Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-27
The Nick Wall Horror.

Passengers VINO arrived at Memphis last
night from below, among whom is one of
the passengers of the Nick Wall, give the
following details of the accident to that boat
on Sunday night, which resulted in the death
OF over ope hundred passengers, The Wall
struck the snag at half-past ten: on the nigh
named aud sunk In less than teu.minutes in
forty teet. Of water. Her hurricane roof
falling in from the immense weight thereon
made prisoners Of the cabin passengers,
thereby preventing their escape, MIR. Monte
butcher, the passenger mentioned, states that
at the fine named eight or Ten passengers
were sitting about the stove when they felt the
shock. He then ran out OF the door. OF the
cabin and was about to return when the cabin
root caVed in,' dashing barrels, wagons ploughs
and other articles into the cabin, where every
body had rushed who could get ont .ot their
state-roomS Mr. Montehucher's siurtber
statement is as follows II was thrown against
the smokestack on starboard side; L was twice
pulled back by the hair, and, 10 the third at
tempt made, some one caught me by the feet,
in the struggle to save himself, and pulled my
shoes off, finally managed to gain the hurri
cane deck, and then saw no earthly chance Tor
escape, as the roof was by this time crowded,
and every one was seeking for something on
which to float. The boat was by this time
under the water nothing remained 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 screaming for husbands and chill
dren, and children ior parents. Just as we
thought ali hopes were gone we saw the lights
OF. a boat coming up tho river, and every one
that could shouted for assistance. James
Vendervorst, assistant pilot lighted piece
of paper in t he pilot house, showing it as
signal of distncss. In about fifteen minutes
the friendly boat Hoated alongside and made
fast to the wreck, when staging was thrown
out and all that we're able got on board the
Seminole, After she came alongside Wander
worst and Richard Dil the porter OF the. i'll
tated steamer, cut through the hurricane root
and found Mrs Roc, the captain S wife. wedg
ed 10 among lot OF barrels, boxes, &c. She
was brought into the cabin OF the Seminole,
aud after great exertions showed signs OF lite
and is now doing we'll. The dead were then
brought in. lhe scene beggars description.
There were about twenty five killed, bu. L
cannot tell how many we're wounced. MT.
Taylor, from some par. OF Missouri, wh" ~aI
roolning With me, is among the dead. lie had
retired about five minutes before the accident
hanrcrea. A gentleman, with his daughter.
and sou-in-law, the last TWO just married, are
smoug The dead. They intended TO get otf
about one mile below the wreck. The Nick
Wall lies aground about four miles below
Worthon Point, where she struck. The mum
her OF lives lest by tho accident cannot be as
cerained. Sixts nr-nloEe deck passengers went;
On board OF :thi. place. Several df these, In
the midst of tho .terrari Of the scene, leaped
overheard and were drowned (! jNiany were
taken from the water by }ies boats The Sem
mole passengers say that Captain Montgomery
came up to the wreck and touched 1t so lightly
and gently that th ere waanut the slIg htest per
ceptibe shock The litehoats almost lmmedi-.
a,ely surrounded tho Nick Wall. The steamer
Paragon passed the wreck OF Nick Wail about
twobours after the accident orturfed, and the
captain, officers and crew rendered the unfor-
tunato people taken from the wreck every pos .
sibe kiudness., Those ,goipgt down the river:
were taken by the Paragon to their destinations. "
In extricaling Mrs Roo an axe had to be
used to cut through the hurricane roof She
was struck With the axe, but not seriously
wounded Seventy emigrants and twenty
cabin passengers boarded the Nick Wall here: :
She had on board $50 souls. The disaster Is
The most appalling one that has occurred since
the explosion OF the SuItaDa in 1868. Among
the lost vas bridal party that got on here;
Correspondent Boston 1meS.
THE New CATTLE DISEASE. two
weeks ago Mr.. j. A. Newell, .os Dover. Mass
purchased two COWS at Brghtou. Now his
whole stock of eight are sick with the foot dis
case; Thomas J. Damon, esq, OF Wayland,
has lost 90 head in the same way By the same
cause. Maynard Thoia has number OF
cattle affected with it, The town OF Mcadon
has forty cases Tie disc ase is contagious.
and the milk .. diseased co%s Is dangerous tor
man or beast.
ORANGE, ALEXANDRIA AND MAN