, but he
managed to tear away the texas steps, and
With them in his hands waited till he
Gould take to the water without danger of
being entangled by fragments of the
wreck, or carried under by persons strug-
Cling with the waves. Mr.. Ashworth
the last person to leave the boat. AT
Ter jumping into the river he was carried
IF the steps twice by the motion Of the
but at last succeeded in reaching
he shore. He there found the second eu-
.yineer, John Neil, and the carpenter, who, |
a Mr.. Cochran, q passenger, were
ioing all IN their power TO rescue the suf-