Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-30
THE NICK WALL DISASTER.
ctapnle AeseanI y L.he seen,


A correspondent sends the following
graphic account of the Nick Wall disas-
ter to the ST. Louis Times: .,so.,
On Sunday night about ten o'clock
the boat struck snag, and soon began
to fill with water, In three minutes the
hurricane roof gave way,which, together
with the plows, wagon wheels, running
gear, barrels of beef and all above came
down upon the two hundred inmates Of
the steamer. Fortunately for the deck
passengers most of them had their beds
aft of the cabin and on the outer guards,
as the deck was soon filled with water,
and they would have been buried in the
water. Men leaped from the steamer,
and a number swan to the shore, a dis
tance of two hundred yards, and Others
perished in the attempt Large numbers
were crushed to death. Fortunately for
the saved the steamer Seminole was in
sight, and Captain Scott showed himself
a noble representative of his kind--gen-
erous and humane. The Seminole re-
ceived all the saved, and the captain and
his officers, with some of the officers and
other persons of the unfortunate steamer,
searched diligently and rescued many,
who we're extricated by having holes in
the hurricane roof cut over them, al
though there was danger with every
stroke that the AK would enter their
bodies. Being cut out they were lifted
through the aperture. In cutting out
from the wreck Captain Poe's wife, the
AK nenetrated her head. Mrs Poe will,
it is hoped, recover.
From the survivors we have gained a
terrible view of the dreadful calamity
Some were so tightly pressed between
the cabin floor and hurricane roof. with
parts of wagons, plows and other pom
derous articles over them, that they
could not move an inch without pain,
while half their bodies were in the chill
ing water, life fast ebbing away from loss
of blood and the freezing waters. While
many were commencing their souls to
God, never expecting to see their friends
again. alas for depraved humanity, Others
we're cursing. The citizens of the place,
with only few exceptions, evinced but
little sympathy for the suffering One
passenger, having on the boat property
to the amount of $4,000, insured, could
not get bed or any food, and, with an
acquaintance of mine, worth all of $780,
600, lived on crackers and rested on the
floor of a deserted house. From the best
information before us, after careful in
quiry, we believe seventy persons were
lost and one hundred persons were
saved One emigrant family found
- of 4lo;, ,up,bar 0opa No had
our trunks and some groceries on the
ill-fated steamer Having business at
Memphis for few hours, we escaped
the fate of the many. Taking passage
on the Magenta we came to the wreck
after tile Seminole had taken such excel
lent care of the survivors. Those wish
ing to go to Vicksburg were well cared
for by Captain Neal, and even after land
ing at Vicksburg he kept several on his
steamer to the mouth of Red river, the
majority having nothing to pay. We
learn that Captain Poe returned part
of the passage money to the Survivors,
and we are anxious to make the record
in justice to Captain Poe and the Carter
line. Very generously and nobly did
Can't. Scott of the Seminole and Capt.
Neal of the Magenta act, giving time,
food and free passage to the unfortunates.
As we passed the wreck the roof of the
pilot house was all that was visible, and
here we saw some heart-broken survivors
still at work in the chilling waters trying
to find the bodies of the loved and lost.
On the Magenta were some who had been
badly burned and mangled. One mother
was saved with her babe of two months
of age. We sat by her, listening to her
sad tale, and the tears fall fast as she
relates the wonderful story of her rescue.
Another lady is scalded and suffering SO
much that she can hardly survive.