New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-25
TERRORs OF TIE DEEP
THE 1EL.FArkD NICK WALL
Thirty-Nine Lives Lost
FULL PARTICULARS OF raE DISASTER
lyron tho Memphis SON sf Yriday.s

Prom She Memphis SON Of 1rdav.s
A passenger On the ill-fated steamer Nick
Walt reached the city last evening, on
board the Commonwealth. From him we
learn the full particulars Of tho terrible
disaster near Grand Lake, on Sunday night.
At five o'clock P. H., Saturday, the Nick
Wall left our wharf for Shreveport, Louisi-
ana, commanded by Captain Poe. Several
passengers were taken aboard from this
point, and number of deck-hands. Az the
boat showed Oft, it was noticed that she was
heavily loaded with St. LouN freight, tho
roof being literally covered with empty
pork barrels, wagons and farming imple-
ments. The beat, notwithstanding her
heavy load, moved rapidly toward the
point Of her destination. and promised Q
prosperous trip, and pleasant one 70 the
passengers.
fierce storm was raging, and when about one
hundred miles this side of Vicksburg, the
pilot, in attempting to follew the channel,
which at that point ran close up to the
bank, discovered q snag, and SO informed
the captain. He then used every effort 70
back the boat off, but the wind was go
strong as to force her on to II, and In o few
moments the passengers, some Of whom
had retired, while others sat in the cabin,
were startled by q jar, which, in the
sensation similar 10 that Of q boat rolling
from log. Our informant, Mr.. Monte
Hutzler, rushed out on the boiler deck, as
did also many other passengers, but being
reassured by the quietude that feigned
around, he coelly drew his pipe from his
pocket, lighted it, and returned to the cabin.
The momentary stillness, however, was
Scarcely had he reached the cabin when he
heard q noise % of the crashing Of roof.
Alarmed at his evident. danger he again
rushed out upon the boiler deok and in
another moment he found himself wedSed in
between the smoke stack and the freight,
which was heaped around him. Struggling
in the darkness he discovered overhead q
hole in the roof, aQd through this he at
tempted to escapeto the roof. Reaching
and was about to lift himself out, VIII en- he
was caught by the hair BY o Gruggling fcl-
low-being, and jerked violently back.
Again Mr.. Hutzler attempted to draw him
self up through the opening of the roof and
again was he thrown back by the doomed
passengers who slnng to him in the hope Of
freeing themselves.
A third tune he made the attempt to es-
cape, and third time the iron gra<p of
hands that were soon 70 be nerveless
clutched his feet and we're about to drag
him to certain death. Fortunately, how
ever, he wore clippers, and these giving way
permitted him to draw himself to the roof.
One moment more and it would have been
forever too late.
The water was fast rising 70 the roof, and
when he had obtained . fOothold the waves
were already sweeping the larboard side,
and the only portions Of the boat visible
were the pilot house and portion Of the
root. About fifty persons had already
gained the roof, and the greatest excitement
prevailed. Men, women and children ran
here and there, praying, cursing, screaming,
CRYING for help amid the utmost confusion.
Every one seemed to have despaired Of life,
and terror seemed to reign in every heart
Some rent their garments, tore their hair.
some with lips tightly compressed muttered
an inward prayer, and three poor Germans,
sank beneath the waves Amidst all their
terror and dismay the boat hoated slowly
down the river about one hundred yards,
when the Seminole, from New Orleans.
bound for White river, hove in sight, and
the cry of " Saved, saved" went up from
prayerful lips till the joyful sound was
echoed from far and wide. Fifteen minutes
later the passengers and crew, who stood
on the roof Of the doomed boat, would, in all
human probability have been beyond mortal
assistance. A few minutes later a1d the story
of the wreck might never have been told.
As soon az the officers of the Seminole
| aaw the wreck of the ill-fated Wall, they
| made all haste to reach the sufferers, and
coming up threw out her rope and fastened
| to the hog chain Of the Wall, and sent out
the gang planks. Scarcely could the terror
stricken survivors of the wreck await the
LAYING Of the planks. 80 eager were they to
free themselves from the sinking boat. In
few minutes, however, they were all
safely on board; and the Efe-boats Of the
Seminole were plying around the wreck en-
deavOring to save human lives. OF one
hundred and fifty persons on board, il il
known that thirty-nine lives were lost, and
| it is difficult to say how many more. OF
the number known to be lost nine were
cabin passengers, and thirty deck passen-
gers and crew.
A bridal party. consisting of O husband
and wife, but two days married, and the
brides mother and father, were on board
ank within half mile Of their destination,
! Bernard's Landing, when the accident 90
Cured Not one Of them was saved.
Mrs. Poe, wife of Captain Poe, Of the
| Wall, had retired to her staterocm, and
perhaps fallen asleep. Search was made
| for everywhere.
| After the Seminole came up, and when
| the Captain learned that she was probably
| in her state-room, axes were procured and
| the roof cut away when the dead body, az
1