Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-07-07
A DISTRESSING DISASTER. i.
Sinking Of Q Steamer with 500 Passenger,
Abqerd.-Appalling Loss Of Life.

One survivor says the Scioto was COM
ing up the river under . full head of
steam, and, when halt . mile from Mingo
junction, the John Loomis was sighted
coming uown the channel, but owing to
q Misunderstanding both took the same
side, the Loomis striking the Scioto and
sinking her in fifteen feet of water in
three minutes time from the collision.
The scene on The Scioto was heartrend-
ing aud the life struggles we're fr1ghtful
to behold. The LoOmis was only slight
ly disabled and went to work at once to
save those on board the unfortunate Sci.
oto. This task was rendered easier BY
tae bright moonlight, and many lives
from this cause were saved.
It is impossible to ascertain or even
guess the number of persons drowned.
The captains son Dan is missing, and
deck-hand, name unknown, was also
drowned from the Scioto. The rest of
the crew are safe. The first man taken
out of the water was Watchman Mccoy.
The Loomis struck the Scloto on the
port, fifteen feet from the bow, and made
O. large hole through which the hull filled
rapidly and sunk at once. The boat 10
now lying on the bottom of the river,
the water two feet deep over her cabin.
One dead body has been recovered from
ths Scioto. Two bodies of boys are re-
ported near Wellsville. Two boye, after
swimming mile and half, were res
cued on the Virginia shore. They say
about fifty persons were on the lower
deck with them when the boat sunk and
many of them were probably drowned.
Capt. Thomas of the Scloto is crazed
with grief at the loss of his son, and be.
numbed from fruitleess search in the
watery cabin for his body which has
been since found. The death roll will
probably exceed fifty. More than this
number are missing. Hundreds went
from East Liverpool and Wellsville 10
the scene of the disaster this morning.
Chas. Page OF Marietta, O., the striker
and assistant engineer of the Scioto. said
they started from Liverpool at $50 in
the morning with large excursion party,
who were off for Fourth of July frolic,
and that they went as far down the river
as Moundsville, arriving there about 80
D. m. After lying there about two hours
we started for home, stopping at Wheel
ing. and Martins Ferry. The people
hailed US all along the river, but the
captain said we had enough on board and
refused to take any one except at Stue.
benville, where we took on several pas.
sengers. When we collided with the
LOOMS. as near as can judge, we had
on board 400 people at least, and per.
haps 800. 1 was on watch at the time of
the accident, and when the boats whlstled
for passing I noticed that there was
something wrong but thought moth.
ing of it. I stepped outside on
the deck for second when I saw the
l I.nN NIo ovtnk nm II Hl A.
my engine, obeyed the bell to go back,
which was Immediately followed by q
bell to stop, and seeing that the boat
and then ran after my coat. When
stricken people that knew would sinh
it, so l jumped into the river and strucl
out for the Virginia shore. In looking
Ground me as i swan away I saw sigh
that took the life out of me. The watel
was black with struggling human beings
The expression OF their faces was tn.
Men, women and children were crying
piteously for help, and some of thl
scenes SO unnerved me that l coult
scarcely swim. but the current was yer,
strong, and as / struck out with all m!
uASAts ooou SO0 Ou1 VI olSub vi tut
crowd in the water, there being but tw,
boys near me, who managed to reach tn
shore with little help from me. w,
swan about mile altogethe,
and when we got to shor
it was almost impossible to STAN
up. As to how many were lost hav
no idea, nor do know what caused th
accident or who is to blame. I hear
that one of Capt. Thomas little boys
lost, Ned was his name, I think.
THE SEARCH FOR THE BODIES.
Wheeling, w. Va, July 5-The seen
: to-day at the wreck Of the Scioto wa
pitiful. The Associated Press reporte
arrived at noon, at which time only min
bodies had been recovered: About 200
people crowded the river banks. Th
work ofdragging for the dodies contin
ues. VIM. MulIholland of .Wellsvillt
under whose auspices the excursion wa
given, said that the boat took on abou
. 200 passengers at East Liverpool and 25
at Millersville, being very much crowd
ed. He refused to stop at other point.
The number of people aboard must hav
been about 500.