The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-29
The Mississippi Caaassrophe-Parttc
ulars OF the SnRasing Of the "Nfck
Wail-One Hundred Lives Reported



A survivor Of the sunken steamer Nick
Wall, who has reached Memphis, relates the
following circumstantial details of the fear
full disaster:
The accident occurred about four miles
below Worthton's Point. The majority of
the misrepresentation thirty-had retired /;
eight OF Us were sitting around the stove
amusing ourselves, when we felt the severe
shock and jumped up. some running one
way, some another. | ran out the front
door leading to the boiler deck, but
Immediately after getting out everything
seemed quiet, and I turned round and
walked back to the cabin. I sup
pose the time that elapsed from the time
| left the cabin until l returned was about
two minutes, when a crash came and the
hurricane roof cavcd in, dashing barrels,
wagons, plowS, and numerous other arti
cleS, to the boiler.deck, where everybodI
had rushed who could get out of their
statesrcoms. | was thrown against tie
smoke stack, but by great eXertions man
aged to eNtrieate myself, and commenced
climbing boxes and barrels, and was twice
pulled back by the lair, and the third
attempt made some one caught
ME by the feet, and in the struggle
to save themselves pulled my, snoes
l. L
hurricane deck, There [ saw no earthly
chance oT escape. as the roof was BY this
time crowded. and every one seeking some
thing on which to float. The boat was tythiS
time under water, nothing remaining cut but
the hurricane roof and pilol-houSe. ] cam
pot give Il description OF the sight 1T that
moment, for my blood runs cold when |
think of il. The wreck was still floating
down the river. and we did not know What
| moment she would sink. Women were
screaming Tor their husbands, and children
for tcelr parents. Just rs we thought all
| hopes were past We SAW the lights OF Il boat
coming up the river, and every one that
could shouted for assistance. James VAN
| 'lGlvoorst, assistant plot, lit piece Of
! paper and showed il rs Il signal OF dis
tress. In about fifteen minutes she made
East TO the wreck, when all that we're able
got OH board the Seminole. Everything
! was done by the captain, crew, and pas
| scngers of the Seminole that could be done
to cXtricate the dead and wounded, \
nephew Of Captain Poe, the commander OF
the Nick Wall, while endeayorirg TO escape
from beneath the falling bales and boxes,
was crushed, and finally fell INTO the river
and drowned. The Pargoud passed tic
wreck OF the Nick Wall about two hours
after the disaster, and the captain and OF
! ticcrs and crew rendered the unfortunate
people taken from the Wall every possible
Kindness. Those going down The river
were taken by the Pargoud to their Ces.
iina'ion without charge.
Mrs. Poe was found wedged in the cabin
between boxes and barrels. In cutting
through the hurricane roof the axe struck
her head, causing slight wound. She was
brought to the seminole, and is doing well
When the dead bodies were brought il the
scene beegared description-hu,bands
searching tor wife and children, aud chill
! dren Tor parents among the bodies. Tween.
! ty-tive bodies were taken out OF the wreck,
and many others were on the lower deck,
which was then under water. When Mrs
Poe was found the water was up TO her chin
| in the cabin. 4 gentleman, with his wife,
daughter and son-in. law-the two last
named only married Il few days-are among
the dead. They intended to get oil about
| One mile below.