Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-06
APPALLING DISASTER.
burning of Two Steamers and Great
Loss of Life.
The Reception of the News in this

Our telegraphic dispatches contain the
particulars of one of the most heart-rendiDg
disasters that has ever occurred on the
Western waters, the burning Of two mail
steamers between Louisville and Cincin-
natl. The destruction Of the United States
and America, two of the finest boats saoat
was in itself calamity that could be re-
ceived only with sorrow, but the loss of
these magnificent boats is forgotten in the
scene which followed their destruction. As
customary with these packets of the mail
line, they were crowded with passen-
gers, and the news resches US that
a large proportion of those on board
the two steamers persisted by the accident.
The tidings of the disaster frst reached
this city by a short telegram over the
wires of the Southern line, simply announ-
cling the reported burning of two~ of the
mail line steamers, and great loss Of life.
Although no particulars were stated,
gloom was apparent throughout the city,
and all who read the intelligence, short as
it was, seemed to dread the news which
must follow. a.. ..,iis,
Shortly afterwards it transpired that our
well known felloE-citizeD, Charles N,
Hays and his wife were passengers on the
United States, Mrs. Murphy, daughter
of Mr.. Hays having telegraphsd from
Cincinnati that her father and mother had
left on the boat the previous evening for
home This information was shortly after
wards cOrroborated by other kilograms for
warded to the numerous relatives Of Mr..
Hays in The city.
The shock occssioned by the intelligence
was only the beginning of the fearful re-
ality that our own city had suffered by the
great disaster, for in q short time after
wards, the report became generally circu-
lated that James w. McFerrin, who, only
on Tuesday last, led TO the altar one of
Tennsssee's most accomplished daughters,
and who was absent on a bridal tour, was
also a passenger on the United States, en-
route for home. This rumor was confirmed
by dispatch sent ia. answer TO one from
this city, announcing that Mr.. McFerrin
and his wife had taken passage on the ill.
fated steamer on the evening previous.
About II o'clock the dispatches to the As
ISOLATED Press were received, giving some
of the particulars of the disaster, but as
there was nothing said of the lost or saved,
the anxiety was more apparent, and many
Of our citizens telegraphed for information
in regard to absent friends. c. E. Benson
telegraphed to Cincinnati in relation 10
his partner, NJ. B. Toney, and received the
following reply:
CINCINNATI, Dec. 5.-Mr. Toney lef,
here yesterday evening on the United
States mail steamer for Louisville.
J. H. MoHLENHoFF.
Later in the afternoon, Archey Cheat.
ham received the following from his
brother.in-law, Hon. Jacob S. Golladay
member of Congress from Kentucky, who
was on his way to Washington on the
America:
WARSAW, Dec. 81 was among the las
saved-sm unipjured. Baggage all lost.
A rumor was then put in circulation thai
w. C. Collier was also on the steamer
and his numerous friends were extremely
solicitous in his behalf 1t was afterwards
understood by dispatch that he left New
York on Friday, and consequently did no
reach Cincinnati in time to leave on tbt
boat.
At the time of writing, the friends o
Col. Stone, one Of the Police Commission
ers, are fearful that he was one Of the pas
sengers, ard A. V. S. Lindsey, State Sen
ators from this county, is solicitous in BE
half of his daughter, who is on her wa!
from school in Philadelphia. A letter re
ceived here, we understand, states that Mis-
Lindsey started on Wednesday last il
: company with Col. Stone.
Among other dispatches received las
night was the following:
LOUISVILLE, Dec. 5-9P.M-Cheatham
Woods & Co.-Asyet only partial list 0
, survivors has been received. The nam
Of Charles NJ. Hays does not appear anon
them. The register Of the down boat (th
United States) being burned, names of los
clnnot be given.
: McFERRAN, ARMSTRONG & Co.
8 The following came by the Southern
line:
CINCINNATI, Dec. 5--lO:45 P. Nm
boat arrived yet from the wreck, and non
will arrive before morning.
At the same hour, Mr.. Halstead of th
Cincinnati Commercial telegraphs that
list of the lost or survivors has not bee
!, received.
The last dispatch to the Associated Pres
up to l o'clock states that the Madiso
C0uyfsr gives the names of few survivor
but no Tennesseans appear on the list.
) At the hour of going to press, we ar
therefore left 10 conjecture the worst, al
it is more than probable that those Of on
citizens known to have been on the boat g
| Inc llule OF the ulbdeltI nave ptElsicS
+ We hope however that our fears ar
groundless, and all Of those men,ione
, above may be among the saved.
, Among those known to have been Loot
VIM. Garvin, of the firm of Garvin, Bel
I, x Co, Louisville. BY bis untimely deaf
Louisville has lost one Of her most enter
, | prisug citizsEs. The same gloom tha
prevails here in mourning ever the SUP
posed loss Of several prominent mel
| chants, and the estimable ladies who az
cJmpanied them, must also have been feI
in Louisville upon the reception Of tn
news announcing the death OF the ger
erous hearted Garyin and other well
! known and esteemed citizens Of ths
r place.
/ The disaster has been most terrible i
E its consequences, and we close this refer
ance TO the sad affair with feelings of poig
? nant grief for the lost, and the deepei
e sorrow for the bereaved.
? |