Iron County register., 1882-07-20
A RIVER HORROR!


A Fourth-of-July Excursion Accident on
the Ohio-The Steamer Scioto Sunk by
q Collision with Another Boat-Over
Fifty Persons Drowned.
MINGo JUNCTION, o., July 4.
The steamer Scioto, with about 500 passen-
gers, collided with the John Lomas in the mid
die of the river tonight, sinking the Scioto in
fifteen feet of water, only the piiot-hcuse be-
ing visible
One of the survivors says the Scioto was
coming up the river under full head of
steam, and when about half a mile from
Mingo Junction the John Lornas was
sighted coming down. The pilot of the
Scioto whistled for the channel, but
owing to misunderstanding both boats
took the same side, the Lomas striking the
Scioto and sinking her in fifteen feet Of water
In three minutes from the time of the collision.
The scenes on the Scioto were heart-rending,
and the life struggles were frightful to behold.
The Lomas was only slightly disabled, and
went to work at once to save those on board
the unfortunate Scioto. This task was rem
dered easier by the bright m onl;ght, and no
doubt many lives were saved from this reason.
WHEELING. w. Va. July 8.
The scene at the wreck of the vScioto to-day
almost beggars description. The anguish of
those looking for lost ones was added to the
L
innate forms of dead loved ones recovered
from the water. The Associated Press report
er arrived at the scene at noon, at which
time only nine bodies had been recov-
cred. Both banks Of the river were lined
with people, making a crowd of perhaps
1900 persons The work of dragging in the
vicinity for bodies is still going ON. 24
William Mulholland, of Wellsville, O., under
whose auspices the excursion on the ilLfated
C<,.<, kt~pA <0l~1
about 200 passengers at East Liverpool and ESQ
at Wellsville. The boat was very much crowd
Cd, and refused to stop at other points where
tickets had been sold. Taking his statements
with others, it is safe to say that FIVE hundred
souls were on board at the time of the col
lision. ggH1 f.sa r. sg
Captain Smith. of Martins Ferry, who was
on the John Lomas, says that, when some dis
tance from the Scioto, he noticed the boats
were going to come together, and maae his
preparations for the shock. Both steamers
had on full head of steam, the Lomas going
down stream at the rate of fifteen miles per
hour, and the ascending Scioto at the rate OF
twelve miles. 1t seems to be the prevailing
opinion that the collision resulted from a mis-
understanding or confusion Of signals.
Several bodies are known to be in the wreck
The steamer Welcome, of this city, left for the
scene of the accident this afternoon to render
steamer.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. July 5.
The Lomas appears to have signaled first, ac
cording to regulations, with one blast, to pass
on the left. In few minutes the Scioto re-
sponded with two, and made for the middle Of
the river. The Lomas then gave two whistles.
but the boats kept coming closer and closer
together. Orders were given to back the en-
gines, but it was too late to do any good.
Ia n m har Wi q
crash, the Lomas striking the Scioto on the
larboard or left-hand side, just about the ash
box, tearing into her guards, and making
large hole in the hull, through which she began
taking water at rapid rate. As may be inn
agined, the confusion on board was terrible.
The number of women and children on board
was especially large, and as the boat began to
settle at once the scene was heartrending-
parents looking for their children and vice
versa, husbands for their wives and wives for
their husbands and prayers and cries filled
the air. The. officers, to their credit, tried to
keep the people cool, with the usual result in
such cases-nobody paid much attention to |
them. The boat began going down at once |
and in three minutes there was five feet Of
water in the cabin. Those on the lower deck |
mot less than fifty in number) began jumping |
into the river, and the example was conta- |
gious. Many followed them like flock OF |
sheep, while others more cool made their way !
to the hurricane roof, where there was safety |
rs long as it would hoId@np under |
the weight. There were az &Adozen or |
fifteen men lying drunk on the lower deck, |
and all were doubtless hurried into eternity |
without warning. The river seemed black with /
human beings and debris of all kinds, and It |
will be days at least before the full extent of /
he disaster is known. There were three boats |
on the Scioto. and they were at once lowered. /
In the excitement the first was overcrowded |
and swamped, but it is believed that none of |
he inmates were lost. The other Two boats
we're managed better, and did good work in
much damaged by the accident. and, after land
ng her crowd on the West Virginia Shore re-
urned to the help of those on the hurricane
ieck of the SciotO.
STEUBENvILLE. O.. July5
Following is correct list of the missing:
WOOD Bailey, John Thomlinson, Wilson Paul
Tohn Christy, Eugene Farmer, George c.
Lincoln Wright, Benjamin Stebbins,
lincoln Beardmore, Stephen Kent, Michael
smmerling, Mrs. Michael Emmerling, David
freed, Charles Lefth, Charles Swearingen, Cit
thompson, M. e. Estline and wife, Willie
9arell, Jacob Gibson and wife, James New
liverpool; Arthur E. HoagIand, Mr.. Hunter,
). B. Armstrong William Ewing. Edward
'nomas, Willie Booth, Charles Davidson. Lew
wo children, of WellsvilIe; two Brosser boys,
f Steubenville; Cornelius Plumer, Washing
on, Pa. Total, 40.
Bodies Recovered: Evan P. Burke, Harry
}. Beardmore, Miss Belle Brannon, Miss Moi.
ie Shields, David Fago, Edward Thomas,
harles Sprague, Sallie Kiddy. Stewart Pipes,
,onnelly, Edward Duffy, Edward Smith. To-
A. IA.
The work of hunting the dead bodies is stiu
! progress. i
Another Kansas Tornado. T
Il