The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-09

FEARFUL STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION |!
APPALLING SACRIFICE OF HUMAN
LIFE.
From tae Cincinnati Whig- -Extra-ApriI 25th
MOST AWFUL STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT
LOSS OF 1876 LIVES.
II becomes again our painful duty to re-
cord one of the most awful and destructive
occurrences known in the terrible and ia.
tai catalogue of steamboat accidents.
This afternoon about six o'clock, the
new and elegant steamboat Moselle, Capt.
Perrin, left the wharf uf this city, (fulI sof
pnssencers) for Louisville and St. Louis,
aud with view of taking family on
board at Fulton, about mile and half a
bovc the qdoy, proceeded up the river, and
made fast to a lumber raft for that purpose
Here the family were taken on board,
and during the whole time of the detention
the Captain was holding on to all the steam
he could create, with an intention of show
ing off to the best advantage the great
speed of the boat as she pnssed down the
whole length of the city. The Moselle was
new brag boat, and had recently made
several exceedingly quick trips to and from
this place.
Sson rs the family were taken on board
from the raft, tho boat showed of, and at
the very moment her wheels made the frs,
evolution, her boilers burst with most aw.
ful and astounding noise, equal to the mos
violent clap Of thunder. The explosion
was destructive and heart renting in tho
extreme, as we are assured by gentlemen
who was sitting on his horse on the shore
waiting to see tho boat start. Heads
limbs, bodies and blood, were seen flying
through the air in every direction, attended
by the most horrible shrieks and gronns
from tho wounded and the dying.-The
boat, at the moment of the accident, was
about thirty feet from the shore, and was
rendered a perfect wreck. She seemed to
he torn oil to flinders rs far back as the
gen,lemens cabin, and her hurricane deck
(thc whole lengtI') was entirely swept away.
The boat Immediately began to sink rapid
ly, and float with strong current down
the river, at the same time getting farther
from the shore.
The Captain was thrown by the explosion
entirely into the street, and was picked up
dead and dreadfallv mnngled. Another
man was thrown entirely through the roof
of one of the ncighboring houses, and
lI,nbs and fragments Of bodies scattered
about the river and shore in heart rcnding
profusion. Soon rs the boat was discover
cd to be rapidly sinking, the passengers who
remained unhurt in the gcntlemen's and
ladies' cabins, became panic struck, and
with Jataity nnaccountable, jumped into
the river. Being above the ordinary busi-
ness parts the city, there were no boats
ut hand except a few large and unnanagca-
bic wood flats, which were carried to the
relief Of the sufferers as soon as possible, by
the few persons on the shore. Many were
drowned, however, before they could be
rescued from the watery grave, and many
sunk who were not afterwards seen.
1t is supposed that there were about Two
HUNDRED Persons ON BOARD, of which
number only from .ft'y to seventy fee are
befieved to hare escaped, making the esti-
mated loss of iires about ONE HUN
DRED AND TWENTY-FlVE,! O.,
tale Of woe
The accident unquestionably occurred
through sheer imprudence and aarslessness.
The Captain of the boat was desirous of
showing off her grea, speed as she passed
he city, and 10 overtake aud pass another
boat which hnd left the wharf for Louisville
d short time before him. Dearly has he
paid for his silly ambition. The clerk of
he boat. we understand, escaped unhurt.