The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-12-16
The Disaster on the Ohio River.

loss of life but it was so meaare that It very
satisfactory We have received copy OF the Louis
vile Conrier-J ourna of the It'll, containing full par
ticulars, from which We make the following extracts :
Cant r. H. Voolfolk who was passenger the
America states that at the momenot the collision he
was asleep and did not awake till the boats came to-
rrther the second time. Hastily putting on lbs pana
looms he went into tie cabin and was surprised to see
that all perfectly quiet OIL the boat. ami that hnt
one man beside himself had left his berth. '1"in9
forward he saw in a moment what had occurred, The
United States had already burned back to tie wheel
house, and the flames rapidly sweeping abaft
Seeing the passengers of the States rushing pe~mt
aboard the America, Capt. Voolfolk leaped into the
river from the bow Of the steamer, with nothing but
his pants and Undertaking on and swan ashore. lie
saws the collision happened about half-past eleven
O'clock one mile and half above Warsaw, and at the
time tie night WAS very dark and either brisk rain
Or snow was falling. The America, ascending Die"
two whistles, to which the States responded, but
heavy gale was blowing and the whistle was not heard
by the pilot Of the America. After the first Two Wills
ties the America again blew twice. Mr.. Remcn,
niIo of the States he blew once and when lie heard
the Americas two Whistles he stopped and commenced
backing: but it was too late 1t is presumed the
pilots we're deceived by the darkness as c the distance
that seperated the boats. The America struck the
States on the larboard side, running nearly through
the baggHge-room and into the hull. They got apart
together again, the America the indiana shore and
the States on the outside Of her. When they dashed
the second time the arghted people began to escape
from the States to the America. The latter vessel,
having commenced back too late caught hre on eF
upper deck from the flames Of the States SHE having
had aboard twenty-five barrels petroleum. Ill Q! which
took fire almost INSTANTLY The America backed down
two or three hundred yards below the wreck OF
the States near enough the shore to enable All Oh
board to Jump ashore The States swung around,
head up stream, and sunk in three feet water forward
and seven Or eight astern. considerable portion OF
the wreck will be saved. The America Is Il total loss,
but all her passengers and crew, except poor I'M
known cmigranJ and his two children, were rescued.
There were about SeveHy ve passe gers Oh the States
sixty of whom are believed to have escaped. Her
register AID everything in the office and cabin were
lost Little nothing was saved by the passengers
of either boat. Both hus lying near the seen"
of collision above Warsaw. All the Officers OF both
steamers acted in the most heroic manner throughout
the irving ordeal. Captain Wade and Dir. Reilly, clerk
of the States remained the roof long possible,
tearing off shutters and casti, them into the "aItcr
for the struggling victims. Owing to the burning oil,
which covered the surface OF the river ali around ana
below tie doomed steamers the passengers, with few
executions, could not he induced to leap overheard
Mr. George N0rtrup, railroad agent, ANA Nr. lHSkp,
of Madison, Jumped from the hurricane deck OF The
United States the lower deck of tic Amcrc' and,
strange to say. neither of them was badly hurt. y
Mr. Green aud bride of Madison, procured life pre-
sa,ors hn. aid NOT understand how to fasten Them
On reachinc the lower deck, however, Mr.. Green
found bits of rope, with which lie fastened the
fc-preServcrs around himseand wife, and then tying
their arms together ltaped into the water IhrY
reached the shore in safety. Ole Bull swan ashore
with all his clothing on and his diamond studded fiddle
in his hand All the members Of his troupe saved
themselves 4 little son OF Mr. Jack Pearcr, only
eleven years old, jumped from the hurricane roof OF
the States and swan ashore Ills mother and yon ger
brother persisted. Captain Ictrct, NJ. I"yioF,
clerk and other officers Of tile An,rrica, got ashore
from the of that boat after she swung around
against the bank. Mr. Taylor, having over eZcrtcd
himself swonnc,i away reaching land.
Mr. D,more one Of The pilots of the America, di'i
not leave his post u" the boat vas completely shTo"d
ed in smoke and the lire was coming through The foor
of the E,ilothouSe He finally had to grnpc lis way
along by the watrT-burkets the roof until he reach
tt, the stern Of the boat and jumped of. Mr. Hays
and his wife, from Nashville, made the perilOUs leap
from the roof of the States the lower deck Of the
America. It resulted in the loss Of Mrs Hays. l"r
hcart-irokcn huaia"d went aboard the numOnt to
Cincinnati Marcus p Tonrv of Nashville was badly
Injured He was taken in charge by the Mtsons at
Warsaw Mr. James McfcrraH and wife, from Nash
Vile made an exceedingly narrow escape by eapiHg
from the rpr,,r deck Of the States They arrived
here all safe on the General Buell.. Mr. George LciS
Ter and wife, from Nashville also made similar
CAPE and were among the passengers the Buell.
Both couples were, on their bridal tours As soon as
the people of Warsaw discovered the light Of the
burning steamers they turned out cn lnaSsr rang the
toun btlI made fires and assembled on tic Ken urlv
shore opposite the wrecks In a short time they got
IN steam on the towboa Reindeer put across the xiv
cr and picked up large number Of persons from the
water and from the huks of the destroyed steamers
The Lady Grace reached tic scene from above in
time to render very effective assistance to sufferers
Size made two trii,s and took everybody TO Warsaw
where the people gave themselves up wholly to the al
deviation of the stressed. Every man, wowan and
CHILD in the town excrcd themselves Increasingly while
there was one poor unfortunate in need Of slccor 1t
is Capt Woofolk's opinion that Mr. VIM. Gtryin was
burned alive in lis slater oom The last sea of him
he WIS sitting at the stove in tie aiic* vatn about
ten O'clock Mr. Robert Dulnrg ana his wife escaped
by eaplng from the top oil the MATES to tic 4ol!er
deck OF the America before .le arrival OF t"e h''-
deer ana Lacy ufaec, Mr. halt house. 1oo"' Il MAI!
mile bei"" the wreck, was opeAen 10 Inc at''u, ana
everything III human power was zone TO maze '"e'"
comfortable. mr. hl'i even tore Gown ms l':e's 10
make i'FeS ioF the wei ana c,!E ones VINO I'"u JLe"
or l"eh 'h'o '"G water '"' l"t'', saw" az ''e
DOCKS, none! All" o'"eI 'a''''''H III VIC "'So :" ''
Amf!'a' out no'"S "I''G'G' oou'u De vsI"en 'io'''
Tue 9''''S' -n'S nay A. 'o'''4' "''o7I '9'' was
reeo'ercu AZ inc S'.uSo" snH'" y ~ ''Ne
oeen cL'ec 70 "'a'' rs "'' 'o'@u n'' va" was s'
'c''! uy que was '"0s "e""'r"' Iu H''S" .'"t;
lao? Only Sere".ec" "'. Nv |'.o my
ho' seen 'ei i"f 'Mo o' '"''e "'"'"' "e' ''u