Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-11-24
CAPTAIN MAYo's STATEMENT.

Captain Wyndham r. Mayo, of the
sunken steamship, makes the follow
ing statement in regard to the collis-
ION: The Louisiana left Norfolk
about 7.3O on Friday night touched
at Old Point Comfort /; took in passen-
gers and proceeded up the bay. it
was a beautiful starlight night, and
strong breeze was blowing from the
northward. l retired at ii p. IN. At
about l:l0 q. M was aroused by the
whistle of the Louisiana and came on
deck. jacob KirWan, the first mate,
with the wheelsman, Henry Williams,
were in the pilOt-house, George w.
Wheeler was on the lookout, and two
men were on the watch. The passen-
gers were asleep and the LOuisiana's
lights were all burning. Heard a
steamer blow two whistles close ahead.
Everything was quiet until LIS a. m.
l looked out the port window of the
pilOt-house and saw all the lights of
steamer steering squarely for us. i
gave the order hard aport, and was
told by the wheelsman it was hard
apart. Then, in hopes of steering her
stern off. gave the order hard astar-
board, but in five seconds before this
amidships, the colliding steamer going
into our port paddle-box and MASKING
a large hole in the port side, from
which the Louisiana filled up rapidly.
We endeavOred to work the main Ell
engine, but found il had been so jammed
it was impossible to get it past the CELL
tire. We were thus rendered helpless.
l called the crew to quarters, cleared
away the boats, and began lowering
them to take off the passengers. AT
twenty minutes after striking the Lou
isiana had between six and seven feet
of water in the hold. l hailed the col
liding steamer, which proved to be
the Falcon, and requested her to re-
main by us. The Falcon immediate
~ came alongside, and all the Passen-
gers and baggage were transferred TO
that steamer. A hawser was then pass
ed to the Falcon that she might tow us
to shoal water. went down to exam
inc the leak again, and found the wa
ter gaining rapidly, with eight to nine
feet in the bold, and concluded we
eauId be flowed more than half a mile
before sinking. endeavOred then to
save as much as possible of the furnl-
ture Of the main saloon, which we dl%
by working all hands. Shortly after
ward the hawser parted, and the
Louisiana went down by the head In
forty-four feet of water. At the time
of the catastrophe the Louisiana was
steamiI.g at the rate of thirteen miles
Der hour and the Falcon nine TO ten.
There was room for the entire Brit
ish navy to pass and repass where THIS
happened. After we were struck the
passengers all behaved admirably, ana
the only case of any alarm was on the
part of a blind soldier, who was afraid
he would be left and continued crying
out, "Do not forget me; am DIlndi
help me, for Heavens sake" DC. we
had time to go below, and tried, by
shifting the cargo to one side. to throw
the injured part up out OF water, but
If was no use; the hole in the side was
too much for US. From the time we
struck until the boat sunk 1t was
about three quarters of an hour or an
hour. and the sinking took place ten
minutes after left her, and while she
was being lowed to the shore. when
her hawser parted she went down DOW
foremost ia seven fathoms OF water
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLLISION.
The question of responsibility ana
liability for damages will have 10 oe
determined in court, and suit IN ad-
miralty will be entered at once py o
Wilmer, attorney at law, counseI lor
the Bay line. The case will turn up