Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-01-23
The Harry Dean Disaster-Card
from Capt. Sayre.
rFrom .,be Mar;etts Reeister

u
Having so far recovered from my
injuries as to be able to make a brief
statement of the last trip of the i'll
fated steamer Harry Dean. 1 deem it
duty l owe to the public and the
officers of tae boat to do so.
We left Marietta Friday, Sd inst,
about Ii o'clock A. NJ, with every
thing apparently in good order,
made all the usual stoppages for
freight and passengers, and arrived
at Pomeroy about 3 o'clock A. NJ,
Jan. 4. / then went off watch, leav-
ing the mate taking on salt at Mason
City; was called at 6 O'Clock to get
ready for breakfast; went on hurri-
can deck about I o'clock. or little
after, and did not leave the deck, as
we were making frequent landings.
Some time after leaving West Co.
lumbia, l stepped into the texas hall;
found the second engineer, and pilot
Livesay there, with coats and boots
off, evidently preparing for bed
both being off watch. l overheard
one OF them say something about a
boiler leaking; and, as it is no unusual
occurrence tor boilers to leak,
thought it nothing strange. How
ever, l asked the engineer about it.
He said there was leak in the lar
board boiler, and that he and Jimmy
james Chamberlain, first engineer, J
had carefully examined it; scraped
the SCOT away from it, and did not
consider it serious, or at all danger
Gus; but, for fear of any accident,
had reduced the steam, which, in a
great measure, checked the Leak
Livesay went to bed; the engineer
soon followed. Knowing that the
first engineer was on watch, and that
he was so careful and attentive 10 his
duty, that he would run no risk when
he thought there was danger, but
would have informed me or the pilot
to land, felt perfectly safe, and did
not think for a moment that we were
in any more danger than usually at
tend the navigation of the Ohio
river
l stayed on the hurricane deck till
we were some distance below Addison,
when went down on the lower deck,
with the intention of seeing the engineer.
| stopped at the coal box, in front OF
the boilers; spoke to the fremen; said
| 70 tha,o I lod boo.1 tbot .bo lorboor1 I
boiler was leaking; one of them spoke
up and said it had been leaking, but
had about stopped or quit leaking. l
looked under the boilers, but could see
no signs of water dripping down; saw
steam coming cut of the larboard leg OF
the steam drum. In the meantime, the
whistle had blown for PIT. Pleasant.
went back on the hurricane deck to land
the boat. After leaving the Point, ]
went down to the Office; had some con-
versation with Capt. Booth in relation
to the amount of business we had fol
Gallipolis; found we would not be there
more than five minutes, unless other.
wise detained-hence l did not leave
the upper deck. We remained in CALI.
| polls but few minutes; backed out
and it was some little time before we
Strengthened down-the wind blowing
a stiff breeze, after the boat was fairly
under way; about the middle of the
river, | went into the texas hail. sal
down with my feet to the stove; had
been there but short time, when il
an instant, | was ehveloped in tota
darkness; my first sensation was of go
ing up, then falling; | haveEo recollec
ton of any conclusion. When | frs
awoke to consciousness, / found wa:
enveloped in steam and burning on the
lower deck
1t is umecessaryfor me to detail the
scenes that followed. Every effort wa:
made to extinguish the fire and to save
life. Several skiffs came out from the
Ohio shore; but, instead of coming tC
our assistance, they went to plunder-
ing-the river being full of freight and
portions of the wreck. Fortunately
the boat headed for the Virginia shore
and had headway sufficient to make the
bank. We succeeded in checking
her-the stern resting close to the
shore-which enabled us to save all the
women and children, and rescue al
within human aid. The steamer Edin
burg arriving from below, l left The
second mate, with some of the crew
with instructions to recover if possible
the bodies of the lost, and to render al
the assistance in his power to the rela
tives and friends in search of the same
All the books and papers of the boa
being lost, | cannot give list of the
names of the passengers and crew OF
board at the time of the Disaster
Several of the. crew that l thought
among the missing, are alive and well
so that the loss of life will not exceed
five. @
To the officers of the steamer Edin-
burg, citizens and physicians of Cali.
polls, tender my greatful thanks fol
their efforts TO reach us, and theil
prompt assistance in alleviating the
wants of the wounded and those in dis.
tress. d. +. SAYRE.
January IA, 1868.
The statement made by Capt. Sayre
in the foregoing communication, rela
tive to the leak in the boiler, is correct
i | did not consider it of sufficient impor
tance to excite apprehension. and SC