Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-01-25
SINKING OF rnE fLAr1R yALLEY.


From the Memphie Commercial.
Once more we have to record one Of those
terrible steamboat disasters 90 startling to the
community, unexpected TO the victima and
PAINFUL 10 relate.
The large sidew heal steamer, Platte VAL
ley, which left the wharf YESTERDAY evening
shout six O'Clock, loaded with passengers and
freight, had'hafdly passed ont Of sight down
the river, when she struck the sunken hall Of
the Confederate gunboat, Jef. Thompson,
and sunk 20 the roof Immediately, with q
FEARFUL loss OF liie. The steafage yasseuaen
were nearly I'll lost and some Of the cabin
passengers. i1i'loa
The boat was commanded BY Capt. Blake,
with Mr. Isaacs q frst clerk. She was run
ming In the line Of the 81. Louis and vicks-
burg trade, though originally built foe The
Missouri river. She arrived 1t the wharf
sometime yesterday morning on the down
trip, and tied up at the lower wharf boat
During the day number Of passengers and
. quantity Of freight was rsceIvsd sboard.--
Among the former were Col. Gus. A. Henry
and hi. lady, destined for thsit hssas IN Ar.
kansas. 9ri DC syfvat sN{lagIIegG-
Ate o'clock the boat backed out rom the
wharf. A majority Of the passengers are
said to have gone aboard from this city. Il
10 estimated that there wsrs about two hun.
bred and ave sonls aboard, It whom dry or
fifty Ave were steerage passengers. Among
these were three families enieratinR 10 Tex
as, who got aboard here. Itis stated that
they had great appreheneions for their safety
before they started, and wanted TO chance to
the Olive Branch, and would have done 70
but for the fact that they had paid their
passage money. Sad To say, they all perish
ed. 80 f.
The boat sunk Ia seven minutes after
striking the wreck. The shock vas not %
severe AZ might be supposed. The snsg
which wa struck came up through the fore
part Of the boat almost to tho upper deck
The utmost CONSERVATION ensued, women
and children shrisked, and men ran to and
fro. Ten or fifteen Of the cabin passenger
jumped overheard and are supposed to have
been lost. Some Of the deck hands are
thought to be Aved. ggysr rfF.g
The scene Of disaster q about seven miles
from the city aud about TIRE handrsd yardl
ffom the Arkansas shore. One or two per.
sons are said 10 have reached the shore By
swimming. The ski6 at the stern Of the
boat went down, and could not be reached
the light skin or life boat on the hurricane
deck q said to have bern taken possession OIL
BY 4 ur hands, who len in Il aud aid not ~
turn. Que skin, however, was made servic
able, and another one. was sent from the
shore. With thess the ladies from the cabin
were removed to the shore IN safety. Ths
lsrboard side Of the upper deck was not a.
together under water, hence thoas who wsr<
fortunate enough to secure that position wers
safe. ra4A SNx - s.ssfsE
It happsnsd that the steam tusboat which
belongs At the wharf was down the rive
eighteen miles taking soundinRs. Her On
GERS were 6rst apprissd Of the disaster SHOW,
J them by noatipg furniture and baeTagl
which, passed them. They Immediately
steamed up the river, and reached the wrsci
about an hour and half 5aftsr the occur
renee. The remaining passenger were thef
carried across to the Arkansas shore, ant
subsequently brought TO this city ct TIVE
loads, the last one being At very late hour
All the passengers with whom we hav,
couvsrsed unite In giving the highest prais,
to the officers Of the boat, for cool bearing
and intrepid conduct, and trying 70 save thu
lives Of their passenger. W w
The Captain and Bis hrst clerk were partic
lularly commended. The engineer sfood no
bly, at bis post till the last and answered th,
very last bell. The officers were the last onsi
to leave the wreck.
The second table was 1t supper when th'
! lsnag was struck. No tine was allowed fbl
any preparation. The shock threw down al
the stoves and bad the boat not Sunk 10.
stantly che wsuld have bssn On Gre; bal
being loaded to the guards with freight
principally taken on here, she sank 10 twsn
~ fsss water In the iecrsdih,s shoFt space o
seven minutes. The pesssugsis could no