Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1882 — A WATERY GRAVE [ARTICLE]

A WATERY GRAVE

fM*d by a Party of Bxeim».ia» •a the Ohle Blver-The Aeeldeat Cante* by a Pilot’s CareloMaooa. Mingo Junction, 0., July s.—The steamer Scioto, with about 500 pas. sen gers, collided with the John Lomas in the middle of the river tonight, sinking the Scioto in fifteen feet of water, only the pilot house being visible. The excursionists are arriving, but are a© much excited that there can be no definite information as to the number lost. Wheeling, W. Vs , July s.—Arthur McNuH.f, rho liiai at Crows Cheek, wir an eye- rßnsjs to ths whole matter. He was standing in bis door immediately opposite where the collision occurred. It was about 8 o’clock. The Lomas while passing the island chute whistled for the preference of sides, and, as near as he can judge, it was three minutes before the Scioto answered, and neither of them appeared to sheer off, and almost immediately the collision occurred. General confusion followed, and I saw the people jumping from the hurricane deck and all parts of the steamer. As far as I could see the Lomas struck the Scotio forward, for the water flew over the bow of the Scioto. The Scioto sunk almost instantly, and the Lomas backed up as soon as possible. The Lomas ran to the Ohio shore and landed her passengers, and then returned to the wreck. The crew and officers of the Lomas then exercised every effort to rescue the unfortunate passengers, and succeeded in landing over 400, making several trips, and continued to work as long as there were any who desired to leave. As soon as 1 saw the accident I jumped into my skiff and started for the wreck. When I got there I got five persons within a distance of twenty-five feet, and there were oti-.er skiffs below me picking them up, but I don’t know how many they got. They were hallooing all over, now,and there appeared to be a great many m the wreek, but it was too dark for me to tell the number, I then took the )arties I rescued to the Ohio side, and >y that time the Lomas had landed heir party and returned to the wreck. ' had just come home from work as he boat came past, and I couldn’t ell how many were on board, but : rom what the parties who had landed told me, there were from sixty-five to seventy on the boat. From the run of conversation of those who had been landed, I gathered that from 500 to 550 were landed. Three women were carried ashore and died after they had been rescued. Two little boys and the assistant engineer of the Scioto were rescued and stop* ped at Cox’s. The assistant engineer told me that he thought many lives were lost, as the lower decks were crowded and the boat sank instantly. Mingo Junction, 0., July s.—The names of those found dead are: C. E. Spriggs, of Hammondsville; Miss Belle Bradon, Dave Fago,. Sarah Riddy, Stewart Piper, Joe Connor and a boy by the name of Ed. Smith, all of Wellsville; R. E. Beardman, E. P. Burke and Miss Mollie Shields, of East Liverpool; Ed. Thomas, the captain’s boy, and it is likely about fifteen more dead bodies will be found. Among the missing known are Willie Booth, John Prosser, Charles Davidson, Lewis Harper and Charlie Leith. It looks now as if from twenty-five to fifty willLe found dead, as people at East Liverpool and Wellsville are missing, and their friends, who got on the boat between East Liverpool and Wheeling. When the boat is raised many bodies will be found. The party seemed to be equally divided between gentlemen and ladies. Tnus far the bodies of but three ladies have been found. Wheeling, W. Va.,July s.—The scene at the wreck of the Scioto today almost beggars description, the anguish of those looking for lost ones adding to the wails and sobs over the inanimate forms of dead loved ones recovered from the waters. The associated press reporter arrived at the scene at noon, at which time only nine bodies had been recovered. Both banks of the river were lined with people, making a crowd of 2,000 people. The work of dragging in the vicinity for bodies is sti.i going on. William Mulholland, of Wellsville, under whose auspices the excursion on the ill-fated Scioto was given, said the boat took on about 200 passengers at East Liverpool. and 250 at Wellsville. The boqt was very much crowded, and refused to stop at other points where tickets had been sold. Taking his statement with the others it is safe to say that 500 souis were on board at the time of the collision. Captain Smith, of Imorten’s Ferrry. who was on the John Lomas, that when some distance from the Scioto he noticed the boats were going to come together, and made his preparations for the shock. Both steamers had on a full head of steam; the Lornas going down stream at the rate of fifteen miles an hour and the ascending Scioto at the rate of twelve miles an hour. It seems to be the prevailing opinion that the cwllision resulted from a misunderstanding or confusion of signals. Up to 7 o’clock this evening ten bodies had been recovered. They were David Tago, aged twenty-one, of East Liverpool; H. E. Beardman, aged twenty-one; E. P. Burke, aged thirty; Ellis Smith, aged seventeen; Miss Bailie Kiddey, aged sixteen; C. Sprague,aged twentyfive; Miss Belle Biannan, aged seventeen; Joseph Connor, aged fifteen, all of East Liverpool, and an unknown aged man and a boy, who are as yet not identified. A number are missing, and several bodies are known to be in the wreck. The steamer Welcome, of this city, left for the scene of the accident this morning to render aid in the recovery of bodies and raiainir the sunken steamer.