Steamboat America and United States
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Sunday, 6 December 1868, page 1
About twelve o'clock Friday night, near Warsaw, Kentucky, about sixty-five miles from Cincinnati, the United States of the Louisville mail line, struck the America upon her bow and in a moment both vessels were the scene of death. Both boats were heavily laden and crowded by passengers. A part of the cargo of the United States consisted of petroleam, arranged in barrels upon the deck and immediately after the collision the coals from the furnace reached the oil and the vessel was enveloped in flames.
The night was dark and the women and children were sleeping. The boats were sinking wrapped in flames and all around the waves were transmuted into a firey furnance. Captain Whitten, of the America, was in the pilot house just before the boats came together. He says the America gave two blasts of her whistle, but neither he nor the pilot heard any response from the States. Captain Wade, of the States, remained on the roof of the steamer until he was completely surrounded by flames. He escaped by jumping to the boiler deck guards of the America when the two boats came together. He says but for the fire he could have run the boat ashore and saved everything.
Captain Joe McCammott, a well known pilot held on to the yawl when it fell and was finally rescued. He was found to be very badly burned and his strength was almost exhausted when assistance reached him.
KNOWN TO BE LOST
James Johns, Second Clerk, Cincinnati
James Fennell,
barkeeper, Cincinnati
John Fennell, assistant
barkeeper, Cincinnati
Mrs,. Mary Johnson, Louisvile Ky.
Harry
Brunswick, son of M M Brunswick
OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES
Richard M Wade, master
Robert Riley, first clerk
Andy Harrigan, second clerk
James Jones, third clerk
Oliver Noble, mate
Henry, second mate
A Marshall, first engineer
Charles Marshall, second
engineer
John Hamilton, pilot
J Remelin, pilot
James Fennell, barkeeper
John Fennell, steward
Mary Perkins,
chambermaid