Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-23
A RIVER DISASTER.
The Steamer James W. CAT Sinks
in the Ohio River at Hawes.
Vile, KeAtucky-Un-
der the Water.

The Memphis and Cincinnati Packet
Company's steamer James W. Gaf, Cap
tain Robert w. Wise master, sunk yes
terday afternoon in the Ohio river, about
seventy miles below Louisville and 100
miles above Evansville, Indiana. A
telegram from Cincinnati last night says:
THE news Of the sinking Of the steamer
James W. Gaf, yesterday, a few miles
above Cannellton, reached this city,
through private sources, this morning.
She lays in water six feet above her
upper deck; was valued at $50, 900; in.
sured for $22, 500. She had ninety pas
sengers and a large amount OF freight.
No lives lost"
An Evansville telegram Of last night
says: THE James W. CAT sunk a. Mar.
shalls Landing, four miles above HAYES.
vile, at 3 pm. yesterday afternoon, and
lies with her head on shore and stern
sunkeu to her cabin deck. No lives lost.
She had a big trip on board"
SINGULAR OCCURRENCES.
On the night Of November lst, 1851,
the steamer George Washington, Cap
tain Montgomery commanding, burned
at Grand Gulf, and sixty.six persons
we're rescued by Captain j. NJ. Cheho.
weth, Of the steamer j. NJ. Cheuoweth,
which wat also en- route to New Orleans.
Captain Chenoweth and a negro roust-
about, in a yawl, rescued the greater
number Of these passengers, and many
are the thrilling incidents Of that fearful
night, when the Mississippi and Ohio
rivers we're ablsze at three different
points with the burning OF steamboats,.
The colored chambsrmaid and a white
lady who had sought protection under
the guards, just above the Geo. Wash
ington's rudder wcre rescued By Captain
Chenoweth and the faithful r~oustsbout.
who jumped from the yawl and swan 10
the two women. Taking them on their
backs they swan back to the yawl
which had to stand off from the wreck
because Of the heat. The George Wash.
ington, after exploding her boilers,
caught FIRE, and had it not been that
Captain Chenoweth fastened to her aid
the loss Of life would have been even
more frightful. The people at Grand
Gulf did nothing for the sufferers whom
Capt. Chenoweth was c%areing for on his
steiner. Upon reaching Natchez Capt.
Chenoweth sent for a physician, and this
summons was responded to by a young
nan who has since justified, by self
sacrifice, patient toll, and noble devotion
to suffering humanity, the opinion there
established as to his high character,
lofty purposes, and true excellence both
as a gentleman and a Christian. This
physician Was DR.. Luke P. Black.
burn, a man whoSe services are
to we'll remembered to comment, at
Memphis, at Savannah, Brunswick,
Fernandina and other places where the
yellow fever ragged with terror, ruin and
death. Dr.. Blackburn being asked BY
Captain Chenoweth what was his price
for the services he had rendered replied:
Sir, do you mean to insult me2 / have
no price; | charge nothing he had
been to New Orleans on the Ctenowetb,
and returned, all the time devotiug his
attention to the suffering and the dying.
Of the Sixty.six persons rescued from the
wreck Of the George Washington, seven
teen died on the voyage from Natchez to
New Orleans. The young physician
whose heroic services on board the
George Washington, aud who in subse
quent years proved his noble manhood
by risking his life in the yellow lever
plaques at Memphis and elsewhere, is
now a candidate for governor of Ken
lucky. The same night that tue George
Washington exploded the Martha
Washington was fred and burned
at Coffee Point, and the Lady
Washington sunk at Cannellton, near
where tie CAT met with her disaster.
Captain Chenoweth is an old river mar,
and as far back as 1912 was steamboat.
ing in the Cumberland liver, even before
the days OF Captain Harvey G McComas,
with his Susquehanna and other steam.
ers. Captain McComas, it will be re
membered, committed suicide at st
Louis about 1870 or 1871. Captain
Chenoweth is still alive, and a Gercer
Democrat than at any time heretofore.
Captain Robert w. Wise used to run in
the Cincinnati and Nashville trade, hav.
ing been on the Emma Floyd, Robert
Moore, and sideWbsel steamers Rowena
and Rebecca. In fact he did his court.
ing up the Cumberland river, hiding bis
bushes amid the shadows of the tall cliffs
and cleaning sycamores Of which "Buz"
used to write, that tower above the banks
Of that beautiful stream.
The steamer james W. GAf was built
at Madison, Ind and finished at Cinciu
natl in 1876, costing abont $4O,O 600 Last
summer the Gaff struck a reef at Grand
Chains bar in the Ohio river, between
Paducah aad Cairo, which caused her to
settle. The steamer did nes sustain
much damage, but was soon aloat aud
l. ~