The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-01-05
THE MISSISSIPPI DISASTER.

THE MISSISSIPPI DISASTER. |
Sinking of the Steamer Mick Wall
= Loss Of Over a Hundred Lives.
One of the passengers Of the Nick
Wall gives the following details=ef the
accident to the boat, on Sunday night,
theAlSth, that reculted in the death of
over 1e0 passengers:=Yhes Wall struck
she snag. at 1890 p. M, and sunk in
less than 40 minutes in ten feet of water.
Her hurricane soon falling In, from the
immense weight thereon, made prison
ers of her cabin passengers, thereby
preventing their escape. Mr.. Mouti
Heutler,- the passenger mentioned, states
that, at the time named, eight or ten
cabin passengers were sitting about
stove, when they felt the shock. He
then ran out of the front door of the
cabin, 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 get out Of their state rooms.
Mr.. Heutler's statement is as follows:
was thrown against the smoke stack on
the starboard side, as she was then fall
ling on the larboard side; was twice
pulled back by the hair. and third at
tempt was make some 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 escape,
as the roof was by this time crowded,
everyone seeking, something on which to
float the boat 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 moment she would sink
women were screaming for their hus-
bands and children for their parents
Just as we thought all hopes past we saw
the lights of q boat coming up the river,
and everyone that could, shouted for as
sistance. James Vandervoorst, assistant
pilot, lit a piece of paper in the pilot
house and showed, it as signal of dis
tress. In about fifteen minutes friend
ly boat foated alongside and 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 Inflated steamer, cut thro'
the hurricane roof and found Mrs. Poe,
the Captains wife, wedged among lot
of barrels, boxes, and other freight. 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 brought in, and the scene beg.
CARS description There were about
twenty-five killed cannot tell how manp
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 and his wife,
daughter and son in-law, the last two
named only married few days, are
among the dead; they intended to get off
about one mile below The wreck of the
Wall lies aground about four miles below
Worthton's Point, where she struck
The number Of lives lost by this terrible
accident cannot be accurately ascertained;
sixt 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
life boats Of the Siminole. Passengers
say that the Seminole, Captain. Mont
gomery, came up to the wreck, and touch
ed it SO light and gently that there was
lot the slightest perceptible shock. Then
her Gfe-boats almost Immediately sur
rounded the Nick Wall. Captain Mont
gomery not only exhibited GOODNESS and
skill, but his kindness and generosity
were boundless.
The steamer Pargond passed the
wreck of the Nick Wall about two hours
after she was wrecked. and the captain,
officers and crew rendered the unfortu-
nate people taken from the Wall every
possible kindness. Those going down
the river were taken by the Pargood to
their destination.
The Nick Wall Is now at Memphis.
She had on board $50 souls, of whom
over 100 were lost The disaster is the
most appalling that has occurred since
| the explosion of the Sultana, in 1865.
THE Chinese are indeed barbarous
and unprincipled race. How bad they