Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-12-10


Jacob Reemelin and his striker, VIM.
Turpin, were at the wheel of the
United States, while Napoleon Jen-
kins was at the wheel of the Ameri-
ca. 1t IS proper to add that the
pilots on both steamers are old and
reliable officers. Captain Reemelin
has been plotting for thirty years,
twenty five of which were in the
service of the Louisville Mail Line,
while Mr.. Jenkins has been employ
ed exclusively in the same trade
during the past fifteen years.
Mr. W. W. HANLY, of Cincinnati, and
son-in-law of Mr.. JAMES RIGGs, of this
county, was passenger on the United
States. He makes the following state
ment: .,!
We left Cincinnati at half-past six
O'Clock, Friday evening. The night
was cold and raw one, and most Of
the passengers remained in the saloon.
After supper quite number us en-
gagged in serenading two couples who
were on board-one an old married pair,
the other young bride and groom
These festivities were kept up till
pretty late hour, and it is to this sere-
made that | have to attribute my life,
and so, too, have many of those who
were saved. 1t was about half past
eleven, l suppose, when Captain Wade
came down to tell us that it was time
to stop. We began at once to prepare
for our state rooms, and in ten minutes
more we should all of us have been in
bed. Just then there came a terrible
crash-came upon us in an instant,
without any warning. No signal had
been heard, neither from our own boat,
or any other. l thought, however,
at once that we had collided with some
other boat, and started at once for the
stern of the "States." But before l
could reach it, l heard some cries and
shout of fire" from the forward cab
in. AS l looked / saw the flames al
ready bursting out | knew in mo-
ment what had happened, for | had no.
ticed on the lower deck large lot of
petroleum-some two hundred barrels,
1 suppose. This had taken fire, l
thought-tbought of it, sir, much
quicker than it takes me tc tell you.-
| ran at once to the lower deck and
jumped into the water. We were then,
l should think. about fifty yards from
the shore. Many of those who were
in the ladies' cabin also plunged in
with me. The heat from the burning
vessel was so great that as / floated
along by its side, | suffered much, and
was good deal singed.. But | man
aged at last to reach the shore. Some
of those around me sank and were
drowned. Others we're swept by the
current into the midst of the petroleum
which had spread over the river for,
| should think. two hundred yards or
more, and were burned to death L.
These deaths | saw while was my
self in the water A minute or two
later | reached the shore. This was
not more than two minutes after the
first alarm had been given. But in
even this short time all shouts and
shriekings had died away. One could!
only hear the cracking ofthe flames as
they fairly licked up the great boats,
and occasional splashings as a chance
swimmer would buffet the waves
But one calamity saw which shall
never forgot The yawl of the United
States was lying just by our spars, lit
orally crowded with human beings
The pilot of the America could not see
them, and went right over the yawl.-
Every one on her, sir, must have been
drowned or crushed to death. l don't
believe that one was left to tell the
story of the death of the others.
A correspondent of the Gazette
says t.yt
WARSAW, KY, December 5.
! Your correspondent last night wit
messed the most terrible and destruc
tive steamboat disaster. that ever oc-
Cured, within his knowledge, on. the
Ohio river, or on any of the waters of
the United States. At about 1 1 O'Clock
p. NJ, yesterday (4th inst, the steam
er United States, from Cincinnati, and
the America, from Louisville, collided
about one mile above this place. At
the moment of collision both steamers
4 took fire on their bows, from the burst
ling of some barrels of combustible
fiuids-coal oil and whisky--which was
instantly ignited in some way. The
flames spread. rapidly till the conaa-
grafton could be seen for many miles
around. In the meantime, both steam
ers made for the Indiana shore, which
was successfully reached by the Amer
ica, but not by the United States. The
latter sunk to the depth of about ten
feet, at distance of about one hundred
feet from land. Here both steamers
were burned to the waters edge, all the
freight being lost. The very river
seemed to be on fire for many hundred
feet aroand, the oil thrown upon the
water having taken fire, perhaps pre-
venting many of the passengers and.
Drew from jumping overheard and
making their way to the shore. Thus,
doubtless, greater number of lives
were lost on the burning boats than,
lotherwise would have been.
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