FEARFUL STEAMBOAT COLLISION.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 463, 9 February 1869, Page 3

FEARFUL STEAMBOAT COLLISION.

A most terrible disaster took place on the Ohio River on the night of the 4th December—the collision of the steamers United States and the America. The special telegram to I the press from Madison, Ind., is as I follows : I A terrible accident occurred on the Ohio River last night, about halfpast eleven o'clock. The magnificent steamers Uuited States (descending) and the America (ascending) collided lat Ray's Landing, about two miles above Warsaw on the Indiana side. The United States had a quantity of petroleum on her deck. The America struck the United States on the right hand side, forward of the steps, cutting into her a considerable distance and sinking her to her main deck in about two minutes. A fire communicated in some way to the petroleum, and as soon as the boats collided they were in flames. It is said that some mistake was made in the signals of the America. She blew her whistle twice, which the pilot of the United States apparently did not hear. The America again signalled by two blasts of the whistle, which the Uited States answered ; but it was too late. The excitement was terrible, and it is supposed that seventy-five or eighty people were lost. Several citizens, three of whom are Steele Bright, Lewis Vance, and O. B. Sappington, of Madison, are among the missing. The receiving clerk, James Johns, of the United States, is also missing. It is estimated that thirty-three women, who were passengers on the United States,were lost. The destruction of these fine and costly steamers, resulting in such terrible loss of life, and the fears for the fate of those who are missing, have cast a gloom over the entire community.

Later accounts represent the loss of life as much greater than given above.