The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09
THE OHIO RIVER CATASTROPHE.
Newspaper Accounts Of the Disaster 10 the
Steamers United States and America-State-
nients Of Officers and Pnsseugers-ThriIlin
Uus


Incidents.
From Cincinnati papers OF the 9th inst. we obtain
the following additional particulars OF the recent
terrible catastrophe on the Ohio river:-
THE EXCITEMENT IN THIS CITY.
The first intelligence received OF she terrible news
but Il few moments before the news was whispered
from ear to ear, and the city was placed in con-
slant state OF the highest excitement The bulletins
course OF people, and cur Office was thronged all
day with crowds who were anxious to hear
all particulars AT the Office Of the Western Union
Telegraph Company busy throng OF people
kept coming and going; hundreds OF messages Of In
quiry were iasned across inc wires, and many sad
answers were received. Along the levec, In tie
vicinity or the Mail wharf boat, the crowd at times
was immense. Al night larger crowd collected on
tue wharf boat carry as seven O'Clock waiting for
Tho arrival o. the G. I. Dimonf, with the sufferers
and saved
livery whistle u passing steamers caused them 10
out to II 1t Was the Damont. and when they
found that il was not her tncy returned to the wharf
boat Office IN rhc most depressed spirits. The Du
mont was expected here ut ten O'clock, but IL was
nearly t@cSe O'clock before she discovered 10
be coming. When the words '.She's comingr were
shouted frantic crowd rushed to the edge OF the
wharf boat. pushing and crowdiug, each one
deav0rIng TO get aboard first.
ON THE DUPONT
q sad sight greeted the eyes OF the crowd. Strewed
aong the cabin moor, on cots, the scalded and
wounded were lying grooming under the agonlzing
pain Of Their wounds; Men and women, but mar
quits, were gathered around the stove, shivering
with the cold. Hatless men, with bandaged heads
aud arms, also there, and the sight that re
witnessed upon our entrance into the cabin was one
thay We shall never forget
STATEMENT or CAPTAIN Il. N. WADE.
Captain K. M. Wade, commander OF the United
States, makes the following statement
1t was ABOUT a quarter 10 halfpass eleven O'Clock
Friday night when the United States ana America
cane together one mile above Warsaw on the In
diana snore. The night was dark hut not fo2gy.
The America went into the States on the larboard
abreast OF the baggage room, and only cut through
the guards and few OF the top timbers OF the hull.
The names appeared TO come instantancously with
the crash on both boats shooting up above The top
OF the hurricane roof OF the States, where | was
standing. The wind was blowing hard up
stream. The States backed into the Indiana
shore, where her head swung quartcring out
into the stream, gong down In few
onds. The America blew two whistles, which were
l could hear, owing to the high wind. The States
blew again, but we could not hear the Americas
ply About half an hour after the accident the tow
boat Reindeer, ascending, came In between the
wrecks and pr0ffered her services, taking few Of
the sufferers. After remaining an hour the Lady
Grace came alongside, when the Reindeer departed.
We had sXty-iv passengers booked among whom
were fourteen ladies-our cbambermaid says only
thirteen we lost thlrty.hye passengers altogether
Six of the ladies were saved.
STATEMENT OF MR.. ANDY HARRI6Ay, CLERK OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Mr.. Andy Harrigan the second clerk OF the United
States, gives the following statement
The boats collided about quarterpast eleven
o'clock at Ray's Landing, about one mile above
warsaw.
was IN the barber shop at the time and heard our
whistle blow. After the first whistle pilot rang
the stopping bell. then immediately AFTER rang the
backing bell.
