The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-12-10
The Cotton Valley Disaster.

The Cotton Valley Disaster.
Details of the Fatal COllision--The
Steamer Sinking in Fifteen Min
utes After the Crash--Unanswered
Cries For Help.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec, 2.-The steamer
Cotton Valley, which was sunk Sunday
morning about three miles below Don
aldsonvlle, was on her first trip to Red
River. The Cotton Valley at the time of
the collision had stopped her engines,
hut was under the influence of the wind.
The night was dark, the wind was blow
ing gale and tberain was pouring down
in torrents. The engines of the Valley
were completely disabled by the blow,
and the boat began speedily to settle
down. The Cotton Valley sank out OF
sight in about fteen minutes after Ahe
accident The epassengers were in their
staterooms, and the officers and crew not
on watch we're asleep. When the reality
Of their danger became known the ut
most confusion followed. Calls were
made to the Morgan for help. A line
was thrown from the Morgan, but it fell
short, and the Morgan rapidly drifted
away. The accident was 80 sudden, the
storm 80 violent and the confusion so
great that little seems to have been done
toward saving human life.
RoUsTABoUTs DROWNED.
The roustabouts of the Valley seized
upon the yawl OF their stermer and al.
tempted to save themselves, leaving the
passengers to their fate; but those in the
yawl soon sunk her and they in al proba.
bilitv were lost.
When the steamer sank the passen.
! gers endeavored to save tbemselvcs-sby
clinging to such boxes or bales as were
finated off from the steamer. 1t seems
pretty certain that the only passenger
lost was Miss Sanford, from Loudon
city, Va. This young lady was told to
save herself. but stopped to dress and so
found water grave. Her aunt, who
was with her, was saved. The last that
was seen Of the poor girl she was stand
ing in her night dress calling pitiouslv
for assistance Her long hair was
streaming in the storm, while her thin
garments, wet with the rain, clung close.
ly about her. She wss told to jump,
but seemed paralyzed by fear and made
no effort to save herself, and while she
was calling for aid and before it could
reach her the steamer gave lunch and a
plunge forward, and the dark waters
closed over the poor girl forever.
SCENE OF TERROR:
1t is said the scene was one beyond
description. On all sides could be heard
the most piteous cries for assistance
from those who were drowning. Some
good swimmers attempted to reach the
shore, but we're swept out by the rapid
current of the river to death. Amid the
wild confusion that prevailed the implor
ing cries oftwo children could be distinct
ly heard. These appeals came from the
children of the captain of the unfortunate
steamer. Their cries were answered and
they were saved. Mrs. n. L. Sanford
the aunt of tue young lady who was lost
was saved through her own exertions
swimming to the opposite shore, a dis
tance Of fully halt mile. One poo
fellow who was lost was seen clinging to
barrel
WHO WAS TO BLAME?
The officers of the Valley place th'
blame of the disaster to the Morgan. i
is SAID that this steamer should have KEEP
to the right, which it failed to do; hence
the collision. 8
Some twelve or fifteen roustabout'
and three or four cabin boys are missing
and these are supposed TO be lost.
CONDUCT OF THE CAPTAIN,
Captain W. H. Kouns, of the unfor
tunate steamer, seems to have acted will
great GOODNESS. He had everybody call
ed out of the cabins, and had some OF tn,
boats manned as quickly as possible, ant
by this means saved every person b.
could. H ee f9
| OFFICERS SAVED.
The clerk of the Valley swan ashore
but was SO numbed by exposure in th
water that he could not walk. One o
the roustabouts who was among tn
saved carried him on his shoulders ant
took him abroad of the Morgan. Cap
tain A. G. Swain, one Of the pilots
saved himself by clinging to box o
shoes, placing his arms over the top 0
each, and in this way drifted for tw'
hours, when he was carried to the oppo
site shore. When the boat went dow
he was carried under and remained ther
so long that he gave himself up as lost
His escape seems almost miraculous.