Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-05
TIE MISSISSIPPI DISASTER.
Sinking OF the steamer Nick wan


sengers Of the Nick Wall gives the fol-
lowing details of the accident to that
boat, on Sunday night, that resulted in
the death Of over one hundred passen-
gers: The Wall struck the snag at 1870
On the night named, and sunk in less
shan 80 minutes in ten feet of water.
Her hurricane roof falling In, from the
immense weight thereon, made Prison
ers Of her cabin passengers, thereby
preventing their escape Mr. Monti
Huetler, the passenger mentioned,
states that, at the time named, eight or
fen cabin passengers were sitting about
a stove, when the felt the shock. He
then ran ont the front door of the cab
n, and was about TO return when the
cabin roof caved in, dashing barrels,
wagons, plows, and other articles into
the cabin, where everybody had rushed
who could get out of their staterooms.
Mr.. Huetler's statement is as follows:
Was thrown against the smoke stack on
the starboaTd side, as she was then fall
ing on the larboard side; was twice
pulled back by tie hair and third at
tempt was made; some one caught me
by the feet IN the struggle to save them
selves and pulled my shoes off: finally
managed TO gain the hurricane deck,
and there saw no earthly chance of es-
cape, as the roof was by this time
crowded, everyone seeking something
On which TO float; the boat was by this
time under water, nothing remaining
out but the hurricane roof and the pilot
house; the wreck was still floating down
the river; we did not know what mo-
ment she would sink; women were
screaming for their husbands and
children for their parents. Just
as we thought al hopes past we saw the
lights OF boat coming up the river,
and every one that could shouted for as
sistanee; James Vandervoorst, assis-
tant pilot, LIT a piece of paper in the
pilot house and showed it as a signal
OF distress. In about fifteen minutes a
friendly boat foated ongside aud
made fast to the wreck, when staging
was thrown out, and all that were able
got on board the Seminole. After the
seminole came alongside, Vandervoost
and Richard Dill, porter of the ill-fated
steamer, cut through the hurricane
roof and found Mrs. Poe, the Captains
VIE, wedged among a lot of barrels,
boxes, and other freight. She was
brought into the cabin of the Seminole,
and, after great exertions, showed
llgns OF life, and Is now doing well
the dead were then brought In. and the
scene beggars description. There were
about twenty-five killed; cannot tell
how many were wounded. Mr.. Taylor,
from some part of Missouri, who was
rooming with me, is among the dead.
He retired about five minutes before
the accident happened A gentleman
With his wife, daughter and son-in-law,
the lest two named only marr1ed few
days, are among the dead they intend
ed to get OF about one mile below. The
wreck Of the Wall hes aground about
four miles below Worthton's Point,
where she struck The number of
lives lost by this terrible acct
dent cannot be accurately ascertained,
sixty or more deck passengers went on
board at this place. Several of these,
n the midst of the terror of the scene,
ieaped overheard, and were drowned.
Many we're taken out of the water by
hfe-boats Of the Seminole. Passengers
say that the Seminole, Captain Mont
gomery, came up to the wreck and
touched 1t so light and gently that there
was not the slightest perceptible shock.
Then her ife-boats almost immediately
surrounded the Nick Wall. Captain
Montgomery not only exhibited cool
ness and skill, but his kindness and
generosity were boundless.
The steamer Pargoud passed the
wreck OF the Nick Wall about two
hours alter she was wrecked, and the
captain, officers and crew rendered the
unfortunate people taken from the Wall
every possible kindness. Those going
down the river were taken by the Par
goud to their destination.
The names of the saved are as fol-
lows: Thomas j. Robinson, Ga; w.
L. Spraybery, Ga; Samuel W. Scat
lan, Hugh Thomson, st. Louis; Viii
liam V. Eyans, Kansas City, No.; j.
w. Monton, Madison county, Ala; Au-
gust Kass, Emilie Jess, Chicago, I'LL.
z w. Feasal, ST. Charles, No.. r. w.
Baldin, st. Louis; William Boyd, st.
Louis; J. r. Bowers, G. Fl. Bowers,
L. J. Bowers, Mrs. N ID. Bowers,
Miss H. E. Bowers, r. d. Bowers,
Cherokee County, Ala. VIM. NJ Smith,
Ga; w. b. Smith, Ca; E. NJ. Rolater,
T. s. Rolater, II. J. Rolater, Ala; p.
Whesenant, Mary Whesenant, Arinda
Whesenant, Litaeton Whesenant,
Nancy Whesenant, VIM. Whesenant,
Rhoda whesenant, Virey Whesenant,
Hundreds .Whesenant, Ala; W. A.
Bowers, Love Bowers, Ala; Lubrina
Harris, Emma Harris, Newton Harris,
J. L. Sprayberry, Cherokee County,
Ala; J. H. Johnson, Titus County,
Texas; Samuel Lyon, Engineer ):
Geoorge Aushutz, Engineer; John
William Roe, Clerk, Georgetown,
Penn; James McHafie, steward,
Georgetown, Pa, w. II Laughlin, cab
IN boy, g. f. Farsrow, Chicago; Cort.
Kramer, Chicago; A. l.. McGinnis,
Robert Bratter, deck passengers; Ed
ward Foot, cook; ID. Mack, wife and
child, Milwaukee; Charles West, Mar
TN Peddy, William DeStea, James
Beats, fremen; Ellen l.. Waldrop, pas
senger; Mrs. s. HaItzman, cook: III. @. |
Lyon, second clerk, Alton, ILL.,; Thos.
Poe, master; George Halfway, Jones'
boro, Clayton county, Georgia; Charles
u Scott, pilot; Elisha B. Watson, car
penter, st. Louis; Richard G. Dill, por-
ter. ST. Louis; James L. Wander
wort, Missouri river pilot, st. Louis;
H. H. Hinton, Henry county, Georgia;
Monte Huetler, st. Louis; VIM. H. Pres
ton and J. Ill. Robinson, Henry county.
Georgia; w. Hansmon, F. Smidt, John
Beck, Christian Christopher, John M.
Hallstron, Anna Halstron, Fl. w. H.
kenar, Chicago; G.. w. Y. Streedman
and family, and c. w. Dodd and family,
Georgia; j. L. Butler, Fayette county;
James L. Chambers, Allegheny City, L
Pa; James @. Price, Robert Schelle
and James W. Bates, st. Louis
In extricating Mrs. Poe, an axe had
10 be used to cut through the hurricane
roof. She was struck with the axe, but
not serious wounded.
VIM. Taylor, of &. Louis, was lost, .
md being recove-ed from his state !
Dom, 81, 200 In goli was found on him. :
Seventy emigrants and twenty cabin
Passengers boarded the Nick Wall here.
he he'd on board $50 souls. all of G