The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-05

nave peen 1851, as the lower decks were
crowded, and the boat sank instantly.
There was man and woman who passed
within 100 yards Of my house. lie was hold.
ing her up and crying for help, bu, my vile
saw them sink. The scene was terrible as l
saw at least fifty young ladies who had
been brought to shore who were saved BY
their escorts swimming and holding them
up. sa..
PILOT EELLER's ACCOUNT.
At half.past one this morning Pilot kell.
er OF the Scioto, reached the lSTELLidrxcER
office, having come down on the Lomas.
He gave us his account OF the disaster,
which is as follows: The collision occurred
just at the foot Of Mingo Island. The
night was not much Of a moonlight night,
as there were several clouds overhead.
When We first sighted the Lomas was pass
ing the Island, while l was hugyinc
the Ohio side OF the river !. the point, and
had Clint Thomas with me at the wheel.
Being the descending boa. the Lomas had
the fist whistle, which she should have
given when distant 500 yards. This she
did not, and l remarked 10 Clint tha, l
wondered il she was ever going to signal.
Just as said this the Lomas blew one
whistle, signifYips that she wanted the Ohio
shore. At that time We were about 400 or
$50 yards apart, and 1 did not think l
could make the Virginia shore in time, SO
| answered with two whistles and the
Lomas responded with two. When blew
two whistles l sisnalled below for the
engines to reverse, which was i'm.
mediately done. The Lomas instead OF
bearing of to the Virginia shore curved in
toward the Ohio shore, and struck the
Scotio about ten feet from the stem. We
were then about two hundred and iiftv feet
from the shore and slightly quarter.
ing, with both wheels backing. Our
boa. commenced sinking Immediately,
and in two or three minutes settled to q
depth Of three feet OF water in the cabin
floor. The Lomas landed her passengers
as quickly rs possible and then came to
our rescue.
CAPT. iSGLEBgiGnT's STATEMENT.
At . O'Clock this morning We had a visit
from Capt. Inglebright, of the Lomas, who
furnished US the following statement We
had on about 50 excursionists, and LEI,
Steubenville at $50 r. NJ. When about
half mile below Alingo Junction,
about 9 o'clock, l should Judge,
3. ]. Long, our regular pilot. noticed a boat
coming up on the Virginia shore. We
were on the Ohio shore and had the right
OF position in passing, being the descend
ing boat. Long blew one blast, signaling
for the Ohio shore, and the pilot OF the
other boat blowing twice Immediately en-.
deavored TO cross our head and 90
up on the Ohio side. | iudpe
We were about COO yards apart when the
first whistle has blown, but BY the time
the Scioto answered the distance was
considerable decreased. Long on hearing
the two whistles answered with two blasts
signaelld to reverse the engines, and
undertook to get in position to pass
on the side. Both boats had been
moving at rapid speed, and we
had the current behind US. Before our
speed could be checked. the Scio,o crossed
in front OF US and We struck her on the lar.
board side, about the head OF the coal box.
Our boat sets down in the water and the
bow passed directly under the guards OF
the Scioto, striking her hull and tearing
large hole, l would Judge, as she sank rap
idly. The excitement was OF course yery
great on both boats. deemed |
it prudent TO first land my own passengers
for fear OF rush OF panic stricken passen- |
gers IRON the Scioto, who might upse, her.
As soon as could land them returned |
and made four trips, taking about 100 each |
trip. noticed that several jumped into
the river, many OF whom were picked M |
by our yawl and flats. Can't say how
many will be missing. At the time The |
first whistle was blown was arranging ,he |
lights on the chimney and told the pilot to |
back. He replied / am backing. Every
thing was done in our power TO avoid |
collision and am ready for the fullest in.
vestigation. l was only too glad to do
everything in my power ror the rescue o. |
the unfortunate people.
TIE STRIKERS STORY.
Charles Page, OF Marietta, Ohio, the
Striker" or assistant engineer. of the
Scioto, said that they started from East
Liverpool at hali-past G o'clock in the
morning with large excursion party, who
were off for i,h Of July irolic, and that
they went as far down the river as Mounds
vile, arriving there about l:S0 in the after.
noon. Alter lying there about two hours
we started up the river for home, stopping at
Wheeling and Martins Ferry. The people
hailed US all along the river, but the CAP.
tain said We had enough on board and re.
fused TO take any more, except at Steuben-
vile, where We took on several. When
We collided with the Lomas, ,as near as can
judge from what heard people saving, we
had on board 400 at least, and probably 500.
] was on watch Mt the time OF the accident
and when the boats whisiled for passing l |
noticed there was something wrong, but
thought nothing OF il, and stepped out on
the deck for a second, when / saw the
the Lomas right on US. rushed back to
my engine. obeyed the bell to 90 back,
which was Immediately followed by a bell
to stop, and then seeing that the boat was
fast sinking, the engineer and ! threw a
skiif into the river, and then l ran alter
my coat. When / got back the
skiff was SO full OF terror stricken
people that knew it would sink,
50 jumped into the river and struck ou,
ior the West Virginia shore. In looking
around me as swan l saw sigh. thai
fairly took the life out OF me. The water
was black with struggling humanity and
the expression Of the faces was the most
terrible that you can imagine. Men,