Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-09
FIVE OR MORE LOST.
People Oh a Big Ohio-RiVer Steamer
Drowned.
DISASTER At CINCINNATI.
The Boat Strikes bridge Pier and
sinks in Three Ninutes-An
omccr Among the yictims-rnci-
dents.


Longfeilcw went 20 the bottom OF the
Ohio river at 4 O'Clock this morning.
Five or more persons went down WIN
her. She sank In 20 feet of water oppo-
site the MaTmet coal-ianding. at the tool
Of Smith street. She struck the chanh''
span Of the Chesapeake and Ohio oridge
ana sank within three minutes. Acco'u-
ing to the best information eight pe,
sons we're lost. but there were 100 people
on board the boat when she strueK'
The pilot in charge OF the boat says
the fog was so dense when she suuVh
that he was unable TO discern the pier
IN the mist. and was not aware OF 's
proximity. The steamer literally cfuih-
blod 10 pieccs Immediately after the col
il.,,n. and the bow Of the boat sank while
m, cabin and stern foatod away. The
real cause Of the accident II Is said is
that the boat, like the Inflated State OF
Mississippi. was so unwieldiy that she
became unmanageable and the pilots were
powcrlsss to control her.
The boat was TO have left here for
New Orleans last night, but was pre-
vented from doing so on account OF a
dense fog. Rivermen say the fog was
even greater this morning. and that the
balt should never have left IL was de-
rlded. however. by the officers of the
White-Collar Line. which owns II. to
trud the boat out, and the towboat Her
rul.s Carre was sent out TO aid her IN
posing below the bridges The CarTel
was secured 20 the stern OF the Longfei-
low. and both boats passed down the
river 10 a point about fifty yards above
the Chesapeake and Ohio bridge, where
The LongfeliOw became entirely uman-
aceable. Watchers on shore say the
boats bow was pointed directly for the
kentucky shore, and when fully hity
Yards distant II was seen that a collision
was inevitable. The Carrel swung around
and the strsdn almost caused the hawsers
20 part. but they held fast for the time
being. and IL WAS thought for a moment
that the collision might be averted. but a
moment later Il became apparent that the
boat would strike.
PASSENGERS VARIED.
Many Of the passengers were in their
etate-roOms. engaged In sorting their bag
gage and preparing for long trip. Shrill
blasts Of the whistle on both the Carrel
and the Longfellow were the first warn
mgs OF any danger. and the doors or
statc-rOoms were hurriedly thrown open,
Nl4lf the IurrtIAtfE kdlutifN AtktAi'i
on the front part Of the cabin deck. The
fog was so dense that they could see
nothing. and Few OF them were aware OF
the actual danger. The officers were cool
auI collected, and retained their presence
Of mind for the most part even In the
face OF immin nj danger. The crew were
summoned IN front OF Tho holor deck and
preparations rapidly made for removing
the passengers, many Of whom were la
dies. to the Carrcl, which was still moored
alongside
All this occupied but fraction Of the
time between the moment when 1t was
first seen that the boat would strike and
the actual collision. The sound. when
the boat struck could be heard several
squares along the river front. and was
as if the walls OF great building had
fallen A moment later the river was
black with floating wreckage and freight.
The passengers had escaped 10 the Car
rel. and when the collision occurred the
hawsers broke. and the Carpl driited
% the Kentucky side of the pier The
week sank quickly. and three minutes
later scarcely Vestige remained
The number Of missing and dead, so
far as known at this time by the boats
agents. Is eight, bat this number may
be increased when the floating wreckage
IS overhaulod. There were about forty
passengers on the boat crew Of htty-
two, and about twenty laborers. None
OF the latter are known, as they were
only shipped for the River and Trans
fer Companys landing. short distance
below the Chesapeake and Ohio bridge.
Even the number Of the laborers IS not
known exactly. so that 1t IS impossible
10 ascertain whether or not any are
missing.
THE VICTIMS.
The victims are as follows:
David Aldridge, passenger Rome, n. Y.
Captain J. Lawrence Garter, frst clerk,
Newport. Ky.
Gus Chauvot. bar-keeper, Cincinnati
Mrs. ". J. Aull passenger, Dayton. o.
James Miller (coloreD, porter, Cincin-
natl
Missing: Mrs. W. j. Aull. passenger.
Dayton. O.
William Colbert. second clerk. was
among the last to leave the boat and he
was also the last to see Captain Carter.
When he saw that the boat was about
10 strike the pier he hurried TO his own
state-roOm, where his wife was dressing,
having Just arisen. His young son was
with her. and, hurrledly warning them
TO prepare TO leave the boat. he passed
on through to Captain Carter's state
room. Captain Carter was just putting
berth. Colbert hastily shouted warning
70 him TO leave the boat as she would
strike IN another moment. Captain Car
ter appeared TO be daZed for the time
being and unable 20 realize the full i'm
portance OF the warning, for he con-
tlnued TO lace his shoes.
Colbert, without waiting further hur-
Y4ed back to his own state-room, and
there taking his wife, ran to the deck.
ana jumped from this TO the roof ot the
deck OF the Carrel Colbert's son follow
ed and an three escaped uninjured. A
moment later the Carrefs hawser broke.
and she drfued on 20 one side. Captain
Carter could be family seen In the fog
on the hurricane deck Of the Longfellow,
and then the wreck drifted away.
The steamer l.ongfellow was one Of the
largest, best-known. and handsomest
packets on the Ohio river. She was u
stern-wheelcr. and up to about two years
ago was known as the T. 7. Schenck
Al that time she was purchased by her
present owners. the White Collar Line
Company. aud her name was changed
TO Longfellow
MACHINERY FOR THE SOUTH.
she was ircightcd almost entirely with
reaplng and moving machines for south
crn markets The consignment consisted
OF MiNff ANAn H'N lAlAANtitrs anu was bAAANu
to Nicksburg. Yazoo city, and New Or
leans. lt was. doubtless. the largest ship
mtat Of harvesting machinery ever made
at one time cut OF Cincinnati. and shows
that the South Is preparing for a period
Of prosperity. An interesting fact con-
uccte1 with the shipment Is that the
goods were actually sold and were not
being shipped down there on exhibition
The Walter a. Wood Moving and Reapiag
Machine Company, which made the ship
mtnt. invited the local Stock Exchange
ana Chamber Of Commerce members 10
visit the boat and inspect the immense
cargo Of machinery before the start
FURTHER DETAILS.
The steamer struck the pier just abaft
her boilers An was confusion. and the
passengers were 20 hastily aroused that
only a few OF them had time to get their
clothes on.
The Hercules Carrel pressed 20 the
loncfcllOw's assistance. and the latters
psascngers were transferred 20 the Car
rers deck. Hardly had the last one
landed on the unlnjured steamer. when
the I.onsfellow parted amidshlps. and
dnappeared In the muddy stream, bow
FIRST
TIE pilot-house and some OF the upper
works fOated downstream, and were
pckcd up late IN the afternoon. All the
BEATS papers and records were lost, with
nearly everything In the way OF per-
Faral prOperty OF the passengers and