tnen had an idea OF what was the matter and ran
forward on the sarboard guard as far as the
starboard chimney, when the boat was struck by
tne America tue arboard side about ten feet at
OF forward the collision driving number OF barrels
OF petroleum INTO the furnace, causing the flames 10
fash I'D in moment. The United States then swung
around and the pllot tried to back boat into
shore. The America, then being dsentangled, was
worked INTO shore, aud was tncn little further up
the river than we were. We then backed our boat
very near the America when number OF our pas
sengers were saved by jumping of OF the United
States on TO the America. BY actual count there
were seventy-1ve passengers on the United States
out of this number there were twenty live 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
collision occurred; and l think II 1t was not for
the serenade the bridal parties would have been
lost but as they wes the e stae n
were, and got or the United States on to the
America, and as their state rooms were on the same
slae as the America they were saved. The scene In
the cabin at the time was understandable. Several
ladies stood, throwing their children overheard ana
ladies' stood wringing their hands and crying for
help but they would not leave the place they were
In and persisted in the danes.
Previous to the disaster we were enjoying ourselves
in the cabin dancing and the passengers mad just en-
tered their state rooms.
STATEMENT OF MR.. MARTIN BIGGs.
Mr.. Martin Riggs. who was passenger on the
America, from Louisville, informs us that he was In
the collision aroused him, and he ran out on the
guards to see what was the matter. He found that
the states had coided with the America II was
the cause Of which was the bursting Of number Of
barrels OF petroleum slowed on the bow OF tine
States. The America Immediately caught 1re and
succeeded In making the Indiana shore, where
her crew ran out stage TO allow the passengers TO
returned and assisted the ladies or the boat. He
saw a number jump into the river. and two men
were seen grasping the yawl OF the America at the
lx,.S hal.
were endeavoring TO keep from downing. He as
sisted two ladies' on the boat who were entirely
naked, having lost their nightcothes while escaping
took supper on the America before the collision.
He saw about $50 people--passengers and crew
on the bank after the disaster. Four wagon
loads OF ladies' were taken to private residences
In Florence. Right In the heat OF tile disaster the
Swboat Reindeer ascending WAS wa run IN between
deer did all they could to rescue the passengers.
Those rescued on the Reindeer were afterwards
TO the rescue, and were taken to Madison. One man
he saw clinging TO an oil barrel In the river.
he says Was noouc q%ar ona 70 Twelve a. ngn
burned to the waters edge in less than five minutes
The officers OF both the states and America did all
they could to save the lives OF the passengers The
pilot OF the America stood his post until he
compelled to desert It, Us the flames were smuggling
STATEMENT OF Mr.. !. A. RorHrER
Mr. j. A. Rothier, OF J. A. Rothier l. Co., OF Gin
cinnat, passenger on the America, says he had re-
he succeeded in making his way out on the guards
lie United States appeared to be fire all over.
The America soon landed on the Kentucky shore.
He IL OF the opinion the fire originated the United
States. He describes the scene as terrible beyond
description. He boarded the towboat Reindeer ana
came 10 IawrencebHrg, where he took the railway
train for Cincinnati He lost oil his effects, dividing
o portion Of the apparel he wore with fellow SUI
ferer lie speaks In the highest terms OF the gal
antry OF the officers OF the America well ~ those
vi the towboat Reindeer
THE SAVED.
The following Is a complete list OF those known TO
be saved from both boats:-
NJ. Zicber and wife, from Fremont ohio; lanes
Price and brother, Louisville: Lee Kahn cincinnati;
". Nelson Allegheny City. Pa. slightly burned: Mas
ter Pearce saved, but his mother and brother were
lost; Captain Joseph McCammani Cincinnati, burned
about the neck; Robert Nelson, Newport KY,
slightly inured ]. II. Green and lady; Sob Harris
Louisville: George A. Middleton, CINCINNATI; W. W.
Ilanly Cincinnati; william Chamberlain, Cinannat:
Mr. McFaran and wife, Of Nashville; Mr.. Hays,
Of Nashville: Mr. Inskip and wife, Of Nadlsot, Int.
Mr.. Sappington and Mr.. Forbes, OF Madison Ind.
Captain John \. Herbert. Of Newport KY: M. j. -
Fisher, OF New YORK. burned on hands ant face;