The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-27
FIRST EDITION
DYS.A STER.
Sinking of the LIE Claire Steamer
on the Tennessee River.

About IL O'Clock last night, says the Louisville
Courier ,JOurnd', the lie lClaire, Tennessee
river packet, in attempting to pass over tue
falls, struck one of the 9outmen Is Of the bridge
and sunk. She had on board some fifty or sixty
passengers, about fifty mules aud horses, and
good load of freight. As fer rs is known at
present writing all the passengers were saved.
The live stock we're cut loose aud allowed to save
themselves the best way tAey could. The boat
sunk in about fifteen feet water and within
few feet of the cabip deck, and consequently
the principal part of the freight is q total loss.
Soop after dark q dense Jog suddenly settled
on the river, and 10 consequence serious fears
wereentertained for the safety of the Richmond,
which was approaching the rapids at the time:
she was shut completely out of the sight OF
those watching her from the shore, and their
fears and anxiety were lndescnbaole until they
were relieved by the glad news OF her safe arri-
The lie Claire followed soon after the Rich
mond but her pilot, Mr., William Narble, fear
ing the abutments on the falls turned back aud
moored the boat up about towhead somewhere,
meaning to wait till the fog cleared away.
Meanwhile Captain Pink Varble had taken the
Richmond safely over, and, on returning, ind,
ing that his brother had not yentured, and
having encountered no difficulty in taking his
boat over concluded, in connection with his
brother, to take the LIE Claire down.
So, after going to Jeffersonville and taking on
some freight he headed her Tor the fatal falls.
Mr.. r. W. Kenney, OF this city, was apassengcr,
and was standing on the hurricane deck with
Captain Aiken, the c0mmanaer ana lT9u THn mn MN
lines OF the Indiana shore could be dimly seen,
and they could hear the roar of the water
against the abutmen's, but could not see them.
just before the boat struck, he says, he
pillars pillars, but t IT, seemed some fifty yards
or more from the, boat. About that
time Captain Varble called out TO them that the
danger was past, but simultaneously with his
words came the shock. The stern of the boat
had struck the rocky abutment, and, though 1t
seemed slight and OF no consequence TO those
on the hurricane deck, it jerked the wheel clear
out of Captain Varbles hands. He supposed
from this that the rudder only had struck, and
that no damage was done. Captain Aiken imme-
dately rushed down into the hold, when the
truth Of the catastrophe was revealed to him.
BY this time the boat had commenced TO reel
and swing around.
being awakened by the shock aud learning that
the boat was sinking, were thrown INTO the
greatest CONSERVATION. nv. hehnedy saw
several men in the water on shutterJ and boards
being borne rapidly down the stream, and their
fate is yet unknown. -
The mules and hor.es were cut loose, and 1t
is supposed many were dashed against the
rocks by the rapid water and killed, while few
could hardly have escaped safely to shore.
Descending into the cabin, MIR. Kennedy says
the co1tusion was indescribable. The passen-
gers were terror-strcken, the boat was turned
over almost on her side, rendering 1t Impossible
tor any one to stand. One poor Ienow was 30
badly scared that he vented profusely. An
elderly lady gave up all hope OF escape from
watery grave, but would have the gentlemen go
into the statesroom and tetch ner shawl. All
were in their night-clolhes, having rushed
preeptately out OF their beds.
The boat swung around as she was carried
rapidly down stream by the current, and settled
in the b G Eddy with the water just below the
cabin deck. Captain William Varble got out the
life-b boat, and with several other gentlemen went
down to Portland tor assistance, but mean while
the Taracon came down, and rounding to, took
off all the passengers aud carried them to Port
land, where those that did not return to the city
were cared for.
To the GOODNESS and presence Of mud Of
Captain Pink Varble is owing the lives ofmany,
as it is said he was the only uueXcited person
on board, and by his counsels prevented many
consterna'ed ones from leapmg into the rapid
water which would have hopelessly engulfed