The New York herald., 1878-12-03
THE COTTON VALLEY DISASTER.

DETAILS OF THE FATAL COLLISION THE STEAMER
SINKING IN FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE
cRAsH--UNANswERED CRIES FOR HELP.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
New ORLEANS, Dec. =, 1878.
The steamer Cotton Valley. which sunk sun
day morning about three miles below Doaaldsonviie.
on her first trip 10 Red Rive, The Cotton Valley
at the time OF the collision had stopped her engines
but was under the influence of tho wind. The night
dark the wind was blowing gale and the rain
pouring down in torrents The engines Of the Valley
completely disabled by the blow, and the boas
hegan speedily to settle down. The Cotton Valley
sank OF sight i'll about fifteen minutes after the
accident. The passengers in their staterooms,
and tie officers and not watch were asleep.
When the reality OF their danger became known the
utmost confusion followed Calls were male to the
Morgan FOR help. line thrown from I'll: Nor
gan but it fell short, and 'he Morgan rapidly drfted
away. The accident sudden. the storm SO vio-
lent and the confusion so great that little seems to
hare been done toward saving human life.
noUsIA3oUTs DROWNED.
The roustabouts Of the Valley seized upon the yawl
Of their steamer and attempted to hcmselvcs,
leaving the passengers to their fate; but those in the
yawl soon sunk her aud they in all probability were
lost.
When the steamer sank the passengers endeavored
TO themselves by cinsng to such boxes bales
were doated of from the steamer It pretty
certain that the only assenscr lost Miss Sanford,
from Loudop county. Va. This young lady was
told to save herself, bnt stopped to dress and
found watery grave. Her aunt who
with her. saved. The last that was seen Of the
poor girl she was standing jn her night dress calling
rteously for assistance. Her long hair streaming
i'll the storn while her thin garments. with the
rain clung closely about her, She was told to jump,
but seemed paralyzed by fear and made effort to
herself and while she calling for aid and be-
fore could reach her the steamer gave lurch and
plunge forward and the dark waters closed the
poor girl forever.
SCENE OF TERROR.
1t is said the scene beyond description. On
all sides could be heard the most piteous cries for
sistance from those who drowning Some good
swimmers attempted to reach the shore. bnt
swept by the rapid Of the river to death
Amid the wild confusion that prevailed the imporing
cries OF two children could be distinctly heard These
appeals from the children of the captain Of the
unfortunate steamer Their cries were answered and
they were saved Mrs. H. L. Sanford. the aunt OF the
young lady who was lost WAS saved through her own
cxcrtions. swimming to the opposite shore. dis
tance OF fully hall mile. One poor fellow who
lost was seen clinging to . barrel
BLAME?
The officers OF the Valley place the blame of the
disaster to the Morgan 1t is sail that this steamer
should have kept to the right which it failed to do;
hence the collision.
Some twelve or fifteen roustabouts and three or
four cabin boys missing. and these supposed
to be lost.
CONDUCT OF The CAPTAIN
Captain W. H. Kouns. OF the unfortunate steamer.
seems to have acted with great coolness He had
everybody called out OF the cabins and had some of
the boats manned quickly as possible, and by this
means saved every person he could
s.. OFFICERS SAVED
The CLERK OF the Valley swan ashore. but was so
nuuibed by exposure in the water that he could not
walk One Of the ro,lstabouts who was among the
saved carried him his shoulders and took him
aboard Of the Morgan. Captain A. g. Swain,
Of the pilots saved himself by clinging to
box of merchandise and box Of Shoes placing his
the top Of each and in this way drifed for
two hours, when he was carried to the opposite
shore. When the boat went down he was carried un
der and remained there so long that he gave himself
up lost. His escape seems almost miraculous.