Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-22

Rescue ny Tug.
| Ffom the Memphis Dommercial and Argus. an
] estL EE. uary Is rHEB EF
! Once more we have 10 record one Of those
! terrible steamboat disasters 50 startling ia
/ the community, unexpected 10 the victims
! and painful TO relate. VS.
/ The large side-wheel steamer. Platte
Valley, which left the wharf yesterday
( evening about six o'clock, loaded with pas
sengers and freight, had hardly passed out
| Of sight down the river when she struck the
Runken hull Of the Confederate glln-boat
jeff Thompson, and sunk 70 the roof i'm
mediately, with fearful loss Of life. The
steerage passengers were nearly all lost, and
some Of the cabin passengers.
The boat was commanded bv Captain
Blake, with Mr. Isaacs as first clerk. She
was runningin,the ST. Louis and Vicksburg
trade, though originally built for the Mis-
souri river. She arrived at our wharf
some time yesterday morning, On the down
trip, and tied up at the lower wharf-boat.
During the day a number Of passengers and
a quantity Of freight was received aboard,
Among the former were Col Gus. Henry
and his lady. destined for their home in
Arkansas.
AZ 6O'clock the boat backed ont from
the wharf. A majority Of the passengers
are said 20 have gone aboard from this city.
Il is estimated that there were about two
hundred and five souls aboard, of whom
fifty or ifty-fiye were steerage passenger.
Among these we're three families emigra-
ting TO Texas, who got aboard here. II is
stated that they bad great apprehensions
for their safety before they started. and
wanted TO change to the Olive Branch, and
would have done so but for the fact that
they had paid their passage money. Sad
10 say, they all perished.
The boat sunk in seven minutes after
striking the wreck. The shock was not 30
severe ls might be supposed The snag
which was struck came up through the fore
part OF the boat almost TO the upper deck.
The utmost Consideration ensued, women
and children shrieked, and men ran wildly
| 10 and fro. Ten or fifteen Of the cabin
passengers Jumped overheard, and sre sup
posed 10 have been lost. The steerage pas
sengers were nearly all lost. Some Of the
deck hands are thought to be saved.
The scene Of the disaster is about seven
miles from the city, and about three hun
dred yards from the Arkansas shore. One
or two persons are said to have reached
the shore by swimming. The skif at the
stern Of the boat went down. and could not
be reached. The light skifl or life-boat on
the hurricane deck, is said to have been
taken possession Of by four hands, who left
in II and did not return. One sllih, how
ever, was made serviceable, and another
one vas sent from the shore. With these
the ladies from the cabin were removed to
the shore in safety, The larboard side of
the upper deck vas not altogether under
water, hence those who were fortunate
enough to secure that position we're safe.
IL happened that the steam tug boat
which belongs at the wharf was down the
river eighteen miles taking soundings. Her
officers were first apprised of the disaster
above them, by floating furniture and
baggage which passed them. They i'm
mediately steamedup the river, and reached
the wreck about an hour and half after
the occurrence. The remaining passengers
were then carried across 10 the Arkansas
shore, and subsequently brought to the city
at two loads, the last one being at a late
hour.
All the passengers with whom we con-
versed unite in giving the highest praise
&c the officers of the boat for cool bearing
and intrepid conduct, and trying to save
the lives OF their passengers. The captain
and first clerk were particularly commend
ed. The engineer stood nobly at his post
till the last and answered the very last
bell The officers were the last ones 20
leave the wreck.
The second table was at supper when the
snag was struck. No time was allowed for
any preparation. The shock threw down
all the stoves, and had the boat not sunk
instantly she would soon been on fire but
being loaded 10 the guards with freight,
principally taken on here, she sunk in
twenty feet water, in the incredibly short
space of seven minutes. The passengers
could not even, or did not, put on their life
preseTyers.
Col Gus. Henry and lady are safe, though
they lost all their baggage, as did every one
else. We were not able 10 assertion many
names, owing 10 the lateness Of the hour
when the boats reached the city.
All the offers of the boat are supposed
10 be safe except the stewed; he is missing,
and most probably lost
The steamers Olive Branch and Louis
vile were in port Just ready TO start ont
when they heard Of the disaster, and kind
ly offered 90 take the passengers who es-
capped free Of charge.
Il is difficult TO make a correct estimate
Of the number of lives lost. Many say
sixty % seventy; and from careful com
parison of all accounts, we are Obliged 10
believe that forty or ffty, at the least cal
culation, were lost.
How the pilot came % strike a we'll
known obstruction like that old sunken ram,
in a clear, beautiful moonlight night, is one
of the questions which we hope will be an
swered 20 the public. We have recited
such appalling catastrophes time and again,
until the heart grows sick and the public
are feyerish 30 know IL such things are new
er TO cease. j. there no one 20 blame
III 50 LET the strictest investigations reveal
the fact and the individuals Il Is heart
rending TO contemplate such wholesale loss
Of human life, and especially in thepresent
Instance, when we consider the circum-
stances Our CITY all hathei in moonlight
and tranquility; the stars looking down in
pale splendor; all nature SO quiet and har-
monious; a thousand glowing hearth
stones happily surrounded; our theatre
crowded with beauty and fashion, and not
a ripple in the breeze or a weird spirit in
theair that seemed to breathe Of aught save
serenity and pleasure. Yet, almost within
hearing as the last tint Of sunset dies ont in
the west noble packet sinks in the turbid
Mississippi, brave men are struggling in
the waves for life, bright women are pale
at the sight of death, little children, who
pattled Of joy a moment age, nov shrek
IN vain and sink 20 rest in watery grave.
We have read with mingled doubt and dis
may Of terrible wrecks at sea, but such
scenes are happening at our very doors al
most every month II has become more
periloIls far 70 travel the length Of the low
er Mississippi than 90 cross the Atlantic
ocear. Where is the responsibility We
had better revolutionize our steamboat
models and systems entirely, than to have
such daily slaughter Of our fellow men.
Further PariIcuIars-Int Par
ticuIars
From the Memphis Avalanche, Jan. lo
The sinking Of the Platte Valley. ON
Thursday evening, resulted more disas-
| trously 60 human life than was az first an
| uCipsted. The loss Of property wss also
I very large. being variously esiimated at
| from fiDur hundred ard ffy 10 Eve hundred
thousand dollars, upon which there was
but small insurance.
The boat was nine year old, yalued AZ
| $4,000 and owned by her commander.
| Capt Blake. and Capt Ben. johnson. Of
| 81. Louis. She was insured In 81. Louis
companies for fifteen Thousand dollars. Capt
| Blake and the other oGicer- Of the boat
entered protest Yesterday and forwarded
! IL IN ~ ouis making n sfsfen,crf ~ tho