Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-07-06
DIRE DISASTER.
A Steamer on the Ohio River.
Loaded With Pleasure
Seekers, Sunk.
Many People Drowned, and Great
Loss of Property.

MISGo JUNCTION ION the Ohio river),
Ohio. July "A collision occurred here
at $50 this evening, between the steam
boats "Sciota," Captain Thad Thomas,
and John Lomas" Captain Engel-
bright, causing the death of thirty-eight
persons. The Sciota " side-wheeler,
In the Matamoras and Wheeling trade,
and the Tomas is ferry boat, running
between Wheeling and Martins Ferry.
The Wellsville cornet band chartered
the Sciota for an excursion from Wells
Vile and East Liverpool to Wheeling.
The Lonas brought out a party from
Martins Ferry to Browns Island. The
boats ran all right until evening. The
Tomas left Steubenville at SIS, going
down, and met the Sciota coming up
at Mingo. 1t is not known how, but
the Lomas went into the Sciota's quar-
ter, striking her fifteen feet back from
the bow, tearing hole in the Sciota' 6
Gull, and crushing half way through
the cabin. The Tomas backed off un-
injured. The Scioto began to fill, and
sank in three minutes. On board the
Scoto were 400 persons. A panic broke
out, and the people threw themselves
into the water. The Tomas and small
boats picked up the greater portion,
but thirty eight are missing and are
thought to be drowned. The Scioto
lies about fifty feet from the Ohio
shore, with the water coming on the
cabin floor. There was no cause for
the people jumping eff, and if they
had kept cool no lives would have been
lost.
Captain Thomas, of the Scioto, is
crazed by the collision, ana can give
no information rs to the cause of the
accident.
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
Tomas was sighted coming down. The
pilot of the Scioto whistled for the
channel, but, owing to misunder-
standing, both boats took the same
side.
WELLsvlLLE, O., July SIT would be
difficult to imagine more happy col
lection of people than that which left
here yesterday on the Inflated Scioto
Oh it's excursion down the river. The
steamer started from East Liverpool,
above here, with probably $50 passen-
gers, and at this place took on as many
more. all bent on enjoyment. Scarce
ly family here but had a representa-
tive on the boat, and the excitem ent
was great when news reached here of
the accident. When the report was
confirmed by telegraph, special of ten
coaches was Immediately made and
started for Mingo Junction. the scene of
the accident, to bring home the surviv-
ors, who were suffering from exposure.
The Times correspondent was among
the passengers on the train, and conse-
quently one of the first to reach Mingo.
On reaching the station pitiable sight
was presented. Along the track for
distance of half mile were the fortu-
nate survivors, most of them soaking
wet, half of them hatless, and some of
them without sufficient clothing to pro-
tect them from the chilly air. The ut
most confusion prevailed, and the air
was rent with means and cries of those
who had friends or relatives missing.
After the train departed for w ellsville,
the Times correspondent started for the
boat, which was reached after circui-
tous journey of a mile and half
through treacherous brakes, and mud
and water knee deep. The boat lie,
sunk in about the middle of the chan
mel, and in twelve feet of water. In
this vicinity several eye-witnesses were
interviewed relative to the accident. A
Mr.. Henry, one of party camping
out, was in skiff when the boats
struck, and states that the terrified pas
sengers leaped from all quarters of the
boat into the water. He likens the ap'
pearance of the people to
LOGS BoBBING UP AND DOWN,
and says the surface of the water was
thick with those endeavoring to save
themselves. A gentleman was next
met who was standing at the side Of
Captain Thomas. of the Scioto, when
the collision occurred. The usual
number Of signals were given, but a
misinte2pretation of them seemed to
have been taken. When it was seen
that collision was inevitable the en-
gines of the Scioto were reversed and
the boat backed as rapidly as possible,
but the crafts crashed into each other
with terrific force, tearing a large hole
in the bow of the Scioto, sinking her
IN about three minutes. The scene on
deck at this time beggars description.
Prayers and curses were mingled to-
gether by frantic people. Women with
babes in arms or leading older children
prayed to the men to save them, while
others with their precious burdens
leaped into the water. To add to the
horrors of the situation, when the boat
began settling and the water reached
the fires and boilers some one raised
the cry of fire, which had the effect of
completing the panic and clearing the
decks. The Tomas was unipjured by
the collision, and after the shock rem
dered all service possible. The officers
of the Scioto acted the part of heros
from what can be learned Many Of
them chung to their positions until
forced by the rising water to desert
them. Captain Thomas son, lad of
16, is among the missing, and the
father is almost