The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-01-14
NUMBER 10.
A FRIGHTFULLY APPALLING SCENE.

following III regard 10 the late Terrible ulsdster
on the Ohio river, caused by the collision of
the steamers America aud United States, by
the careessness of the pilots, or of one Of them:
The United States carried as cargo q great
quantity of petroleum in barrels; and the bar
rels were SO slowed that by the jar of the COL
ision some of them were thrust upon the fur
naccS and, being simultaneously forced open,
instant combustion was of course the conse-
quruce, So that in less than half minute the
boat was one sheet Of flame. The America,
which had struck the United States amidships,
immediately backed down the stream. But
the former vessel was not destined thus to es-
cape The United States, as II urged by an
impacablr fate drove down once more on the
ship which had dealt her own death-blow, and
presently both steamers were IN c0hflagratlOn.
Aud noW rnSurd horrors which an eyewitness
tells Us were beyond, lot what he had ever
seen or read al, but outstrlpprd augat he had
ever dreamed Of. in the WY OF piercing misery
and swift drsulatiuu. OF the crew OF the JnI-
ted St4trs-tNeuty two in all-elghteen per-
I>hrd instantly. The petroleum WAS almost as
swift Ia killing all close by II as would have
been 50 much gIHpoNdrr. lndtrd, II was THIS
awful CELEBRITY OF the ull-tcd flames which
wrought such unavoidable. slaughter on board
| \
separated from her enemy, was also on fire;
bur. MA, being 80 p-rlluusly loaded She burned
y,.,a comparative sluwur>,; aud-It sounds III
>,r4.a.. contrast with III. hy!liSh turturrs en-
dared y,.f.nu; ru>>ihl,. ucIp. al the salgr mo-
u,..,.t +, ,f. u.4I.l. in tl, cabin of ih, United
~,.t..> Tho. ll>>,.l.a.:.s and crew of the Amer
i..,.,rrsI ,,,,,tf,5,l0re
N....2 + l.. sam. ut the unhappy passengers
,,,a.s1. .l.,., l,,,,r,l STATES v..r uIakIro fran
,.....g.r,. ..,,. rt.uSy,yrs: some fell in fits
...g la,l Themselves almost ir.inr-
N,.u,. ot the scenes drs
........ ,......'...l amy eyer heard Of The
..I.. k,,,.ggI 81. Mat oa,. of the. gentle
I..~5 i.,i ft,.. ,,~,.>,,I.,. Of mind to un-
...... !, l..- ,,fi.a, H.. threw into TIE. river;
,.4 ..g,..r lis ,,gf. and he. had iliuprd in he
..,....J h,.r .I.,>,,,pu r. reach lie shore.
:. \..,,.>..,. l.r. dear" WAS his request. un-
=. r.., -, ...,>..t ,.o..v.,,. and We can both
t.,...3- I,ar.r.,.,a,. Lg,haud's agony. lust
..f.t ,.r.....r..i >,.nr;Hlil. that wo,.ld float
....... ,..'.r. ..,ll, toward The frai support of
....,... ....d l..,., l..r.:.uay from It. She was
t..,..l l.. rt. Same. a,.,,tr,t auother similar
.....r,..., ......., IttI,. after:
49,. ....t,.,.-, with his sister. a lovely and
........i......5 ,,,.,, lady. were PASSENGERS IN
,.,.I.t.trJ STATES. ~ the first shuck the gen
,....a MAS thrown from his bed clear on the
floor Ila>,.h pu.ng on his pantaIoonS he
rushed - th, si.rr-ruom Of his sister. burst
,n..r ,a,. door and >n.1lug her in his arms
,...r-.,.i her down ou the. main deck where
p-..r.r.,., = door shutter. he threw il over
nnarI and lran.d after i with his sister in his
arms lie plarrd her securely on the shutter
arl VAS swimming bru,ud. pushing it. with his
rrrrIurS load. toward the shore. when, To his
b,rror.a \ h.c. burly. and able bodied man swan
mn. laI>hrd MS sister oti the board and climbed
anon i himself The Young girl sank with
scream. and # She came to the surface II was
So aarh and the confusion 50 great that he could
not llul her Maidrnrd at the daStardIy act
he made after the author, and Srizlng him by
the throat Il struggle To the death ensucd.
Irrl rose and sunk together, still struggling,
and when last seen were graphing with each
o,urr. Whether either was saved or both
went down together Is not known The sister
sank beneath the waves and was lost. but she
was terribly avenged hy her brother
Oar woman was seen to burn 10 death on the
guards huggIGg her baby close to her breast.
Strangely enough maternal instinct did not
force her. rs 4 last resort. to try the desperate
chance OF the river. 1t is said that from the
shore numbers of women could be seen rush
inc about through the flames IN their night
gownS-many of them, alas with Young chill
dren \ Htchoat filled with people, who man
ot the America, Whel' '"r tht Srcolld ti'he sue
was Trtrcatlng from lnP I Nltcu NldtcS. lHc