New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-10
THE OHIO RIVER STEAMBOAT DISASTER

Few additional particulars of the Ohio River
disaster have yet been received il expected
that much more definite information will be obtained be-
fore the result Of the investigation the COrOners
quests reported 1t is generally conceded that the
terrible loss OF life is due to the fire. the passengers on
the America, to which the fire communicated,
all saved 10y wadng ashore might also those on board
the United States, had the flames given them time. For
the United States now lies In only three feet Of water
ward and eight feet astern. But the fire.
are told by many passengers and officers OF the United
States swept from one end of the boat TO the other in
than thirty seconds driving the passengers INTO the
water, which was ITSELF III places, covered with the
burning petroleum.
correspondent OF The Boston Advertiser describes
these boats and the manner OF storing freight on them
He says: "These two steamersthe United states ana
the America-belonged to the Louisville Mail Company,
who said 10 have conducted their business for 30 years
with great care and with the single exception OF boiler
explosion on tug boat belonging 10 them, have never
before met with accident by which the life Of pas
epCer has been lost al least this the statement TO me
OF old and prominent citizen who is not interested
party 1t is stated however that the United states car
red IA mart of her cargo n Guanty of petroleum i'm bar
rels which slowed that in the collision they
thrust upon the furnaces, and being broken open
at the same moment there was instantaneous com
buston and III thirty seconds the boat wrapped IN
flames. These boats constructed with shallow hull
and with scarcely any hold. The huge furnaces aud
boilers placed, unconceaed upon their lower deck
little above the water line. All about and often close To
the furnaces fed with btuninOus coal is piled the
freight aud the wonder 10 the traveller always s not that
SO many lost by fire but that any Of these steamers
make safe But there is crowd of fremen and
deck hands always and Of water at arms
length and So they skill and luck 20 Outrde the
danger on the United states there was deck crew OF
- but instantaneous was the fash Of combustion
that all but four were lost immediately over this lower
deck the grand saloon, on both sides OF when are stare
rooms side tby side end 10 end, nearly the whole
length OF the boat The United states had two tiers OF
10 imagine the fearful peril Of her passenger
awful fire raging below, TRUSTING lts merry
tongues through every crevice ana avenue 10 me
saloon and staterooms above, and outside the
river all aiame with burning petroleum The America
after striking the United states anldshl lmhsuiaIy
backed down the stream, but the states followed ana IN
This second encounter she was ired i0rS ana ait ana
burned TO the waters edge: BY The dauntlcSs COURAGE
and OF her pilot me % "sey run enabed
and those who had jumped on board from the
United States The plot barely escaped merry death
Mr. Charles Nichols pilot belonging 10 another boat
ascending the river in the America as passenger
and in her plothouse at the time OF the collision
He saws the signals the boats blown about
the same time and that the pilot OF the america was de
disaster Ii is also said the States was on the wrong side
/ OF the stream" -
ing reports. The Steering and Sailing Rules adopted
by Congress and approved April 30 1854 provide that II
on involve risk Of collision, the helms OF both
shall be put 70 port so that each may pass to me port
side other" and every steamship when approach
ing another ship involve risk OF COLLISION shall
scts her sneed or II necessary stop and reverse The
law also provides that steam vessels meeting, shall
sound their whistles when COO feet apart thus indicating
which course each proposes TO take II ID generally
agreed that tie America blew whistle twice. sand
that the replied with one blast OF hers aud mat
this was repeated and gentleman whose statement
is pubished saws that the whistles were first sounded
When the boats tro hundred feet from each other
Among the victims the Rev. Robert j. ParVn and
the Rev Mr. Rising The Rev. Mr.. Parvin ~ the
most widely known clergymen Of the Episcopal Church,
owing his prominent position Secretary Of the Evan
gelical Educational Society aud his connection with
other departments the missionary work OF bio
church. The Rov. Franklin >. Rising OF This city
was the Secretary OF the American Church Mis-
slonary Society, a clergymen OF marked devotion
his work. and who, during the last few years.
very widely known by his successful Efforts
10 awaken interest the field Of domestic missions lie
was years OF age. and unmarried OF exceedingly
pleasing manners whose place cannot easily be
supplied These clcrgymen had just left the East on
a short tour of official duty to Louisiana Cincinnati eic
They were to have been accompanied by the Rev Dr.
Newton and the Rev. d.. Schenck OF brooklyn change
IN the plan at last hour has saved these two as
tlnguised diyines from sharing the terrible late OF
Messrs Paryn and Rising