Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-16
DISASTER ON GHES.APEskE BAY.
SINKING OF THE sTM'R. LOUISIANA.

On Saturday morning the, splendid steamer
Louisiana, Capt W. R Mayo. oil the Bay Line
between Baltimore aud Norfolk, Va, was run
into Oh the way up w.le off Smiths Point,
in seven Iathym, water, by the steamship Fal-
coo. Capt. JOHN I. Haynic Of the Baltimore
and Charleston line, going out. The Louisiana
was s,rnck six feet forward Of the shaft, crush
ing through the wheelhouse and sunk ia about
threc.quarters of an hour. The passengers
City six il oumber. and the officers, crew aud
two cham bcrmads, marking one hundred and
twelve persons 10 all, together with the bag
gage. nails AID some furniture and express
| freight were safely transferred from the siuk.
ing stcau,cr to the Falcon, which returned with
them to Baltimore, arriving at about , D. H..
en- saturday.
The following statement is furnished the
Associated Press by Captain Mayo, OF the
! l. 'u!Eiara
LIFT Norfolk about 7:30 last night touched
al Old Puiur Comfort; took in passengers, aud
proceeded up the bay. 1t was beautiful star
| lignt night, and strong breeze was blowing
from the uorthward. | retired at II p ID.
Iiy rything was quiet uoti % Il. N. At this
hour was awakened by hearing my whistle
blown | Immediately arose; ran into the pilot
house, and Instantly heard a steamer blow two
whistles close aboard. looked out the port
window CT the pi!ot-hnuse and saw all the
lights Ola steamer steering Squarely for US. |
gave the order hard aport, and was told by the
wheesnau it was already hard aport. Then,
in the hope of steering her stern OF, gave the
order hard astarboard bat 10 five seconds be-
fore this order could be executed we were struck
amldships the collldlng steamer going into our
pUrt paddle box and maShlng large hole III
the port side, from which the Louisiana flied
up rapidly. The donkey engines were put TO
work at thoi. full capacity, but made DO effect
upon the leak. We eDdcavored to work the
main engine. but found it had been 81 jammcd
it was impossible to get it past the centre. We
were titus rendered helpless. called the crew
to quarters, cleared away the boats, aud began
lowering them to take of the passengers. At
this time tic Louisiana had between six and
seven feet OF water 10 the hold. L hailed the
c0lIldIoy steamer which proved to be the tal-
COZ, and r,qlc,teu her TO remain by US The
Facoo immediately came alongside, and all the
paSScugcra aud baggage were transferred to that
stea mcr. A hau>er Vas then passed 10 the
Falcon that she might tow Us to shoal water l
Iouud the water gaining rapidly, with eight TO
niue feet 10 the Mold, and concluded We could
not he lowed more than half u mile before sink
lag; endeavnrrd then 10 save as much as posi-
bic Of the furniture OF the main saloon, which
we did by working all hands; shortly aitelward
the hawscr parted and the Louisiana went
down hy the head in fOrtytwo feet Of water; at
the tiu;e OF the collision the Louisiana was
steauug fourteen miles per hour, and the Fa-
con nine to ten.
- Among the passengers were three ladies and
Commodore Patterson, Commodore Gro: b.,
Captain J. B. Creighton, Captain William u.
Tcmpc, Captain Fl. G. Blake, Captain 4 W.
Johnson, Lieutenant W. II. Emory United
States navy, Captain MacTlitou, United States
Marlne Corps, officers of the courr-martial at
Norfolk inquiIlus INFO the grounding Of the
steamer Brooklyn.
All passengers of the louisiana including
ladies. conducted themselves with the greatest
GOODNESS aud scltposscsSlou.
| The Louisiana was Il lavorltc steamer of the
Bay Line, Of 800 tons, and valued at $3.50, 900.
| No ilsurlnce. Her Cargo, which was lost, COZ
sisted Of 200 bales Of! cotton. large quantity of
tobacco, thirty tons OF pig iron, and other
| Freight.