The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-23
SINKING OF Thu PLATTE VALLEY.

lhe OhAmhebb VI ble ANNHAN
Conduct Of the Omcers-NarrOw Escape
OF Passengers-The Number of Lost an
Unanswered QuestiOn-Number Estt-
mated Unchanged-The Cause Of the
CatastrOphe-Los to COnslgnees-In
Aurance, Etc.
From the Memphis Argus Of Saturday.
The great disaster in the sinking OF the
steamer Platte Valley proves to be Of fully the
magnitude we described IN yesterdays issue.
As TO the number Of lives lost, that will never be
known while time lasts. The passengers had
not been all, or near all, registered, and as to
the steerage passengers, there cannot be any
correct data. They went aboard as the immense
freight was loaded, and no particular notice
was taken of the number. The clerk had not
taken any OF their names. party who was on
the boat has furnished us Il statement OF the
disaster, which is so clear and connected that
we place it before our reaueIs:-
We would state that the steamer Platte Val
ley was running in the channel of tue river at
the time of striking the wreck OF the gunboat,
and that the pilot, who is an experienced one,
was perfectly aware of the location of the
wreck, but on coming into the bend the boat so
flushed with him that she struck before he
could prevent 1t. On striking, the Captain,
seeing that she would sink, ordered the pilot to
run the boat on the bar which was done by
the pilot. The boat sunk very rapidly, and
settled in about twenty feet of water. On
X,
and Instructed the passengers to ascend to
the upper deck as soon as possible, which
was done ;'and as far as we could learn, there
were but two cabin passengers lost
The passengers, at the time OF striking
were apparently panic-stricken, but owing 10
the GOODNESS of the Captain, Colonel Henry
Colonel Taylor, Captain Weaver, and others,
were queted. Some lew male passengers in
their fright jumped overheard, out we're picked
up below. The pilot-house took fire at the time,
and added to the tumult. In breaking the sky
light to see if the cabin was in danger of fire,
lady was discovered floating on a table, holding
on to her colored servant She was pulled out
by the mate and pilot, who were on watch when
the boat sunk, and, we are glad to say, saved.
The number OF deck passengers we could not
state, as but few we're registered. As soon as the
boat settled, the boats yaWl and skif FROM
shore were used TO transport the women and
children ashore. There was not man left in
the boats until the women aud children had gone.
The tug, which was down the river with the
pilots OF the Louisville, Olive Branch. and Platte
Valley, who had been down sounding the chan
mel, came up and rendered valuable assistance.
The Captain with his entire crew, were two
hours on the boat alter the passengers had all
left, and did not leave until everything was
done that could be done, and remained on shore
looking 1or passengers, and seeing what could
be done, TIL morning. The money that was in
the safe belonging to passengers was saved. but
the boats money that was in the drawer was
lost, as the water was over the desk before the
clerk lett the Office, and he had not time to get
boat in the landing boat, it is not so, as before
stated. The crew renamed on the boat.
In addition 10 the above, we have learned
many incIdents which may be OF interest. 1t is
stated that the boat went uown III tour minutes
afIer striking the wreck. The bottom of the
boat is supposed to have been torn almost lite
rally off The water rushed in so tearfully fast
that few OF those below could go above, even II
they had thought of doing so. Colonel Henry,
Colonel Clay Taylor, and the officers o. the boat
are spoken of in the highest terms. Many acts
of daring and heroism were performed which
deserve 10 be mentioned, yet Others might be
overlooked equally as merltorious.
Colonel Gus. Henry, We are pleased to men
ton, recovered his baggage yesterday. There
was but one man who saved his trunk at the
time of the disaster. When he was pulled up
on the hurricane deck by the captain, he
dragged huge leather trunk after him, and 1T
was saved. He went down the river on the
Olive Branch. That man will take care OF him
self and get through the world.
1t is stated that lady, by her noble efforts.
saved tipSY husband and tner four children
by her own eXertiOns. The husband was too
tight to know what was going on. His wife
first led or dragged hlm up the stairs to the hur
riCane deck, and then Carried uu her childrcn,
| and all were saved. A horse belonging to the
man broke loose and swan TO the shore, and
likewise was saved. Such a wife as that ls
| mOIe than any man deserves who touches the
! "aIdent."
One of the crew jumped into the water
| and rescued two white men who were IN d
| drowning condition. But for the eHertions o
/ the Captain and others, great many Woulc
| nave Jumped Off after tue danger was oVer-sC
| panic-stTcken do men become under unusua
! circumstances OF danger. The ladies acted witt
| much more GOODNESS alter the first moment
| dlsmay than the men.
The lady mentioned above was found foatinC
| around in the cabin on a door, and was pulled
! up through the skylight by Mr. John Sullivan
| the first mate, and James Hall, the pilot.
| gentleman from Arkansas, named Martin,
hoated two miles down the river on door, and
| was picked up by fatboat. deck sweene
| also floated down about the same distance, ant
| finding he would soon become stif iron cold
abandoped the float and swan to a snag, whicl
| he held Bto, and from which he was ultimately
taken by the t1atboat
| Few only of the cabin passengers are know
to have been lost. One old gentleman and lad!
bound Tor the mouth OF Red river are missing
! and lGost probably lost Two OF the deck-hand
| were smothered up or fastened by the falling o
| a lot OF corn, when the boat careened, and thu
| persisted. The others, we understand, escaped
| The cabin floor was torn asunder as the boa
sank, and a horse, number of hogs, and man!
articles of freight, we're forced up through tn
| opening. An effort was made to let the hors
out but it failed.
The money of the passengers in the sat
amounted to $4,000 or $l5, 900. One man ha
$4,000 in gold. Mr.. A. @. Isaacs the clerk
rushed TO the safe after the water began to ente
the cabin, and secured the money in his hRnC
kerchet. He was unable to get tie boat
money, and barely had time TO jump out at th
window, and be lifted abovea as the water file
the Office and cabins. One OF the passengers o
receiving his money burst into tears OF Joy. To
| books of the boat were lost. Tue two tamilit
bound tor Texas have not been heard from. The
are, almost without doubt, lost. The tue
Briggs & Peterson rendered Invaluable serviC
in carrying the passengers ashore. The Officer
and crew all renamed until the last passeng(
was safely removed. They then went ashor
and had places provided tor the passengers /
the neighhorine houses: but for thRmselye