The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25
TIE NICK WALL HORROR.

Perils Of the NIississippi-sna sging Of the
Steamer Nick Wnli-Over One Hundred
Lives Lsst-Graphic Account of the Disaster.
memphis (Dec 22 despatch to the Boston Evening
Passengers who arrived here tonight from below,
rye Inc u a1 es ~ the % acc e tx
that boat on Sunday night, which resulted IN the
death OF over one hundred passengers. The Wall
struck the snag at hafpas ten on the night named
and sunk In less than ten minutes IN 1orty leet OF
water. Her hurricane roof falling IN from the i'm
passengers, thereby preventing their es-
cape MI. Montehutchcr, the passenger men,
or ten passengers were sitting about the stove wien
they felt the shock. he then ran out OF the door OF
the cabin, and was about to return when the cabin
roof caved in dashng barrels, wagons, ploughs and
other articles into the cabin, where everybody had
rushed VINO could get out OF their sta,eroons.
Mr.. Montenutcher's further statement Is as fol-
lows:-I was thrown against the smOKestack on
starboard, as the steamer was then falling on her
larboard side. was twice pulled back by the hair,
aud, In the tnird attempt made, some caught me
by the 1eet the struggle to save himself ana pulled
my shoes OIL. finally managed to gain the hurricane
deck. and then saw no earthly chance for escape
the roof was by this time crowded. and every
seeking for something on which to float. The boat
was by this time under the water; nothing remained
cut but the hurricane roof and the plot house. The
wreck was still floating down The river anu we dad
not know what momeht she would SINK; women
children for parents. just as we thought all hopes
were gone we saw the lights OF a boat coming
up the river, and every one that could shouted
for assistance. James Vandervorst, assistant
pilot lighted piece Of paper in the pilot house,
showing 1t as a signal OF distress. In about tltcen
minutes the friendly boat noated alongside and
made fast to the wreck, when staging was thrown
out and all that were able got on board the SEMI
hole. After she came alongside VandervorSt and
Richard DILL the porter Of the Inflated steamer,
through the hurricane roof and found Mrs. Roe, the
captains wife, wedged In among a lot OF barrels
boxes, &c. She was brought into the cabin of The
Seminole, and after great eXertons showed signs Of
beagn m The SCENE Segars Mefc rere
were about twenty five Killed, but cannot tell how
many were wounded. Mr.. Tayor from some part
of Missouri, who was rooming with me- Is among
the dead He had retired about five minutes before
the accident happened. A gentleman, with his
daughter and sonin-aw, the last two lust married.
are among the dead. they intended to get on about
one mile below the wreck. The Nick Wall lies
aground about four miles below Worthon Point
where she struck. The number OF lives lost by
the accident cannot be ascertalned Sixty or more
deck passengers went on board at tins place. Seve
raj OF these IN the midst Of the terror OF the sCene
leaped overheard and were drowned Many were
taken from the water by life boats. The Seminole
passengers say that Captain Montgomery came up
to the wreck aud touched it lightly and gently
that there not the slightest pcrceptIDle shock
Then the lifeboals almost Immediately surrounded
the Nick Wall. Captain Montgomery not only ex-
hiDted GOODNESS and skill, but his Kindness was IN
bounded. The steamer Paragon passed the wreck
OF the Nick Wall about two hours after the accident
occurred, and the captain, officers and crew ten
dered the unfortunate people taken from the wreck
river were taken by the Paragon to Their destination.
Tie names OF those saved are as fellows:-
Thomas J. Robertson, Georgia; ". L: Springoerry,
son, St. LOUIS VIM. V. Evans. Kansas City; L. +. NJ.
Martin, Alabama; M. JOSS, Emile Joss. Chicago; Il.
w. Feasal, st. Charles, Mo-; X. @. Baldwin, ST.
Louis; VIM. Boyd, st. Louis; J. r. Bowers, G. II.
Bowers 4. J.. Bowers, Mrs. N. 5. Bowers, MIS-
sissipp; Il. E: Bowers, X. D. Bowers, Chero-
kee county, Ala; NJ Smith, Georgia; VIM.
D. Smith, Georgia; f. M. Ralater. T. S. Ra-
LATER NJ. J. Roberts, Alabama; Peter Whisenant,
Mary Whlsenant Amanda Whisenant, Littcton
Whlsenant, Nancy Whisenant. VIM: Whisenant Roao
Wnisenant, 0. Whisenant and A. Whsenant, OF Ala
bama; W. A. Bowers, L. Bowers. Alabama; A.
Harris, Emma Harris, Newton Harris J. l.. Spray
berry, Cherokee county, Ala. J. I. johnson, Titus
county, Texas; Samuel LISl, engineer; George I.
Anshutz, engineer; John w. Roccleck, Georgetown,
Pa; James McHaney, steward. do; P. II. Langton,
cabin hey, Iowa; Y. Pearson, Chicago; Q. Kramer.
do; A. J. McDenns and Robert Beaton, deck pas
sengers; Ed. Foot, cook; Dennis Mack, wife and
child, Milwaukee; Charles West, Martin Ready,
William NJ. Destea and james Bates nremen; Elihu
Wodrop, passenger, and others
In eXtricatiAg Mrs. Roe an axe h I'd to be used 10
cut through the hurricane roof. she was struck
with the axe, but not seriously wounded Seventy
emigrants ana twenty cabin passengers bcarded the
Nick Wall here. She mad on board $50 souls, all OF
whom were lost, except those named above The
disaster is the most appalling one that mas occurred
since the explosion OF The Sutana In 1865. Among
the lost was q bridal party that got on here.