Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-18
THE PLATTE VALLEY SUNK.
Heavy Zoss of Life-Boat and
Cargo a Total Loss.

Another marine disaster is to be added
to the mournful list that has been marked
with the loss of valuable lives and prop
erty On the Mississippi during the past
year. The steamer Platte Valley, from
St. Louis to Vicksburg, left this place
about six o'clock 10 st evening With one
of the best trips of the season, there
being about sixty cabin passengers on
board, twenty or thirty on deck, and
about five hundred tons of assorted mer-
chandise. When about four miles from
town, running a. good rate of speed,
she struck the wreck of the Confederate
gunboat JEFF. Thompson, which tore
away the start,oard side of her hall,
causing her to sink in about four min
utes. AT the time of the accident, the
second table were at supper, and the
widest confusion ensued, women and
children shriekIng, and all rushing fran
tically for place of safety All the
cabin passengers managed to get on the
hurricane deck, when some of them
jumped overheard to swim for the Ar
kansas shore, distant about four hundred
yards. Many were picked up by skiffs,
and it is thought that some must have
drowned, as the water was too cold for
any one to swim long Nearly all the
deck passengers we're lost, the boat sink
ing so suddenly that there was no time
for them to save themselves or receive
assistance. The number of passengers
on deck is unknown, no registry being
taken of them. There we're several fam
lies en- route to Texas, one named Rob-
erts, all Of whom, it is thought, were lost
Only one deck hand was drowned. The
steward, Dick Stewart, colored, is miss
ing. Briggs q Peterson's tug boat, We
Come to Stay, Capt Sebree, that was
sent down to take soundings, reached the
wreck about two minutes after she struck,
and carried many passengers to shore,
and brought several to this city, who
again started down the river on the
steamers Olive Branch and Louisville,
the commanders of these boats rendering
tuem free passage. Mr.. A. c. Issacs,
the clerk of the Platte Valley, saved the
boat papers and the passengers money
that was in the safe he was unable TO
secure the books Of the safe, leaving the
Office when the water was foot deep.
The loss OF life has been estimated ct
from twenty to sixty persons, but NO one
can tell exactly. Mr.. Isaacs, the clerk,
told US that he did not know how many
lives were lost; he thought all the cabin
passengers escaped. Captain Blake says
the loss Of life is less than twenty. The
passengers lost all their baggage. Capt
Cleaves, planter, il is SAID, had SIS, 900
in his trunk. The officers Of the boat
did all in their power for the relief Of the
passengers, who speak highly Of their
efforts. Capt Blake and clerk Isaacs
ssaid BY the wreck until this morning,
when they came up on the Des Arc.
When they left, the boat was lying with
her head down stream, the water cover
ing the hurricane deck, with the excep-
ton Of small place at the stern. The
boat and cargo are total loss The
Platte Valley was built for the Missouri
river trade in ls5s, and vas regarded as
siaunch boat, about $4,000 having
been expended recently in fitting her NJ.