The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-17

the conclusion, but Immediately swung together
again, the America on the Indiana shore and the
the second time the afifighted people began to
escape from the States to the America. The
latter vessel having began to back too late,
ssught fire on her upper osek h, i1o% ahos S
twenty five barrels petroleum, all Oh which
took fire almost instantly. The America
backed down two or three hundred yards below
the wreck OF The States: near enough tne snSte 70
enable all on board to jump ashore. Inc otases
swung around, head up stream, and sunk 10 three
feet OF water forward and seven or eight feet
astern. A considerable portion Of the wreck viii
be saved The America Ia total loss, but all
her passengers and crew. except q poor, un-
known emigrsnt and his two children we're res
cued. There were about seventy i've passengers
on the States, sixty OF whom are believed TO have
escaped. Her register and everything in the
Office and cabin were lost. Little or nothing was
saved by the passengers OF either boat Both
hulls are lying near the scence OF coilson, above
Warsaw. All the officers OF both steamers acted
in the most heroic manner tn roughout the Trying
ordeal. Capt. Wade and Mr.. Rely, clerk OF the
States remained on the roof as long as possible,
tearing of shutters and casting them into the water
for the struggling victims. Owing TO the burning
oil which covered the surface Of the river all
around and below the doomed steamers, the pas.
sepeers, with few exceptions, could not be induced
to leap overheard. Mr.. g. Northup, railroad agent,
and Mr.. lnskp, OF Madison, Jumped from tno
deck of the American and sstrange to say, neither
of them was badly hurt. A Mr.. Green aud bride
OF Madison, procured life preservers, but did not
understand how to fasten them. On reaching the
lower deck, however, Mr.. Green found some bits
of rope with which he fastened the life preseryers
around himself and wife, and then tying their
arms together leaped into the water fney
reached the shore in safety. Ole Bull swan ashore
with eli bis clothing on and his diamond studded
fiddle in bis hand. All the members OF his troupe
saved themselves. A little son OF Mr. JACK Pearce,
only ii years old, jumped from the hurricane roof
= -r. Uta mat
Younger brother persisted. Capt. Pesrce. Wm.
Taylor, clerk, and other officers OF the Americss
got ashore from the stern of that boat after she
swung around against the bank. MT. Taylor.
having over-exerted himself, swooned away on
Mr.. Ditmore one Of the pilots of the Americs,
did not leave his post until the boat was CON-
pleiely shrouded in smoke and the fire was coming
| through the floor of the pilot-house. He finally
| had to grope his way along by the water buckets
on the roof until he reached the stern Of the boat
| and jumped off, Mr.. Hays and his wife, from
ss.ss 10 d de h Rs aso leap the
resulted in the loss of Mrs. Hays. Her heart
broken husband went aboard the Dumont to Gin
cinnat. Marcus P. Toney, of Nashville. was badly
| injured. He was taken in charge by the Masons
at Warsaw. Mr.. James McFerrsn and wife, from
| Nashville made an exceedingly narrow escape by
/, Ieaping from the upper deck Of the States. o.v
arrived here all safe on the Gen. Buell.. nay
Zeipler and wife, from Nashville alsv A Ioy'
!
Buell.. Both couples we're on their bridal tours.
As soon ss the people of Warsaw dis
covered the light OF the burning steamers
they turned out en- mdsse. rang the town
| bells made fires, and assembled on the Ken
lucky shore, opposite the wrecks. In short
| time they got up steam on the towboat Reindeer,
put across the river, and picked up large num-
/ ner If persons from the water and from the buks
| of the destroyed steamers. The Lady Grace
reached the scene from above in time to render
yery effective assistance TO the sufferers. She
| made two trips and tooh everybody to Warsaw,
| where the people gave Themselves up wnoLy 10
| the allevisfion of the distressed. Every man,
| woman and child In the town exerted them
selves increasingly while there was not one poor
unfortunate in need OF succor. 1t Is Capt. Wool
folks opinion that Mr.. VIM. Garvin was burned
| alive in his stateroom. The last seen of him he
was sitting at the stove in the ladies' cabin
his wife escaped by leapiDg from the top Of the
States to the boiler deck Of the America. Before
the arrival of the Reindeer and Lady Grace, Mr..
Rails house, about half mile below the wreck,
was opened to the saved, and everything in human
| power was done to make them comfortable. Mr.
| Rel even tore down his fences to make fires for
the wet and chilly ones who had jumped or fallen
| into the water. Mr.. Taylor saved all the books,
money and other valusbes in the Office Of the
America but nothing Whatever could be rescued
from the States. Miss Mary l.. johnson, whose
| body was recovered ut the Madison ship yard, Ia
| supposed to have been chilled to death, as, when
found, her hair was perfectly dry. She was q
most beautiful and gifted young lady, only IL
| years old. Her father, who had not seen her for
Two or three months, idolized her. and was so inn
patient for her return home that he prevailed
! upon her nephew, Mr.. Lewis johnson, to go
| after her. The two had retired to their state
| rooms but q few moments before the awful &C.
| currence. Miss johnson had not undressed at
| ALL but her cousin had lain down. He was last
seen in search of his precious charge, with two
| life preservers ia hand. Ii appears that be sue
ceeded in finding her and placing life preserver
| upon her body, but both found watery graves.
| The light of life was never shut out from two
| puTer souls. On her downward trip the officers
Of Gen. Bnell made diligent inquiry for the living
and dead passengers Of the Inflated boats, and
took aboard every one that could be found. An
/ unknown corpse was picked up at Vevay, In
| diana, and inferred there. The bodies OF Miss
Mary johnson and cabin boy named Smith, were
| taken aboard the Buell.. Inc former was brought
TO this city and the latter left at Madison, where
the victim had lived. t.-
| TIE BODIES OF MRS. GRIFFIN AND MRS. c0AMoJ
DoRE THOMPSON. r
| Madison lind. dispatch Of the 10th says:
| The bodies of Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Commodore
| Thompson, both of New Orleans, were brought
here from the wreck few days ago.. They were
| placed in the Episcopal church, and the ladies OF
| the parish very kindly rendered the remains
| every proper attention, and prepared them for
| the grave. Their funerals took place In Christ
Church, Rev. James Runcel, d.. d. officiating, at
| o'clock yesterday afternoon. The sermon. by
the rector, and the music in the usual beautiful
style Of the choir, we're very impressive indeed.
| Mr.. Griffin and brother to Mrs. G. were here,
and MIR. Henry Whelsn, banker Of Philadelphia,
who accompanied these ladies from that city. has
been here since last Saturday, rendering every
| kind of assistance in Identifying and caring for
| the bodies OF these unfortunates. ~
| Commodore Thomson did not get here. Daring
the services at the church dispatch was received
from him, stating that he was at Indianapolis,
on his way TO Philadelphia, and directing that the
remains OF his wife be sent on there. Just before
the commencement Of the services at the church q
very unpleasant circumstance arose. Mr.. Wolf,
of Philadelphia, cousin TO Miss Fahnestock, who
was lost on the United States, arrived here and
insisted that from what he bad heard. he had no
doubt that the body supposed to be Mrs. Thomp-
son wassrealy Miss Fahnestock. Thief description
OF jewelry. OF the body. and other circumstances
seemed 10 point to the body a. that Of Miss Fahne-
stock. Mr.. whelsn was equally positive that the
body was that Of Mrs. Thompson. II seemed TO
be difficult to decide the matter here, and, as the
parties and the dead bodies were all going to
Philadelphia, it was arranged that the question of
identity be determined there. The bodies have
started by the Adams Express. Mrs. fhomspon
| oh hat Ara