The Portland daily press., 1870-12-26
The Disaster to Steamer Nick Wall,

A survivor of this terrible steamboat acct
dent on the Mississippi on Sunday last, has al
rived at Memphis and gives the following de-
tails of the accident. 1t is now thought that
one hundred lives were lost by this disaster:-
The Wall struck the snag at 1880 on that
night and sunk in less than ten minutes in 40
feet of water. Her hurricane root falling in
from the immense weight thereon, made pris.
oners ofthe cabin passengers, thereby prevent
ing their escape. Mr.. M2ntihutcher, the pas
senger mentioned, states that at the time nam
ed eight or ten passengers were sitting about
the stove when they felt the shock. Ee then
ran out of the door of the cabin and was about
to return When the cabin roof ca 7ed in dash
ing barrels. wagons, plougbs and other articles
into the cabin where everybody had rushed
who could get out of their staterooms.
finally managed to reach the hnr. icape
deck, and then saw no earthly chance for es-
cape, as the root was by this time crowded
and every one was seeking for something on
which to float The boat was by this time un-
der the water, nothing remaining out but the
hurricane roof and the pilot house. The wreck
was still floating down the river, and we did
not know what moment she would sink
Women were shouting for their husbands and
children, and children for their parents. inst
as We thought all hopes were gone we saw the
lights of boat coming up the river, aud every
one that could shouted for assistance.
Iu about fifteen minutes the friendly boat.
side, and all that were able got on board. The
hurricane roof was cut through, and it was
found that Mrs. Roe, the captains wife, vas
wedged 10 among lot OF barrels, boxes. etc
She was brought into the cabin of the Semi
mole, and after great exertiOnS showed signs of
life and is now doing WE'LL. The dead were
then brought in. The scene beggars descrip-
ton. There were about twenty five killed. but
cannot tell how many were wounded Mr.
Taylor, 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 son.iu-
law, the last two Just married, are among tn,
dead. They intended to get off about one mile
below the wreck. The Nick Wall lies aground
about four miles below Worthon's Point where
she struck. The number of lives lost by this
accident cannot be a>certaiued; sixty or more
DECK passengers went on board at this place:
several of these, in the midst of the terror OF
the scene, leaped overheard and were drowned.
Many were taken out Of the water By lifeboats.
Capt; Montgomery, of the Seminole, not on
ly exhibited coolness and skill, but his kindness
was unbounded, The steamer Paragon passed
the wreck OF the Nick Wall about two hours
after she was wrecked. Those passengers who
were gong down the river were taken aboard,
LATER.-Iu extricatlng Mrs. Roe an axe had
to be used to cut through the hurricane roof
She was struck with the axe but not seriously
wounded VIM. Taylor of st, Louis, was lost.
The body Was recovered from the stateroom.-
$1,000 in gold were found on him. Seventy en-
grants and twenty cabin passengers boarded
the NICK Wal! here. She had on board $50
souls, all OF whom it is supposed were lost ex
cept about 50 or 70. The disaster is the most
appalling that has occurred since the explosion
OF the Sultana in 1863