The Monticellonian., 1895-03-15
SAD RIVER DISASTER.

Bridge-Twelve Lives Supposed to Have Been Lost and Several Persous Injured The Boat Crushed Like an Eggshel.
 CINCINNATI March 9.-The Cincin- natl, Memphis and New Orleans steamer Longfellow, carrying thirty passengers and crew of forty per sons, struck a pier of the bridge of the Chesapeake X Ohio railroad here yes terday morning and sank In ga few minutes.
 The following persons are reported drowned or missing:
 A. J. Aull, Dayton, o.
 Mrs. ". J. Aull, Dayton, O.
 David Aldridge, Rome, N. Y.
 Capt. John l.. Carter, chief clerk of steamer, Newport, Ky.
 Gus Chauvet, barkeeper, New Or leans.
 Mike Russell, deck hand, Cincin- natl
 Tom Reardon, deck hand, Cincin- nati
 Unknown invalid young lady, New York city.
 Dr. Anderson, female physician, New York city.
 Jim Miller, deck hand, Cincinnati.
 - Johnson, barber on steamer, New Orleans.
 Walker, servant in texas, resi- dence unknown.
 Shortly after o'clock the steamer Longfellow pulled away from the wharf at the foot of Main street and started on her voyage to New Orleans. The boat was slated to leave at 5 o'clock Wednesday evening. She was held after that time to allow additional freight to be loaded. A heavy fog came up and it was decided to wait un- til the fog lifted, as it d dangerous undertaking to run the bridges in heavy weather. In fact, the pilots al- ways breathe relief after they have passed the bridges when the atmos- phere is clear.
 At o'clock, the fog having risen sufficiently, Capt. John Kirker decided to start. The tow boat Hercules Car roll, which was alongside all night, was signaled to be in readiness to help the Longfellow through the bridges. About 63O the boats started. Owing to her length, it took some little time for the Longfeilow to turn and get her head down stream. At a few minutes before 2 the boat was in a position to move down stream.
 The Carroll was on the left or port side of the Longfellow. The boats passed under the suspension bridge in good shape. Immediately after this, however, she began behaving badly. A cross current seemed to strike, and swung her bow around toward the Kentucky shore.
 Efforts were made to right her so that she would pass between the piers of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad bridge, forming the span on the Ken- lucky side. The swift current of the river carried her along rapidly. Those on the boat could see that it would be impossible to avoid striking the pier. The alarm was sounded immediately, and the passengers, some of whom were at breakfast, while others were still in their berths, were hurried to the deck.
 While some of the passengers were still in their cabins, the crash came. The boat struck the pier with her star, board, or right side, just behind the boilers. The crash was an awful one, and for a brief space the air was filled with flying timbers. glass and iron work.
 Those on board the boat, many ot whom were in their night clothes, were hurried to the Carroll, which was still alongside. Consternation reigned. There were piercing cries and terrible wells Women tainted. The frenzied passengers hurried around in search of friends and relatives the moment they touched the deck of the Carroll.
 In the meantime. the immense Long fellow was being driven harder against the pier by the swift river. In less than five minutes after she struck there was loud crash, and the boat parted amidships The bow went down into the river first, disappearing com. pletely, and the stern followed. Some 1 of the upper works noated down the stream, and the wrecked hull came slowly up and also floated away.
 Some four or five men were on the floating cabin, and these were taken off immediately by the crew of the Hercules Carroll. A number of small boats put out from the shore and picked up persons who had jumped 1 into the river Five minutes after the boat struck there was nothing left but a lot of floating wreckage to show that there had ever been such boat as the Longfellow.
 Everything on board the boat in the way of registers, papers, valuables, cargo, etc, went down with her. The passengers succeeded in saving but few of their belongings. The passen. ger register was lost. The cause of the accident can be at tributed to the boat refusing to obey her rudder when she struck the strong current just below the suspension bridge.
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