Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-05-05
From G.e GIN. WA.s, .4prI 25h
MOST AWFUL STEAM BOAT ACCIDENT.

From U.e GIN. WA.g, .4prI 25h.
MOST AWFUL STEAM BOAT ACCIDENT.
| Nbecomes again painful duty to record
ono If the most awful and destructive occuren-
ces known in the terrible and fatal catalogue ol
steam boat accidents.
| This afternoon about o'clock, the new and
elegant steamboat, MosELLE, Capt. Perrin, left
the wharf Of this city, (fu:l Of passengers,) for
Louisville aud St. Louis and with view Of ta-
and half above the quay, proceeded up the
river and made fast to lumber raft for that Pur-
POSE Hero the family were taken on board and
during the whole time Of the detention, the Cap
tain holding on to all the steam no could Gre
ate, with an intention ofshowing off to the best
advantage the great speed Of the boat she pass
ed down the whole length of the city. Tho Mo
sole was q new Drag boat, and had recently
made several exceedingly quick trips to and from
this place.
the raft the boat showed of, and at tn, very mo-
mont her wheels made the first evolution, her
boilers burst with q most awful and astounding
noise, equa: to the most violent clap of thunder.
The explosion was destructive and heart reading
in the extreme, NJ we arc assured BY gentle
man, who was setting on his horse on the shore.
waiting to SEQ the boat start. Heads, limbs, bod
les and blood; werc seen flying through the air
in evory direction, attended by the most horr'd
shrieks and groans from the wounded and the dy-
ing The boat at the moment of the accident,
VS. about thirty feet from the shore,a nd was rem
dercd . perfect wreck She seemed to be torn all
to flinders ~ far back as the gentlemcn's cabin,
and her hurricane deck(the whole length was en-
tirely swept away.-Thc boat Immediately began
10 sink rapidly, and float with n strong currently
down tho river, at the same time getting farther
from the shore.
The Captain was thrown by the explosion en-
lirclv into the street, and picked up dead and
lreadfi,lIy mangled. Another man was thrown
.ntirelv through the roof Of ono Of the neighbor-
ng houses, and limbs, and fragments OF bodies
cattered about the river and shore in heart rend-
NO profusion. Soon as the boat was rapidly sink
no. the passengers who remained unhurt in the
and ladies' cabins, became panic
truck and with q fatuity unaccountabIe, jumped
n,o tho river-Being above the ordinary busi-
less parts Of the city, there were no boats at
and excepta few large and unmanageable wood
ats. which were carried to their relief as soon as
ossiblc bv the few persons on the shore. Many I
rere drowned, however before they could b h
escued from = watery grave, and many sunk o
rho wore not seen afterwards. Y
We are told that one little boy on shore, was a
sen wringine bis hands in agony .imPoring those h
resent to save his mother, and three sisters, all
whom were struggling in the wafer to gnin {
70 shore. but whom tho poor little fellow had c
10 awful misfoesune to see perish ono by one al a
ost within his reach. An infant child belong
10 to this family was picked up alive, floating 9,
,wn the river on ono Of tho fragments Of the hur
cane deck. Il
From the Gin. Daily Express, April 26.1 c,
Tho scene Is described to US, was most appal- ei
II. Families, in whole, in part, destroyed, Of
children crying for their parents, and men
ID women seeking for their children and y
ends. te
The boat is q complete wreck, from the bow to
q ladies' cabin. The boilers wero entirely Pc
,wn out or torn into thousands Of pieces. be
IT Of one Of them, weighing about thee hum a.
81 pounds, struck the pavement in front Of le
essrs. Hosea and Weeks, in Fulton, and tere IL
considerably; another piece went through the N
II Of tan yard and considerable fragments Of de
boat boilers ste were scattered o. both sides Of
river,near where the disaster occurred W
Dur informant states. that when the boat had ha
fed about . quarter e . mile, and near the =
lshisgton Brewery, there were about Fifty or INF
~ heads visible in the river; and some thirty to
orty On the wreck Of tho Mosslle. Many Who thu
uld have been saved by remaining On the boat gal
the explosion took place, either from fright, CHI
lear Of drowning, jumped overheard, and were thu
IN their efforts to reach the shore Gro
The various descriptions sf those Who witness sPe
The struggles Of % nnany hnman beings In the AZ
er. together with the cries Of the numerous fort
,ons On land 20 save them, are of the most
n reading character.
woman Who had neshy reached tho shore i
L l.. H. A.