The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-06
ANOTHER HORROR.
Two Excursion Steamers Col
lide.
ONE OF THEM SUNK AND MANY
LIVES LOST.

ONE OF THEM SUNK AND MANY
LIVES LOST.
MINGo JUNCTION, Ohio, July 4.-The steam
er Scioto, with about 500 passengers, collided
with the John Loomis in the middle of the
river tonight, sinking the Scioto in fifteen
feet OF water, only the pilot being visible.
One OF the survivors says the Scioto was
coming up the river under full head OF
steam, and when about half mile from Min
go junction the John Loomis was sighted
coming down. The pilot of the Scioto whistled
for the channel, but owing to misunderstand-
ing both boats took the same side, the LOOMS
striking the Scioto and sinking her in fifteen
feet OF water in three minu1es from the time
OF the collision. The scenes on the Scioto
were heartrending and the life struggles were
frightful to behold. The Loomis was only
slightly disabled and went at work at once to
save those on board the unfortunate Scioto.
This task was rendered easier by the bright
moonlight and no doubt many lives were
saved from this reason. 1t is now believed
that the first reports were exaggerated and
that the loss of life will not exceed twenty
persons.
WHEELING, W. Va, July Sit is impossi-
Bile to ascertain, or even guess intelligently,
the number of persons drowned. Capt. Thom-
ass 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 Charles
Mccoy. The Lomas struck the Scioto on the
port side, fifteen feet from the bow, and made
large hole, through which the hull filled rap
idly and sank at once. The boat is now lying
on the bottom of the river, the water two feet
deep in her cabin.
Statement by the Scioto's Engineer.
Charles Page of Marietta, Ohio, the assist
ant engineer of the Seioto, said that they
started from East Liverpool at $50 o'clock 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 Mounds
vile, arriving there about 130 in the after
noon. After lying there about two hours we
started for home, stopping at Wheeling 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 more,
except at Steubenville, where we took on sew
eral. When we collided with the Lomas, as
near as I can judge from what heard people
saying, we had on board 400 at least and prob
ably 500. Twas on watch at the time of the
accident, and when the boats whistled for
passing noticed there was something wrong,
but thought nothing of it and stepped out on
the dock for a second, when saw the Lomas
right on us. rushed back to my engine,
obeyed the bell to 60 back, which was imme.
diately followed by bell to stop, and then
seeing that the boat was fast sinking, the en-
gineer and threw skill into the river, and
then L ran after my coat. When l got back
the skiff was so full of poor, stricken people
that I knew it would sink, SO / jumped in the
river and struck out for the West Virginia
shore. In looking around as swan I saw
sight that 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, women
and children were crying for help, and some
OF the screams SO unnerved me that l coald
scarcely swim but the current was strong, and
as l struck out with all my might 1 soon got
out of sight of the crowd in the water, there
being but two boys near me, who managed to
reach the shore in safety with little help
from me. We swan about a mile altogether
and when we reached the shore it was almost
impossible for any of MS to stand up. As to
how many were lost / can form idea, nor do
know what caused the accident or who is to
blame.
An Eye WITNESSES Story.
WHEELING, w. Va, July Arthur Nc
Neelly, who lives at Cross Creek, was an eye
witness to the collision. He was standing in
his front door, Immediately opposite where the
collision occurred. 1t was about o'clock. The
Lomas in passing the Island chute, whistled
for the preference of sides, and as near as he
can judge it was three minutes before the Sci
OTTO answered Neither steamer appeared to
sheer of, and almost Immediately the collision
occurred. He continues: General confusion
followed, and then saw people jumping from
the hurricane deck and all parts of the steam.
er. As far as could see the Lomas struck the
Scioto forward of the fiue, over the bow. The
Scioto sank almost instantly. and the Lomas
backed mp at once, ran to the Ohio shore and
landed her passengers, and then returned to
the wreck. The crew and officers of the Lo-
fun tnassss5 and succeeded in land
ing over 400, making several trips and contin-
uing to work as long as there were any who de-
sired to leave. AS soon as 1 saw the accident,
jumped into my skiff and started for the
wreck. When I got there | got five within
distance of twenty feet, and there were two
other skiffs below me picking them up, but 1
don't know how many they got They were
hallooing all over now and there appeared to
be greet many in the water, but 1t was too
dark for me to tell the number. then took
the parties had rescued to the Ohio side, and
by that time the Lomas had landed her party
and returned to the wreck. had just come
home from work when the boat came past, and
couldn't tell how many were on board; but
from what the parties who landed told me,
there were from $50 to 700 on the boat. From
been landed gathered that from 800 to 800
were landed. Three women were carried
ashore and died after they had been rescued.
Two little Toys and the assistant engineer OF
the Scioto, were rescued and stopped at Cox'S.
Ths assistant engineer told me he thought ma
nv lives must have been lost, as the lower
decks were crowded and the boat sank imme-
diateiy.
Names Of the Victims.
SrEUBRNvILLE, Ohio, July 5-Hundreds of
people are attracted to the scene of the
wrecked steamer Scioto, some in search OF
recovered on the Ohio side and two bodies of
boys reported near Wellsburg. Two boys were
picked up in the Virginia side who had swan
mile and half below abe place of the acci-
dent They say about fifty persons were on
the lower deck with them when the boat sunk
o,,l ohah 10
of the son of Capt. Thomas was found at
Brilliant Station. The death roll will proba-
bly, exceed fifty. There are more than this
number missing and all chance for escape
are heard from.
Hundreds from Wellsville and East Liver
pool went down to the scene this morning.
The liss of missing are as follows: From
Wellsville-John Stevenson, David Fago,
Belle Brandon, Sallie Kiddy; E. P. Smith,
wife and two children; Nellie Emery, Charles
pool-Irene Farmer, G. Thompson, Lincoln
Thompson, Annie Booth, Carrie Boardman,
M E. Estlive and wife, Willie Parsell, John
Chrsty, John Tomlinson, Jacob Gibson and
wife, DIR. Stevenson and three men named
respectively bennett, Woods and Burke. l..
Harper of Wellsville was fatally hurt. This
list is more likely to be swelled than dimin-
ished.
MINGo JUNCTION, Ohio, July 5.-Ihe bodies
of eleven victims of the steamboat disaster
have been recovered and it now looks as
though % to so bodies will be found. The ill
fated party seemed equally divided as to sex
but thus far the bodies of only three ladies
have been found.
The work of hunting for the dead is still in
progress. A coroner Of Jefferson county will
commence an inquest on the bodies tomorrow,
and an investigation by the government in
spectors will take place in Wheeling.
MARINE NEWS.