New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-09
SIX LIVES LOST.
THE BOAT CRASHED INTO BRIDGE PIER IN A
FOG As SHE WAS ABOUT TO START ON A
JOURNEY TO NEW oRLEANS-DETAI.s

FOG As SHE WAS ABOUT TO START ON A
JOURNEY TO NEW oRLEANS-DETAuS
OF THE DISASTER
Cincinnati. March s.-The handsome Cincinnati
and New-Orleans packet Longfellow went to the
bottom Of the Ohio River at o'clock this morn
Ing She sank in thirty feet OF water opposite
the Marmet coal landing, at Smth-st. She struck
the channel span Of the Chesapeake bridge and
sank within three minutes. According TO the best
information. SIX persons were lost. 1t is said
there were over 100 people on board the boat when
she struck. The pilot in charge of the boat says
the fog was SO dense when she struck that he was
unable to discern the pier in the mist and was
not aware Of its proximity. The list of Victims
as far as known, is as follows:
DEAD
A.DRIDGE. David. passenger Of Rome, " Y.
AULT W. j.. passenger Of Dayton. Ohio
AuLT Mrs W. J.. passenger OF Dayton. Ohio.
CARTER Captain J. L.. first clerk. OF Newport. KY
CHAUVET. Gus" barleeper. OF Cincinnati.
MILLER. James coored. porter. of Cincinnati
The real cause OF the accident, 1t Is said, was
the fact that the boat like the Inflated State of
Missouri was SO unwieldy that she became I'M
manageable and the pilots were powerless to con-
troll her. The boat was to have left here for New
Orleans last night, but prevented from doing
50 account of the dense fog. Riyermcn say
the fog even greater this morning, and tho
boat should never have left 1t was decided, how
ever. to send the boat out and the towboat Her
cules Carrel was sent out TO aid her In passing be-
low the bridges. The Carrel was secured to the
stern Of the Longfeow. and both boats passed
down the river to point about hfty yards above
the Chesapeake and Ohio bridge, where the Long
fellow became entirely unmanageable. Many of
the passengers were in their staterooms engaged
In sorting their baggage and preparing for the
long trip The shrill blasts of the whistle on both
the Carrel and the Longfeow, were the first
warnings OF any danger. and the doors OF the
staterooms hurriedy thrown open. while the
passengers gathered together on the front part OF
the cabin deck
The fog was so dense that they could see moth
Ing and few Of them were aware OF the actua!
danger. The officers were cool and collected in
the face OF imminent danger. The crew were
summoned in front Of the boiler deck and prepa-
rations were rapidly made for removing the pas
sengers, many of whom were women. to the Car
rel which had been alongside. The sound
when the boat struck could be heard for sew
era squares along the river front. moment
later the river was black with floating wreckage
and freight Tho passengers had for the most
part escaped to the Carrel by jumping. and when
the collision occurred the hawsers broke, while
the CaIrcl drfteI u the Kentucky side Of the
pier. The wreck sank quickly. and three minutes
later scarcely "A vcstige remained There were
about forty passengers on the boat, a crew 81
nfty-two and about twenty llb1rcrs The Long
fellows officers consisted OF John Klrker captain,
OF Cincinnati; J. l.. Carter. chief clerk, Newport,
Ky. William Colbert. second clerk, Newport
James Hendlcy chief engineer. Cincinnati; wilson
y. Hart. second engineer. Newport: James How
ara. chic; mate. Evansville Ind, George 1Iuh-
ucl.s and bs Written, pilots, bellevue, ~.
colbert and Hart each had Il foot smashed
colbert Was among the last % leave the
boat anu be- Was also the last 10 see
Captain Carter. the chief clerk. when ne
saw that o.. boat was about - strike rae per
be- hurried To- his own statcrooin. wher" his WE
was dressing having just arts n HIS young s'h
vas with her. HurTcdly warning them 10 pre-
rare . leave the boat Colbert passed on through
t, Captain Carriers stateroom Captain carter
was just putting On his shoes ana was SIahl'nS
near his nclth. Colbert shouted 4 warning T.
him - leave the boat, she would strike IN ar
other moment. Captain Garter appeared 10 DE-
daZed FOR tn Tim" being ana unable 10 redl"e u,
Fun Importance u the warning. Tor ne c'hthu,u
10 lace his shoes. Colbert without waiting tutt-
or hurried back - his own stateroom. and men
taking his wife both ran 10 the deck and Jumped
from this to the roof Of the deck II the Cdrf"'.
Colbert's son followed them. moment later me
Carrcrs hawscr broke and she driiie1 on 70 one
side Captain Carter could be family seen IN the
flg on the hur. 'dHe dc K "i Inc L"hkI"'o"' anu
then the wreck dllftcd away.
The steamer Iongfellow was one ~ the largest,
best known and handsOIncSt packets on the ONO
River She vas "A stern wheeler. and up u about
two Years ago was known as the u /. Schenck.
At that line she purchased by her present
owners the White Collar Line Company. and the
name was changed 70 the IOngfellow. She was
frelcht.d almost entirely with rcaping and NOV
Ing machines FOR the Southern markets. me con
sgninrni consisted Of more than 500 machines
and was billed - Nichsburg, NaZJo C.ty anu N'"-
Orleans She was worth S2'OOO.
Among the rescued IL Mrs. David Aldrlige "i
Rome y Y She t. at the Palace Hotel pros
trated with GRIEF over the loss - her husband
she saws they were on their way t. Ncw-OrlednS
for the benefit 81 Mr.. Adridgc's health rs ne was
a sufferer from rheumatism. When Inc aldrH
was given after the boat had started 20 sink, they
left their gtat.roOn. but after reaching IN" deck
Mr. Allrilge remembered that he hId IrIt MS
oyercJat and sent his wife back for H. InrI"
was such confusion hy tn" time Mrs. AldrdEe
returned 10 tho deck that she was unanl" 10 To-
cate her almost helpless husband, AZ everybody
was scrambling b. help himself Inc Crippled man
Il is believed was knocked down in the rush
and went 10 a wdtcry grave
The pier upon which the L0ngfeilow struck mas
been p constant menace - riv"rmen whenever the
water IS above its normal station.
Rome. ~ Y. March S-Divd Adrdge who
was drowned by the sinking OF The steamer Long
fellow in the Onto River was born in England IN
1870 lie had beon In the cigar business III TINS
city since IN6l I'm 1891 he was elected oupeill-
tcnd"nt of the Poor Of oneida County on inc
Democratic ticket He held the office three years
on Tuesday In company with his WHO. ne Ieit
Rome for an extended trip through the South'