New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-30
A TERRIBLE COLLISION ON THE
RIVER.
The Steamer John Kyle and TugbO0t
COllide-PrOv OvideutiRl Escape.

The Steamer John Kyle and n Tugbont
Collide-Provideutial Escape.
Last evening about six O'Clock, the
steamer John Kyle. en- route from this port
to st. Louis with q full cargo Of sugar and
molasses, collided Vith the tugboat ALI
ance. which had in tow the schooner Adele,
bound for the coast Of Maine. The steamer
John Kyle had just left the wharf on her
upward voyage, aud had reached the foot
Of Julia street, o. thercabouts, wheE the
pilot heard the whistle Of steamtug sig
mailing once.
The pilot ON watch On the John Kyle
AYERS that he answered properly, but I'M
Me,liately perceived the tug and tow bear
ing down on him, and in moment after the
the Kyle aft Of the boilers and just abreast
Of the doctor engine, cutting her down
clean and into the hull, even cutting she
cabin, through the staterooms, into the
verge Of the hallway. Staterooms seven,
eight and nine were totally demolished. AS
soon as the boats separated the alarm was
given; in fact the crash was heard, and the
coaltugs immediately in the vicinity re-
paired to the wreck and towed the John
Kyle to the right hand shore, just above
Algiers.
We visited the wreck Of the steamer as she
lays across the river and find her injuries to
be pretty serious. She had three steam tugs
pumping her ont, trying to keep her af4oat,
and to all appearances, and in the opinion
of the captain, they will succeed. The Kyle
is damaged tO the extent OF about fifteen
thousand dollars, principally insured. This
is her first trip from this port, having just
been built at Cincinnati, by Commodore
William f. Davidson, for the st. Louis and
New Orleans trade.
At the time Of the disaster her passengers
were nearly all at supper, and to this may
| be attributed the fact that no lives were lost.
| The harbor police boat, No. 2, under charge
of cockswain William Mcdowell, with
! Harry Swettenham and Barney COulson,
| crew. we're at the scene Of the disaster first,
| and done all in their power TO assist those
| who needed it-thcy brought over the
| wounded deck passengers, OF which men
| ton is made elsewhere. Captain Mc11ann
| and Sergeant Riley, OF the harbor police
| station, received such of the passengers as
| came across from the wreck. and attended
! to their necessities. They also rendered
| valuable assistance TO the reporter OF this
paper, for which they viii please receive
our cordial thanks.
The following is the statement Of Frank
| Carroll. Esq, the pilot on watch at the time
Of the disaster: =: Il wa0 coming round the
point; it was very smoky. severa, large
| steamers having Ieft ahead; met a tug
| coming Stiown with schooner in tow
she blowed one whistle, which signaled the
right side, and I answered it with one
whistle. and stopped my engines and began
backing, as saw her coming down On us
| quartering; she was about four hundred
wards from lis when she whistled was
backing when she struck us; she struck us
aft, and the chimneys fell; heard the es-
| cane of steam, and could not determine
where to land at the moment; just then
several tugs came TO our assistance and
towed us to the right bank Of the river