The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-07
DISASTER.
A Passengers Statement of the Fearful
Collision on the ohio River.

The following statement of the terrible disas-
ter on the Chic river has been forwarded 10
New York paper:-
Having been a passenger on one OF the i'll
fNled ste amefs that colliued on the Onio river
near w arsaw on Friday night, hasten TO give
to your valuable paper an account OF the terri.
vile at about O'Clock on the afternoon OF the
4th inst, on the steamer America, Captain
David Whittier commanding. having on bo ard
about one hundred passengers. and. including
the passengers and crew, nearly two nun:
dred souls as also large cargo of fla assorted
about one and q half miles above warsaw. KY,
she came in sight OF the steamer Untted
States. from Cincinnati, bound for Louisville.
She made signals, whlcn were prompt an
swered by our boat but from some mtsunder.
standing or as yet unknown cause. both ooats
Kept on their straight cours SO almost directly
opposite 10 each other. Upon perceiving the
great danger of a collision, measures were
Sromptiy adopted and every Thing done TO avert
the terrible consequences wnicn Inre ttened TO
arise from the error. Nothing, however.
ayailed, as 1t was or seemed impossible TO
G. ecK ihe course of the America. Although
the engines had been reversed they had not
COLLISION look place with terrible effect.
The bow of our boat struck the United States
a 9n asr Trt Ge% ssxsra o
coal Oil on deck were by the violent ooncussion
+>p oded with gI eat rep )rt, and In less time
comm unicated to and entirely enveloped the
steamer. had just retired 10 my ststeroom to
stopped; but supposipg that we mad made some
lsndIng took no notice OF the occurrence even
after The crash of the colliding boats mad oc.
currf d. my impression being that, owing to the
her ianding before her hesdway had been
sufficiently stayed. Suddenly, however, a
sau0tn light flashed up, illuminating my
room, ana, turning my head, saw terrific
and at the same time there were loud cries OF
'Fire! Fire!" Rushing out OF my room, the
Tne e'iH,9 iiiisied % steamer G was completely enveI:
oped in flames, while our position became
momentarily more dangerous as the burn
position. the water itself around US was
ment Of sospense, and passed without one
shade of hope. We seemed as II doomed.
Every body seeking the best means OF self pre-.
servation. seized what few things could and
awaited q nearer approach TO shore aud jump
ashore amid the cries of the poor unfortunate
beings dying all around me. Here an arm and
there head might be seen-one cry Tor help
m ght be seen clinging to the burning wreck.
too distant to be assisted by those on shore,
ceriaiEiy more fortunate than that of the
United States, as the flames communicated
30 Sesy yerS TO chance " Of escape
her probable loss is between forty and fifty.
My pen is TOO weak TO portray the horrors OF
such sight. The terrible spectacle was awful
Yet grand, and distant as we were from any
habiLaiion made the prospect still more terri.
BILE. The distance TO the nearest place on the
same side OF the river was two miles and a half,
at Florence. to which place portion of our
party proceeded and some went to Warsaw on
q small steamer which passed by two hours
aftfr the collision. AT about p. M. the Gamer
CT Dumont came and released us and conveyed
usto Cincinnati. We OF course lost everything,
some of us ,imprudent enough To disrobe our.
selves on retiring not possessing even suit OF
clothes. Thank God, though, life still remains.
but the recollection of that terrible sc9ne will
haunt my memory for many year. cannot
finish Without pay ing q lasting compliment to
Captain David Whittier, OF the steamer Anne
rica His watchfulness and exertions TO place
his steamer in a safe position were untirlng
true to his post until he last Also Mr. Taylor
the ger tlemanly clerk of the America must
not pass unnoiiced. To his courage and per
severance is due the 9 lving the lives OF many
persons. The Oie buil concert troupe was or
board, and all were saved.
GusTAvUs +. HALL.