The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-07-13
RIVER HORROR.

sinking Of an EAcursion Steamer ON
the Ohio Isivor-l -llcarsrcmdlng Loss
u Life.
From rttsburgh papers No CLEAN the follow
Ing particulars Of tho terrible disaster at Mingo
Junction, on tho Ohio river, on the Ath Of
July The Scioto, sidewheel steamer rum
ming between Wheeling and Matamoras, had
been on an excursion to Moundsville, under
the auspices Of tho Wellsville Cornet Band, aud
had left East Liverpool about O'Clock .. M,
taking 2c0passengers aboard there. At wellsyille
about 800 or 400 more got aboard, with band,
loading the boat to the guards with . mass OF
men, women aud children The steamer landed
Ct Steubcnville between and 10 o'clock, aud
refused TO take any passengers there. although
several men and boys managed to Chamber over
the guards. She went on TO Moundsville, and,
returning in the evening, had reached point
Just above Cross creek, on tho West Virginia
side Of tho river, when she met the John Lonlas
coming down in the middle Of the stream. The
latter Is small stern-wheei boat, which plies
between Wheeling and Martins Ferry, and had
tcca to Steubenville with IN excursion Of about
200 people from the latter place. II Was about
$50 o'clock whom she came in sight Of the Sci
oto. The clouds had mostly blown away aud
II was quite light on the river. Tho I1Omas ap-
pears to have sisnaled first, according to regu-
lations with. one blast, to pass on the left Ina
few minutes the Scioto responded with two, and
made for tho middle OF tho river. The Lomas
then gave two whistles, but the boats kept COM
ing closer and closor together. Orders were
given to back the engines, but It WAS too late to
do any good. The boats came together with .
tremendous crash, the Lomas striking the
Scioto on the lArboard, or left.hAnd side. just
making 4 large hole In tho hull, through which
she began taking water 1t rapid rate.
Az may be imagined, the confusion OH board
was terrible. The number Of women and chill
dren on board was especially large, and Is the
boat began to settle at once the scene was
hcartrending looking for their chill.
drcn 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 tho people cool, with the
usual result in such caAes-nObody paid
| much attention to them. The boat
began going down ct os'ce, and in three min
utos 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 tho
! example was contagious. Many followed them
like i flock OF sheep, while others more cool
made their way to the hurricane root, where
there was safety ~ long as it would hold up
under the weight. There were dozen or df-
teen men lying drunk on the lower deck, and
oil were doubtless hurried into eternity
without warning. The river seemed black
with human beings and debris Of all kinds, aud
it will he days at least before tho full extent OF
the disaster 10 known. There were three boats
on the Scioto, and they were at once lowered.
| In the excitement tho first was overcr0wdcd
| and swamped. but it il believed that none OF
| tho inmates were lost. The other two beats
were managed better, and did good work in
| rescuing passengers. The Lomas WAS not
| much damaged by the accident. and, after
landing her crowd on Che West Virginia shore,
returned to the help Of those on The hurricane
| deck OF the Scioto. Il required the greatest
care in doing this work, frst to avoid turning
over the Scloto, and second, 70 avoid rush
| from the Scioto TO the Lomas, which might
have been fatal. Four trips were made. and
those ON tho boat were finally landed on the
| Ohio shore.
The loss of life cannot yet be ascsrtained.
There WAS no registry Of the passengers. aud
| the loss can only DO determined BY tho failure
| or the missing to come home. Fourteen bod
lea have beon recovered mp TO this writing, and
thirty three are known to be missing. Tho
| total loss will exceed 100. Tho crowd in the
boat was certainly not less than 500, aud pr0bA-
/ Mo nhare.3 fil0 Or ION