The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-07
STEAMBOAT HORROR
Collision of the. steamers
United States and America.
orHvEssELs BURNED
seventy-fve Lives Lest
sICKENING DE TAIL


und;son Courier says of the terrible ac-
oident on the Ohio river last night: AT
hall. past eleven o'clock the magnificent
steamer United States, descending, and
the America, ascending, collided at
Rayl's Landing, about two miles ABOVE
Warsaw, on the Indiana side. The Uni
ted States had quantity of petroleum
on her guards. The America struck the
United States on the starboard side, for
ward of the steps, cutting into her a
considerable distance, and sinking the
United States TO about her main deck
in two minutes. Fire was communl-
Gated in some way to the petroleum oil,
and as soon as they collided they were
in flames 1t is said that some mistake
was made in the signals. The America
blew her whistle twice, which the pilot
of the United States apparently ana not
hear. The America again signaled by
two blasts of the whistle, and the Uni
ted States answered, but it was too late
the steamers were at the point OF COLL
sion, and the excitement was terrible.
1t is supposed that seventy-hye or
eighty persons have lost their lives.
Several of our citizens were on the
United States, returning from Clncln.
natl. Three of these, Messrs. Steel
Bright. Lew Vorce and o. b. Sapplrg-
ton, are among the missing. The re-
ccNing clerk of the United States, Jas.
Johns, is also missing. 1t Is estimated,
but under the circumstances this must
be mere guess, that thirty-three wo-
men on the United States were lost
Mr.. w. G.. Taylor, clerk of the America,
after securing the books, registers and
valuables, went through the cabin,
kicking in the doors of the state-rooms.
Owing to this precaution and the cool
intrepidity OF Mr.. Taylor, no lives were
lost on the America. Our townsman,
Harvey Foster, was on the United States
returning from Cincinnati. He informs
us that Le and party from this city
| had lust left the ladies cabin, where
they had serenaded Mr.. luskeep and lady
Mr.. Foster was standing in the cabin
near the clerks office, and Mr.. Bright
was on the outside. The latter came
running in, saying that the steamers
were coming together. They felt the
shock, and Mr.. Foster looked around
aud all forward was in flames. He ran
aft and with the help of deck-hand
loesened one of the tenders, on which
they hoated ashore. Mr.. lnskeep and
lady Jumped from the United States t.
the deck of the America, q distance 0,
fifteen feet, aud were saved, but losing
their clothing. The Survivors of the
terrible accident unite in praise Of the
management ofthe America after the col
| lision. 1t was not thirty seconds after the
boats collided until the United States
was a mass of flame from stem to stern
| The America might have been saved
had it not been that she attempted
which was her duty, to save the passen
gers on the United States. Those saved
owe their lives to the GOODNESS anC
courage of the officers and crew CT thu
America. Her engines were kept NOV
ing until she was made fast to the shore
The pilot stood at his post until til,
pilot house was burning around him
and he left to avoid sutIocating. Tn
destruction of these fine and cost.
steamers, the most terrible result in tn
loss of life, aud the fate of the missin
: friends, have cast gloom over tn
community. We still hope that on
missing friends have made ia
shore at some point below, and hav
been saved.
, LATER.
CINCINNATI. December G.-Furthe
, particulars Of the steamboat COLLISION
Yesterday, show a larger loss OF hi thar
ut first supposed. Immediately ate
the collision the United States was en-
veloped in flames, hich instantly com
municatcd to the America, both steam
ers being completely destroyed Ia les
than five minutes. There were abeu
seventy five cabin passengers on the
United States, more than half of whom
were lost.
The reports of the officers are yer.
conflicting. As near as we can learn
forty-five passengers, Including eighteel
ladies, anu in addition seven of the OIL
GERS and the cabin crew were lost, while
only four out of twenty-five deck-hand
are known to be saved.
The accident is attributed to a mis-
take in whistles.
The passengers on the United State
known to be saved are: NJ. Tickle
and wife, Fremont, Ohio; James Pric
and brother, Louisville; Lee kaha ant
DIR. Leslie, Cincinnati; b. Nelson, ALE
gheny City, Pa; Master Pearce wa
saved, but his mother and brother wer
lost: Capt. JOS. McCamOut, Cincinnati
burned about the neck; Robert Nelson
Newport, Kentucky, slightly injured
J. IL. Green and lady and Sol. Harris
Louisville; Geo. \. Middleton, Cincin
natl; w w. lIauley, Cincinnati; VIM
Chamberlain, Cincinnati; Mr.. McFaral
and wife, Nashville: Mr.. Hays, Nash
willie; Mr.. j. b. Fisher, New York; 5. X
Clark, Memphis.
The following are missing but sup
posed to be saved: 5. Crawford an,
lady, Mr.. Rage and wife; Mr.. Hiddl
wife and daughter, b. +. Morris, Il
Slessinger, Mr.. Otter, J. Maddox and 7
Hartman.
Those lost on the United States ar
Mrs. Il. y. Jones and daughter Eva, o
Waynesv,lle, Ohio; Elijah Fort, colored
The list Of the United States passen
gers cannot he correctly given, OWN!
10 the loss of the clerks register.
Rev. Mr.. parviu and Rev. Mr.. RiSley
OF New York are missing; also Mrs. Har
riet Warning, of New Albany, and ;
young lady IN her employ; Mr. Bigiey
John +. Burns, j. NJ Lewdorrer, NJ. j
Look, VIM. Garvin, L. Il Johnson, Mrs
! George ". Griffin, S. Heidelburs, Mis-
Mary l.. johnson, Steele Bright, .. b
Sappingtou, l.. II. Vance, NJ. Elfews
Mr.. Hammers, William Briggs, Charlie,
Rupk, Mr.. Pope and Mr. Hogan are sup
/ posed 20 be saved.
Officers loSt-John Feuuel, ste ward
Richard Marshall, second steward; Jas
Johns, third clerk; James Fennel, bar
keeper: Dan, colored, barber.
Mr.. Hays, of Nashville, was severely
Wounded. Ont of ten tiremen on The
United States only three were saved
OIe b"H was among the passengers
Vice President Smith, of the Indian.
apolis and Cincinnati railroad. rendered
the mail company a special train for the
use of the wounded.
The wife of Commodore Dawson and
n lady travelling with her were lost
Mrs. Hays, of Nashville, is missing
John Morse, of Owenville, O.. was lost
Harry Brunswick, the billiard manufac
turer, of this city, is missing.
The yawl of the United States wa
swung up on the stern derrick, wher
the deck hands made rush fer 1t, up
setting II and throwing them all In tht