The People's vindicator., 1878-12-14
THE COTTON VALLEY.
Statement of MIR. Luchini.
Scenes and Incidents not brought to
light by Inspectors Examinations.
LOUD DEMAND FOR JUDICIAL
COGNIZANCE.

Our Reporter learning of the arri-
val of Mr.. Luchini, who was pas
senger on board the Cotton Valley at
the time of her wrecking, paid him a
visit and CLEANED the following state
ment regarding the collision, and
subsequent loss of life:
Mr.. Lucllini states, that at 4 o'clock
in the morning he was awakened
from his sleep by loud crashing
noise, something like the breaking of
timber; being an old "tar' he was
satisfied that there was danger in
sight. He jumped out of bed aud
opened both doors of his stateroom,
rushed out on the larboard side, and
saw the Charles Morgan near tho
Cotton Valley. He leaned over and
saw that the guard about midship to
the stern of the Cotton Valley was all
torn off. Upon seeing this, lie eqiup-
ped himself with life-preserver, put
on bis pants and gathered up what
baggage he had in the room and went
up on the hurricane roof. When on
the roof he saw the bow of the Nor
gan was tapping with that of the
Cotton Valley. A line was thrown
from the Morgan to the Cotton VAL
ley, and, the deck hands instead of
making it fast to the ill-fated steam
er, made use of it to get aboard the
Morgan.
If the officers of the Morgan had
lowered the stage plank to the roof
of the Valley, the passengers could
all have been saved, as they could
have walked aboard of the Morgan
without wetting their feet. The
Morgan was in position to have done
this fully for five minutes.
At this moment Capt. Mark Kouns,
with his family and some others, took
the yawl and went ashore, and was
not seen again. He could not tell
whether Capt. Kouus had time to get
back before the steamer sank or not.
After Capt. Kouns left Us, the steam
or commenced to sink gradually, the
bow going down and the stern ring.
There were 90 or 25 persons, to the
best of his recollection, standin1 on
the stern of the boat as the bow was
going under, following to the officers
of tho Morgan to send the yawl. The
Morgan was then about 25 to 40 yards
from the wreck, with her bow up
stream toward the Cotton Valley.
They never sent the yawl or came
any nearer. From the time of the
collision to the time the steamer
sank was fully 20 minutes.
Alady and gentleman in their night
clothes were standing at the stern of
the boat, locked arms, and through
excitement we're going to jump over
the wheel. Just as they we're in the
act of doing so, Mr.. Luchini placed
his hand on the gentleman and told
him, if they attempted that, they
would meet sure death. 1.-THE gen.
tleman then said, ~ sec you have a
life -preserver, will you save my
wife 7" He replied, ~ will do all l
can, provided she will keep quiet and
not get excited"
Tho occurrences from this time we
give in Mr.. Luchini's own words.
then told the lady to take hold Of
| the life. .preserver on my left side she
did as l advised her. Just as soon as
the water was ankle deep on
the hurricane roof, l started ofl
swimming with her, and her bus-
band holding to her gown. l swan
as fast as could toward the Morgan.
At the stern of the Morgan hung a
yawl about six inches above the wa.
ter. called for them to lower down
the yawl, but no attention was paid
me. heard . voice from the Morgan
ssying, "Go Ashore" and l swan
under the yawl. l continued swim
| ming down the river 3 or 400 yards,