Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-13
Wreck OF q Small Steamer on
the Mississippi Opposite
.6T BIZ Memphis. 3
Five Persons Meet q Watery
- Crave

= A dire calamity occurred near the Ar
| kansas shore shortly after sunset on the
evening of Sunday, which cast a gloom
fearful in its character when the news
reachW the city that boat had been
wrecked, and that five persons out Of
eleven who were on board had met with
a watery grave. Sometime ago small
steamboat was built from plans and
modelgot up by DIR. G.. w. AGREE, a well
known dentist of this city. The boat,
which was christened the Alpha" was
graceful in appearance, while her engine
was model of the mechanical art. This
tiny craft was capable of carrying
about dozen passengers, and 1t was
generally given out that she could make
about twenty miles an hour. On Sun.
day pleasure excursion was proposed
by the owner, DIR. AGREE, and his friends,
composed chiefly Of German citizens, and
the party, among whom were the follOw>
ing, set sail for the vicinity of the Navy
Yard about Ii O'Clock in the forenoon: DIR.
G. w. AGREE and son, DIR. F. w. Gar key,
dentist, Mr.. James Adams, of the firm of
Miller, Jones e. Co., Front street, Mr..
Miller of the same firm, Messrs. P. A.
Colmark, Adelph Radjesky, A. Tohers,
Hubert Henck and Marcellus Jackson,
who acted as firemen on board the boat.
The party had laid in good stock of pros
visions, with good supply of wpe and
liquors, and as the weather was splendid,
pleasant and successful trip down the |
river for a few miles was anticipated.
All were in the very highest spirits, as
the gallant little craft steamed down to
Presidents Island, where it had been
arraigned to spend the day. This point
was reached shortly before noon, when
all disembarked, and after lunch the
majority strolled around the island |
under the refreshing shade Of the |
widesspreading trees. The afternoon
was spent pleasantly by all, and as the |
sun was going down on the western
bank of the Mississippi the signal was
given, "all aboard" and soon the ex>
cursionists reembarked, the lines were |
cast off and the little craft was home
ward bound, all on board having /
thoroughly enjoyed their trip. AS the
stock of fuel was getting low and there /
was considerable difficulty in keeping |
the steam up, the boat was headed toS |
wards the Arkansas shore in order to |
keep out of the strong current of the |
river, and the little craft kept making
slow Roadway until nearly opposite the
village of HOpefield. 1t was intended to
go up above the city some distance, then
cross the river and drop down with the
current as the stock Of fuel had become
exhausted. ..
All were in the very highest spirits
and, as the night was pleasant, no one for
a moment dream't that danger was near
or that terrible catastrope was about
to occur. Slowly steamed the tiny craft
up the river until the point at which the
excursioniSts intended to cross the
stream was reached, when the vessel
seemed to come suddenly TO q stand
still. The fire had burned low, the
engine ceesei working, the current prov
ed too str0ng for the small craft, and in
a minute or two she was completely at /
its mercy, and drifted down towards |
some coal barges which were moOred to
the bank. Still no one thought Of dan
ger, but in an Instant, before any one on
board was aware, the little alpha" had
cOllided with one OF the coal bargeS and
had had her stern completely |
stove in. The utmost excitement pre-
vailed, and several on board clutched /
frantically at the gunwale of the barge,
and succeeded in holding on and after
wards reaching the deck in safety. The
others were not so fortunate, DIR. Gar
key, Mr.. Radjesky, Mr.. Miller, Mr.. Adj
ans, DR.. Acree'S little son and the col
Ored man, named Jackson, all being pre-
cipitated into the river. In an instant
ali, with the exception of Mr. Radjesky, /
and met with a watery |
grave. Mr.. Radjesky was rescued with
the greatest difficulty by some men who
put off from the shore in skiif the in
slant they witnessed the terrible acct
dent Memphis AvaiaRche, May ii.