The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-25
LOSS OF THE HENRY AMEs.

LOSS OF THE HENRY AMES.
THE SINKING OF THE STEAMER HENRY AMEs
"A BISHOPS PRAYER WHILE THE BOAT Is
GOING DowN-A CowARDLY CREW.
The New Orleans Picayune of the 11th
inst. gives the following particulars of the
destruction Of Mississippi steamer: From
several of the passengers on board the I'M
fortunate steamer Henry Ames, that sank
near Waterproof on Friday last, we get
fuller and more graphic pictures of the
disaster, which seems, on closer inspection,
to have been much more serious and fatal
than either telegraph or mail described it.
Thesteamer Henry Ames. of the New Or
leans and st. Louis Combination Line, left
st. Louis last week with one of the largest
loads ever carried on the river. The steam
er was literally packed with freight of every
kind-grain, pork and flour. She carried
over 800 tons. The lower deck was en-
tirely filled; so was the hurricane deck and
roof. Not only this, but the Ames had a
large barge in tow loaded, or rather over
loaded. with freight. This barge proved a
serious inconvenience to the Ames. just
above Osceola she dragged the steamer on the
bar, where they both stuck. There they re-
manned three days trying to pull off. The
barge got strained aud lsaky. and almost the
entire cargo OF oats had 10 be thrown off to
save her. At Vicksburg the barge was
found still sinking, and her. freight
was accordingly transferred to the
Ames. With this addition she sank
below the water; the whole under deck
was subject to overflow, and the passen-
gers, in moving about. had to walk on
planks. At Rodney, Miss, the steamer was
in a very bad condition, and seemed sinking
even then. The officers apparently knew
there was little hope for her. They were
told at Rodney that the vessel could never
get down to New Orleans loaded as she was.
A passenger heard A conversation between
the engineer and carpenter in which these
two agreed that the vessel was
INA pANcERo is CONDITION,
liable to sink az any time; they hoped, how
ever, that she would be able to reach Natchez
safely, when some provision for the future
would be made. At 1920 o'clock Friday
night, the Ames tried to land at Waterproof
La; the vessel could not land; the current
threw her entirely around, the freight ran
over on one side, and thus, lop-sided
with the wheel entirely ont OF
the water, the Ames drifted slowly
down the river. The people on shori
| cried, sStrike for the barr The boat, for
| tunately reached the bar, sinking more and
more as she went. The passengers were
bthen awakened and called by the roust-
abouts, who screamed that the "boat was
sinking" This was apparent. The passen-
gers rushed on deck wildly; there they
| found most of the crew assembled. In the
cabin was a frightfui scene of confusion: the
room was halffu of water, and the freight
placed out on the deck rushed through
| from side to side, smashing everything it
came in contact with. A lady remained in
the cabin, and it required immense induce
i ments and entreaties to get her on deck.
The officers on deck were observed making
vigorous preparations for their own safety,
The clerk, the steward and others had each
| several life preservers, and seemed very anx-
/ ious to get on shore. The first yawl was
| overcrowdedo with so persons-1O rousta-
bouts and 20 passengers. It had only got
a few yards from the boat when it sank
down from the weight in 1t. OF the persons
] on board at least ten were drowned-a wo-
| man and child, five roustabouts and three
Cinnamon. Bishop Elder, of the Methodist
/ Church, called prayer meeting on boari
the vessel, where the prayers of the frightened
4 passengers were heard mingled with the gruf
curses of the first mate and the head clerk
i The second yawl left the boat and reached
shore safely. The officers tben had theil
1 baggage transferred. They were quite
lucky, as they did not lose a shirt collar
while other people lost everything. One
boy was observed in the water, crying
Goodbye, mother, Pm gone" He sunk
before assistance could be rendered. There
were seven Cinnamon aboard, three O
whom were supposed to have sunk, as they
i were
NOT HEARD OF AFTERwARD.
A youth named Edward Doulan, of this
city, was also known to have beer
lost; also lady and child. None of the
crew were drowned, although severa
of the roustabouts lost their lives
The Yeager arrived the same night, and
lay next to the Ames, trying to render some
assistance. The Katie took quite number
Of the passengers to Vjcksburg. At Water
proof the passengers say they were splendid
! ly treated. Warm clothing, lodging and
plenty to eat and drink was furnished them
No provision was made for the wrecked pas
sengers by the officers. They were, how.
| ever, brought down by the Lee, Capt. Camp.
] bell, free of charge. On Saturday morning
i the Ames was described as a perfect wreck
Almost all OF the passengers lost theil
trunks, and those who recovered them
found nothing inside. We have had
disasters in countless numbers since
navigation on the Mississippi was in
augurated, and the annals of heroism have
no fairer chapters than those which chroni-
Gle the daring, the devotion and the martyr
dom of the steamboatmen but this one
seems to be unilluminated by q single ray
of tSat characteristic brightness, and against
the human lives thus sacrificed, we are thus
/ immolation. We cannot regard it as q stig-
ma on the fraternity-rather as one OF those
enormities which all true steamboatmen will
iOin us i'm denIOring q