Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-06
By Telegraph.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT!
Collision of Steamers United
States ana America.
FrighJfuI Loss OF Life by Fire
and Water.
--latest and Fullest Particulars.
More than One Hundred Per
sons Killed.

A@SIA2 I'll 49,
ers United States and America, of the
Louisville and Cincinnati mail line, col
lided last night two miles above War
saw. They afteIward 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
were saved. Thirty ladies and q number
of gentlemen on board the United 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 mistaken
signals.
q LATEST.
The Madison tTnd.) Courier says of the
terrible accident on the Ohio river last
night: At half past eleven O'Clock
lsst night the magnificent steamers
United States, ascending, and the Amer
ies, descending, collided at Rsyls' land
ing, about two miles above Warsaw, on
the Indiana side. The United States had
q qusnlity of petroleum oil on her
guards. The America struck her on the
starbOard, or right hand side, forward of
the steps, cutting Into her q considerable
distance, sinking her in about two min
utes, TO the main deck. The fire was
communicated in the lower way to the
petroleum oil, and as coon as the boats
collidei they were in flames. 1t is said
that come mistake was msde in the sig
Dals-thst the America blew her
whistle twice, which, the pilot on
the United States, apparently did not
hear, and the American again signaled
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. 1t is supposed that
seveuty-fve or eighty persons here lost
on the United States, returning from
Cincinnati; three of these Mr. Steele
Preout, Lew Vance and o. p. Sspping-
ton, are among the missing. The re-
ceiving clerk Of the United States, James
Johns, IS also missing. II is estimated-
but under the circumstances, this must
be a mere guess. that thirty-tnree
women on the United States were
lest Mr. w. g. Taylor, Clerk
Of the America, after securing
the boats register and valua-
bles, went through the cabin, kicking in
the state room doors; and TO this pre-
caution and the cool intrepidity of Mr..
Taylor 40 lives were lost on the Amer
lea.
Our townsman, Harvey Foster, was on
The Uoited States, returning from Gin
ciDhau, and he Informs US that he and .
party from this city bad just left the
cabin, whsre they had left Mr.. |
InUskeep and lady, and were standing in
cabi1, near the clerks Office. 4 Mr.. |
wss on the outside and eame run
ming in, saying "the boats are running
ether,p and just then be felt the
shock, and looking around Immediately,
saw that all forward was Ia hlOes. H9
ran afr, and with the help OF a deck
lowered one arm of the tenders, on
they fl0afed ashore. Mr.. I~nnskeep
and lady jumped from the United States
the deck OF the America, a distance Of
fifteen feet, and were saved, losing all
their clothing.
The survivors of the terrible accident
in praise OF the management OF the
America after the collision. It was not
thirty seconds after the boats eOllided
before the United States was a mass of
James from stem to stern. The America
have been saved, had she not at
to save the passengers on the
States" which it was herduty TODD, and
hose who were saved owe their lives to
he GOODNESS and courage OF the officers of
he America. Her engines were kept
until the boat was made fast TO
he shore. The pilot stood at his post
Until the pilot-hOuse was burning around
lin, and then left TO avoid sGff1catiop.
The destruction Of these fine and costly
tearneTs, and the more terrible result ia
he loss of life, and the fate of missing
has cast a gloom over the entire {
community. We still hope that our
nissiog friends have made the shore at
ONE point below and have been saved.
THE VERY LATEST.
Midnigbt.-As yet no list of the casu-
lilies by the disaster last night has
cached this point. 1t is known, how I
yer, thai several prominent citizens of : :
louisvilIe have been lost, among them !
Mr. WIN. Garvin, ofthe firm of Gar :
10, Bell & Co. Boats from the wreck Z
re hourly expected at Madison and
%incinnati. Mr.. Cumin's Madison
gives the names OF a few sur
IvOts, but no Tennesseeans appear on
lie list.