Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-07
FATAL COLLISION
Of Steamers On the Ohio River
Yesterday.
JAMES W. eoFF AND MOUNTAIN GIRL
A Circus Boat With RObinson's Show
On Board Collide Drowning
Several,
DETAILS OF THE FATAL DISASTER.

IxDAxoPus, IND, November 6.-The
Daily News special from Lswrenceburg,
states that between 2 and 3 O'clock this
morning, the steamers James W. Gsf and
Mountain Girl colEded at Split Rock, two
miles from Aurora. sinking the latter and
carving down 10 a watery grave seven men
and between thirty and forty horses.
The Mountain Girl was leased BY por-
tion of the John Robson show, travelling
as a cheap priced circus and variety con-
cern. It was exhibited at Lawrenceburg
last night and was on its way to Rising
Son, when the disaster occurred.
All the victims with one exception, Dick
Harrel, 9 young man of Lswrenceburg,
connected with the show.
FULLER DETAILS OF THE COLLISION.
CINCINNATI, November 6.-The collision
between the steamer J. W. CAT, en- route
from Memphis to Cincinnati, and the
steamer Mountain Girl, going down the
reives to Yevsy, Ind, happened about one
o'clock this morning, about mile below
Laughery leland, some 10 or l5 miles be-
low Lswrsnceburg, Ind. The Mountain
Girl was chartered 10 convey q circus ex-
hibition along the river, and had left Law
renceburg with its people, horses and cir
Gus property after IL O'Clock. Its next
appointment was at VeVay or Rising Sun.
The show was in the name Of Holland 4
Mcmahon.
THE CAPTAINS STORY OF THE ACCIDENT.
Captain D. L. Thompson, who was in
command of the Mountain Girl, was at the
wheel when the boats started down the
river. He tells the story Of the accident
in this way: Il started out to pilot the
boat myself, but was sick, having hid
ney assction, and could not stand at the
wheel The mate, whose name is Smith,
took my place, and | sat in the pilot house
with him. We had no trouble as the water
was ample. and Smith handled the boat al
right. ! heard the Gsf whistle
to p.ss 10 the left, vi hich would
put Us on the Kentucky side OF
her in passing, and noticed that Smith
answered properly. | got up and looked
and found the boats we're about to pass
all right. ! sat dogp again when | was
astounded to hear three sbrill blasts iFom
the GaE, which meant imminent danger.
| sursng 10 the wheel and found that the
Mountain Girl was apparently attempting
TO cross over to the Indiana or right side
of the channel, and the Gaff was coming
full head sgaiDss her. did my best to
stop the engines and get perhaps two or
three revolutions of the wheel tor breaking
when the blow ssaS.
The CATS bow struck Us In iroBt o! the
boilers about 80 fest from our bow and the
crash broke in eur hull 30 that We iuue-
6istely took water. I turned the boats
head toward the Indiana shore and went as
far as could, but We sank in tWel teet
of water. This brought the water about .
foot s1Oys ths cabin floor.
he THISkS so LIyEs ERE LOST.
"Ths GsY instantly came sloDgsie, and
10 far as | know everybody WsS safely ia
ken of and pat on the GAf do not be
ieye any one was drowned. There was 10
occasion for drowning, unless they Jumped
OVERHEARD from fright / think the two
men missing are still with the Mountain
Girl. did not speak to Smith to ask him
how the boat got turned Aefsss tAs Gef
bow"
ONLY TWO SAID TO BE MISSING.
The Gstf arrived here this morning with
tie mtp and women belonging to the cir
Gus. they number between thirty and
forty. Two are said to be missing, the
csnYssmsn and the lauplighter, but no,
body can tlll Vhetber they were drowned
or were left in the confusion aboard the
"~antain Girl. The circus men lost ten
M -'~sd horses, and nuubeE OF
snakes. Their clrv-' "f'p:sS ,uiSssS oSSS B Is
left on the boat, where it Win - -, -
water. Many Of the people arrived nerS
this morning without hats and shoes, snc
others without other articles Of clothing.
The Mountain Girl Was q small up-river
steamer built for the Big Sandy trade, aud
vas owned BY the Big Sandy Packet Com
oapy. She was valued at from IS, 600 to
/ s, 900. 1t il thought abe can be easily
raised.