The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-02

barkeeper of the Charles Morgan. said "About
half after O'Clock | was awakened by tho
va" t"hman. heard the whistle blow, and the
Morgan was backing on both wheels. The first
time went down we pushed n stage plank oyer
and threw rope to their boat but they failed
f2 ng naeh II Two men men that TsF9 In the river
The river was full rf boxes. men. women and
children Tho captain. his wife and two
were rescued by our yawl: boat 1T was raining
very hard and 1t was also very dark. The wind
blew q perfect, hurricane and as they failed
blown away from them. After the wind blew
us away 1t was impossible for us to get back to
them aud Ue went 10 shore and waited for day
light.
When daylight dawned Wa brought all Of The
survivors on board ana did everything in our
power 10 mako them comfortable by furnishing
them wig food. clothing, etG. ! myself lust
furnished them with nil the liquor that rhsy
wanted for both internal and external pur-
poses.
The scene was terrible ono The rivor vas
full II boxes and human beings grabbing at
every stray that foated by. / never wish to
witness such q scene again.
The. shock Of tho collision was very slight.
When | fet T. thought our boat was push
ing into shore"
j CAPT. ALBERT STEIN,
commanding the Chas. Morgan seemed very
reticent about making q Statements He said
that he had q board Of inspectors t&Sive testi-
mony before. and did not care about making
statement to newspaper reporter: He took
the whole mater very calmly. aud informed the
reporter that O bad better wait until the r. T.
Lee came In and interview the captain Of the
Cotton Valley. who would be down on her; that
is. IL the reporter was exceedingly anxious TO
get n s,siA msnt.
He hs.i went on to say that il the reporter did
not care about that he could come down to-
morrow. meaning to day. and perhaps he then
might be able to learn some particulars Of the
collision, Here friend Of the CAPTAINS broke
the reporter by saying. It's MIRACULOUS how that
old lady was saved but she reacSed the shore
with those waves, and they rolled mighty high.
but she beat them and is still! !'aItse. Why. her
head was as white as cotton bale Thought.
any way. she would die from sxposurs but ahs
has wonderful constitution. We'll / am
mighty glad shs is saved"
4 he next man the reporter interviewed was
James Mmms. He was the night watchman Of
the boat, and was on watch at the time. He saw
everything. knew everything. and could tell q
thrilling story If he wanted to. but said he was
" Considering you know all about It, and saw
everything" replied the reporter. tell me. did
yoq run into the Cotton Valley or did the Cotton
"Idon't want to talk" responded Mlmms
Reporter Then you decline to be intsrviswsdt
Minms-Yes, do. | don't propose to say
Mimms then walked away putting his pipe.
JESSE ErDGELY
was the next rerson stumbled against, and hs
II am deck hand on the Morgan was on
watch at the time. We were bound down the
river and the Cotton Valley was coming up Tho
Cotton Valley did not blow a whistle. Our boat
blew whistle for both boats 10 back. The Cot
ton Valley never answered the signal. Our first
mate ran on the roof and notified the pilot that
a boat was coming right for US. Whistles were
then blown for both boats TO back. and the Nor
gan started 10 back The collision then ocenr
red. and tho Cotton Valley went down ten min
utes after shec was struck. I have been on the
river twenty years but never saw such a sight
In my life before. Some Of the crew we're res
cued alive, but died afterwards from ex posure,"
SYLVESTER DORSEY.
one OF the pilots Of the Morgan. was seen and