Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-07
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM OUR SUNDAYS EDITION.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT!
Collision OF Steamers Unlted
states ana America,
FrighTful Loss of Life by Fire
and water.
latest and Fullest Particulars.
aIOre than One Hundred Per-
SONS Killed.
BY TELEGRAPH.
latest and Fullest Particulars.

/ L-OLAE ' lA4lAF -DSttAA1GtA uG 6AEtaL1l-
ers United States and America, of the
Louisville and Cincinnati mail line, col
! iided last night two miles above War
saw. They afterwsrd took fire and
| burned TO the waters edge. Forty per
sons are reported lost, among them many
| ladies. No particulars as yet The Uni
/ ted States was from Cincinnati, and the
America from Louisville.
| All the ladies On board the america
we're saved. Thirty ladies and numb beT
Of gentlemen on board the Uaited States
were lost. The officers of both boats
were all saved except the third clerk OF
the United States. A deep feeling Of
anxiety prevails to get full particulars,
The accident was caused by mistakesd
signals.
THE LATEST.
The Madison tInd.) Courier says of the
terrible accident on the Ohio river last
night: At half past eleven o'clock
last night the magnificent steamers
United States, ascending, and the Amer
les, descending, cOlliGed at Rayls' land
ing, about two miles above WsrsaW, on
the Indiana side. The United States had
a quantity of petroleum oil on her
guards. Tbs America struck her on the
starbosrd, or right hand side, forward Of
the steps, cnttiBg into her q considerable
distance, sinking her in about two min
utes, to the main deck. The IRE was
communicated in the lower way to the
petroleum oil, and as soon as the boats
coilided they were in flames. It is said
that some mistake was made in the sig
nals-thst the America blew her
whistle twice, which the pilot on
the United States, apparently did not
hear, and the American again signs4ed
by two blasts of the whistle, and then it
was that the United States answered,
but it was too late-as the steamers were
at the point of collision. The excite
ment was intense. Il is supposed that
sevsnty-live or eighty persons here lost
their lives. Several Of our citizens were
on the United States, returning from
Cincinnati; three Of these: MI. Steele
Precut, Lew Vance and o. p. Sapping-
tor, ara among the missing. Tue re-
ceiving clerk OF the United States, James
Johns, is also missing. It is estimated
but under the circumstance, this must
be g mere guess, that thiTty-three
women on the United States were
lost Mr.. w. G. Taylor, Clerk
Of the America, after securing
the boats register and vaius-
bles, went through the cabin, kicking in
the state.room dOors; and to this pre-
caution and the cool intrepidity of Nr.
Taylor. no lives we're lost on the Amer
les.
Our townsman, Harvey Foster, was on
the United States, returning from Gin
cinnati, and be informs us that he and
party from this city had just left the
ladies' cabin, where they had left Mr..
InDskeep and lady, and were standing in
the cabin, near the clerks Office. Z Mr.,
Bright was on the outside and came run
ming in, saying, "the boats are running
tCgsther,n and just then he felt the
shock, and looking around Immediately,
saw that all forward was 10 flames. He
then reo aft, and with the help OF q deck
hand lowered one arm of the tenders, on
which they tioated sshOre. Mr.. Innskeep
and lady jumped from the United States
to the deck of the America, distance Of
fifteen feet, snd were saved, losing all
their clothing.
The survivors of the terrible accident |
unite IN praise Of the management OF the |
America after the collision, 1t WAS not |
thirty seconds after the boats Oolllded |
before the United States was mass Of |
flames from stem to stern. The America |
might have been saved, had che not at |
tempted to save the passengers on the |
States" which IL was herduty to do, and /
those who were saved owe their lives 10 /
the coOlness and courage Of the officers of /
the America. Her engines were Kept /
moving until the boat was made fast to |
the shore. The pilot stood sr his post |
until the piiot-house was burning sr1und |
him, and then left to avoid sufflcatiOr. |
The destruction of these fine and costly |
steamers, and the more terrible result in |
the loss Of life, and the fate of missing |
friends, has cast gloom over the entire |
We still hope that our |
missing friends hsye made the shOre at |
some point below and have been saved. |
THE VERY LATEST.
Midnight.-Asy yet no list of the easu- /
allies by the disaster last night has /
reached this point. 1t is known, how
ever, that several prominent citizens Of |
Louisville have been lost, among them /
is Mr VIM. GarViD, OF the Grm of Gar |
win, Bell & Co. Boats from the wreck 1
are hourly expected st Madison aud /
Cincinnati, Mr.. Cumin's Madison |
special gives the names of a few sur
vivors, but no TennesseeaLs appear on |
fha LIST