Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-08

I
We had sixty five passengers books'
among whom were fourteen ladies-oU
chambermaid says only thirteen. W
r lost thirty-fve passengers sltcgethei
DIX Of the ladies were saved
sTATENEEF OF ar. ANDY HARRIeAS.
Mr.. Andy Harrigan, the second clerl
OF the United States, gives the following
statement
The boats collided about q quartz
past IL o'clock, at Rails Landing, about
one mile above Warsaw.
was 10 the barber shop at the time,
AID heard our whistle blow. After cul
first whistle our pilot rang the stopping
bell, then Immediately after rang the
backing bell.
Il then had an idea Of what was the
matter, and ran forward on the starboard
guard IS far as the starbOard chimney.
when the boat was struck by the Ameri-
ca on the larbard side, about ten feet ait
OF forward, the collision driving num-
Der OF barrels of petroleum into the fur
mace, causing the flames to fash up in a
moment. The United States then swung
around, and the pilot tried to back our
boat into shore. The America then be-
ing disen.aDgled, was worked into shore
and was then little further CD the river
than I'VE were. We then backed our
boat very near the America. when a num-
Der OF our passengers were saved by
jumping of Of the United States on to the
America. BY actual count. thsrs
were seVenty-fVe passengers on the
United States; out OF this number. there
were twenty-five ladies'. There were
two bridal parties on the boat, and some
OF the passengers thought they would
have little fun in serenading them.
which they did, and some twenty min
utes after the sers1ade, the collision &C.
Cured, and think II it was not for the
serenade, the bridal parties would have
been lost, but as they were in their state
rooms awake, they were apprised Of the
danger in which they were, and got off
the United States on to the America, and
Is their stste-rooms were on the sane
slde as the America, they were saved.
Inc scene in the cabin at the time was
ndescriosble. Several ladies' stood
throwing their children overheard and
'rying for assistance. Upon the guards
number Of ladies' stood, wringing their
hands and crying for help, but they would
rot leave the place they were in, and
)erished IL the flames.
Previous to the disaster, We were en-
Dying ourselves in the cabin dancing.
nd the passengers had just entered their
tate rooms"
..- INCIDENTS, ETC.
Mr.. Charles Nichols, who left this city
few days ago, as pilot Of the steamer
iinnie, was taken sick while on the
ilnnle, and determined to return home.
le took passage on the America at Louis
He, and lost everything except what
has On his back. He was in the
-merlca's pilOthsuse when the collision
'ok place. He says that the America
as steering very hard all the eveaing.
ne whistles of the two bjats were blown
about the same time, and it was so
lrk he could not see the signal lights Of
Ie United States, and did not think she
as near. The boats were about two
lndred yards apart when the whistles
ere blown.
Mr.. Hays, Of Nashville, was severely
'uised, and was in the river struggling
gain the shore. A colored boy, named
mes Asa Mitchell, who was in the en-
oy Of Captain Wade, jumped in, dragged
N ashore and saved his life. Out of
n fremen on the United States only
rec we're saved There were but four
rsOns saved out of adeck crew of TWEEN
two on the United States.
Captain c. G.. Pearce, the Superintend-
It of the Mail Line, who was aboard Of
e America, IN his staterOOm, was driven
ON it BY the smoke After the disaster,
, procured money, and furnished The
.ssengers with clothing, and to some
I've them sufhciens money to pay their
,penses. A Mrs Pierce, Of louisville,
gether with an infant and little boy,
ne years old, were among the United
ates' passengers. Ms. Pierce and her
FAINT were lost, and the little boy swan
hOre. lie was furnished with a suit Of
1thes by Captain Pearce, and left at
oreuce, Indiana, in the care Of the tel
raphic operator Of that place, with in~
;uctions to have him sent home on to-
US packet
The mail company have been organ
ID thirty years, and only two accidents
We happened to the steamers of the
e during that time
The United States and Amerisa col
ed very near the same place where the
legraph cut down and sunk th6kIen-
ky Home, several years since
The wife Of Commodore Thompson, Of
> United States navy, and lady trav-
ng In company, were lost on the
lited States
Early IN the morning, man entered :
r Office and inquired Of US il chr re-
rts were true. We answered in the
lrmative, and he expressed his sorrow
saying al shipped a box on the
'ited States last night, aud Pm afraid
lost
A lady on the America, in eudsavor-
: to escape, gOther dress tangled in
steamboat railing, and hung by her
thes until cut away by colOred man
The officers of the unfortunate steam
inform us the citizens Of Warsaw.
,renee and all along the shore were
y kind, doing all in their power to re-
Ve the sufferers The passengers and
w on both boats lost all their clothing
effects
The Americas main deck was all bum
OF She lies against the bank, on the
Llama shore, head up stream, in seven
t water The United States lies In
BIT feet water, head up stream, about
; hundred yards above tho America,
! eighty feet from shore The main
X Of the latter ia not all burned of,
l the frames Of her wheel-hOuses are
l standing The safe Of ths United
ties was recovered, and brought bors
the DumOnt
Japt W. e. Taylor, the clerk of tbs
Ierica, burst open the room, No 80, in
ich Miss Burton, Of the company OF
BUD, was sleeping lie had a great
j Of labor in getting her out, and had
Gree her of the boat She was fnal-
saved through the exertiOns Of Cap
4 Taylor.
lr Harry Brunswick, the distinguish
billiard manufacturer, of this city, was
passenger on the United States He
) asleep at the time, and, upon being
lkened, rushed into the cabin, AMI, as
eoau "a - :.