New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-28
THE MISSISSIPPI DISASTER.

INCIDENTS OF THE SINKING OF THE NICK WALL
-CULPABUITY OF THE OFFiCERS-TIIE BOAT
OYERLADEN.
Every fresh detail confirms the culpablllty OF
the officers IA overlooking the steamer Nick WALL which
snagged Hast week In the Mississippi River. 1t seems
that when the steamer reached Memphis she was laden
beyond her capacity but the officers controlling her con-
scented addition Of co deck passengers with their
freight and luggage. As consequence the boat was
managed with the greatest difficulty and several times
narrowly escaped disaster before she the snag
which sunk her So heavily the boat laden and so
conscious the officers of her danger that whenever
another boat tnG Ma e n b ess tao
much" At about o'clock In the evening the vessel ran
ing at least 100 people aud seriously murng large
number Of others Very many who might have been
saved lelped from tho deck In the hiShtu uncertainty
After the wreck had been cleared piteous of
desoation were witnessed Children fan about atignt
eddy for missing children The emigrant group OF sixty
that got aboard at Memphis was h nearly al ala lost h Aa
worldly wealth. snt stupofed, helpless, incapable OF
Sympathy, in the cabin OF the Seminole. To German,
who spoke English, he finally communicated the story OF
people who crowded the deck and lost there IA no
record. Tie steamboat officials refuse definite nforma-
ticn regarding the passengers lost, and VIII
who all lost At Memphis one OF the pas
sengcrs went ashore and applied 10 insurance companies
for policy several billiard tables that constituted
part OF the enormous cargo The application was refused
because OF the extraordinary quantity OF freight heaped
Taylor-was afterward killed in the wreck. He was sit
ting with several others the stove in the forward
part OF cabin just before the struck the He
proposed TO retire, when Others objected saying 1t would
be safer 10 sleep tomorrow" He had hardly taken OF
his coat his staeroom when the shock felt which
frightened all board. When the cabin was cut away
il was seen how desperate the struggles he had
made to escape. There were bruises on his head and
face, and the nails torn from his fingers In his
efforts the panels In the cabin On his person
there found 81 200 In gold and awatch now III pos
session OF the clerk Of the steamer Seminole.
Many Of the il-fated victims seem TO have had dis
NAL forebOdng OF the coming catastrophe AS the night
came the sky overcast with dense threatening
clouds aud the rain fell In torrents At the moment
OF disaster number OF passengers had determined to
morning. All were conscious OF danger and many re-
fused 10 retire to their berths Tie boat towed by
the seminole TO Maryland Landing, where she remained
till daylight when she broke away from her mo0rngs
aud drfcd mile or two down the river TO par, where
she lies Much OF the freight, wagons etc. on the
roof has gone into the river but much OF tie will
he saved in damaged condition. The in the cabin
Of the Seminole when Of bodies OF the dead were
placed on the cabin floor, and the anxious crowd was
Cathered either side inspecting closely the features or
those who lay stiff stark and cold In DEATH each OF the
living fearing TO nd among the cOrpses that OF somo
friend relative, beggared description And yet II the
Seminole like other steamers on that dark teinpestuous
night had stood still TO await the coming day few OF
those board the Wall would have escaped death The
pilot OF the Seminole, at some distance below, saw the
stove In the pilOt-house OF the Wall overturned when
she struck snag and the headlights or the
snagged moving downward as the boat careened
These incidents caused the Seminole TO be steered
directly toward the Wall The wreck was reached just
IN time all who remained alive on board aud all
who did not leap in terror into the water
cad there is far little trustworthy nforma-
ton and the number be estimated only by deductng
the grand total all that are missing The survivors
Join in grateful attestat0ns to the officers OF the rescuDg
steamer Seminole who 10 have worked faithfully
efcienty and neIlgently for the rescue of the Wallis
unfortunate passengers and crew.