Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-09
THE GREAT CALAMITY.
Less Of the United states and
America.
Great Loss Of Life ON the United
states.
value Of Boats Lost 500, 600 -
OF Cargo Lest, 800, goo.
FuII Particulars, Incidents, etc.

Mr.. Voolfolk, q passenger on thI
America, furnished the Louisville Demo
crat with the following statement snc
particulars OF the collision
The America struck the Unit5,! State.
on the Iarbosri side, forward Of tbs
wheelhouse. On the forward deck o
the United States were twenty-five bar
rals OF petroleum. The prev of the
America cut through these barrels, burst.
ing them, and tearing away the supports
of the forward cabin, causing it To fall on
the boiler deck. The petroleum ignited,
and instantly all was sblsze. The river
was q sheet OF fame. The terror and
confusion which followed the disaster
cannot be described. He states that al
the mOmentof the disaster he wal IS fep,
and did not wake until the boats c Fme
together the second time. Hastily 9ft-
ting on his pantslOons, he went into the
cabin and was surprised to see that all
was perfectly quiet on the boat and that
cat one man besides himself had left his
berth. Going forward, ne saw in 3 mo-
ment what had occurred. The United
States had already burned back 70 the
wheelhOuse, and the flames were rapidly
sweeping RbRft. Seeing the passengers
Of the States rushing pell-mell aboard OF
the America, Capt. Voolfolk lesped into
the river from the bow Of the steamer,
with nothing but his pants and under
clothing on and swan lahore. He says
the collision happened about haif-past
eleven o'clock, one mile and half above
Warsaw, and st the time the night was
very dark, aud either q brisk rain or
snow was falling. The America, ascend
ing, blew two whistles, to which the
States responded, but q heavy gale Wes
blowing and the whistle was not heard
by the pilot OF the America. After the
first two whistles, the America again
blew twice. Mr.. Remelin, pilot OF the
States, says he blew once, and Ehen he
heard the Americas two whistles, he
stopped and commenced backing; but il
was too late It is presumed the pilots
we're deceived by the darkness as to the
distance that separated the boats. The
America struck the States On the lar
board side, running nearly through the
baggsge-TOom and into the hull. They
got apart by the reeOil Of the conclusion,
but Immediately swung together again,
the America en- the Indiana shore and
the States on the outside Of her. When
they lsshed the second time the af-
frighted people began = to escape from
the States to the America. The lat
ter vessel then commenced to back,
but too late, and caught fire on her upper
deck from the flames Of the States, in
stantly. The America backed down two
or three hundred yards below the wreck
Of the United States, near enough the
shore to enable all on board to jump
ashore. The United States swung
around, head up stream, and sunk in
three feet water forward and seven or
eight feet astern. A considerable por-
ton Of the wreck win be saved. The
America is 3 total loss, but all her pas
sengsrs and crew, except poor, I'M
known eu,igrant and his two children,
were rescued. There were about seventy
i've passengers on the United States,
sixty OF whom are believed TO have es-
5aped. Her register and every thing in
he Office and cabin were lost. Little or
5othing was saved By the passengers OF
either boat. Both halls are lying near
he scene Of collision, above Warsaw.
All the officers Of both steamers acted in
-he most heroic manner Throughout the
.Tying ordeal. Capt. Wade, and Mr..
Rsily, clerk OF the United States, re-
GaiDed on the roof as long az possible,
earring Of shutters and casting them
ntO the water for the struggling vie
inns. Owing to the burning oil which
,oyered the surface OF the river all
around and below the doomed steamers, /
he passengers, with few exceptions,
,ould not be induced to leap overheard.
dr. George EOrthrup, railroad agent,
nd Mr.. Insksep, Of Madison, jumped
ron the hurricane deck Of the United
States To the lower deck Of the America,
nd, strange to say, neither Of them was
,Rdly hurt. A Mr.. Green and bride, OF
Z .Isdison, procured life-preserveFs, bat Z
lid not understand now TO fssten them.
)n reaching the lower deck, however,
Ir. Green found some bits Of rope, with
which he fastened the liie-preserveTs
.rouHd himself and wife, and then tying
heir arms together lesped into the wa
er. They reached the shore in safety.
Die Bull swan ashore with all his cloth
nR on and his diamond studded fiddle
q his hand. All the members OF his
rOupe saved themselves. A little son OF
.Ir. J ack PesTce, only eleven years Old
1mped from the hurricane roof Of the
United States and swan ashore. His
mother and younger brother perished,
Japt. Pesrce, VIM. Taylor, clerk, and
ther Ofiiesrs Of the America, got ashore
rom the stern Of that boat after she
wung around against the bank. Mr..
Taylor, having over-exerted himself,
wconed away on reaching land.
STATEMENT OF Mr.. JAMES n. PRICE.
Mr.. James \. Price, Of this city, was
% his way home, accompanied by bis
,lder brother, Mr. Frank L. Price, and
lad Just retired to bis stateloom on the
JHited States, when the collision oc-
jurred. He had spent the evening in
he ladies' cabin, and LEFT it not more
han ten minutes before the accident.
cor some time before supper was an
iOunced, Miss johnson, Of this city, en-
the company in the ladies'
.abin by very brilliant performances on I
he piano, and again after supper. Miss (