Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-04
JOHN CARTMAS, Secretary
From the Vicksburgh Sentinel.
PARTICULARS OF THE LATE EXPLO-


Since the brief notice which we gave
yesterday of the lamentable explosion oi
the Steamer General Brown, we have
conversed with the two passengers who
are residents of this city, and who mirac-
ulously escaped, Mai. g. f. A. Ather-
ton and Capt. w. w. George.) The
first named gentleman arrived last evening
In the steamer Empress, and the latter IN
the Emperor, this morning, and who we
are glad to discover, is but slightly injured.
From the statement Of both the gentle
men referred to, it appears that the EN-
press which left the mouth of the Ohio a
day or two before the Gen. 3. took at that
point two fiat boats In tow. The G. Il.
overlook the Empress at Memphis, at
which place the latter steamer left the
fiat boats. From Memphis 10 Helena
the two steamers were evidently engaged
in trial of speed. On the arrival of the
G. B. at Helena, (where she was detain-
ed about twenty minutes,) she held on to
all her steam and kept up brisk fire IN
each of the five furnaces. After showing
off from the wharf boat, at the first stroke
of the piston the explosion took place, the
greatest force Of which appeared TO be on
the side next Helena. One passenger, j.
L. Long, Esq. of Vidalia, Louisiana, was
blown entirely through the roof of the
wharf boat; fragments of the five boilers
were thrown in every direction, killing
about thirty OF the boats passengers, be.
sides nearly all the officers and crew, and
four or five persons who were standing on
the wharf boat. A few seconds before
the explosion took place, Mr.. Anterior
crossed over to the side of the boat front,
ing this Stale, and escaped without recei-
wing the slightest injury. Captain George
was saved as it were, bya guardian angel.
He started, we learn, to go on the boiler
deck, just as the pilot rang the engineers
bell. And at this moment his lady dis:
covered some papers sticking out of one
of his coat pockets, and called him back.
After adjusting the papers, he again star
ted, but before he got five steps the explo-
sion took place, and as we have stated
above was partially injured. Not one of
the lady passengers Numbering six or
eight were injured.
The bodies of II. +. Blanchard (our
lamented and worthy townsman) and Mr..
Long, of Vidalia, were brought down this
morning on board the Emperor. The flu
neral of the former will take place this
afternoon at 3 o'clock from his late resi-
dence on Grave street.
tits stated that before Mr.. Blanchard
left our city to visit Lexington, Ky. his
place of birth, whittier he was called to
settle some important bsiness, that he had
forebodings that he should not return; he
arranged all his business and made his
will. The sequel has been, that his fore
bodings have become melancholy truth.
The Gen. Brown had been running
about three seasons, u greater portion OF
the time being under the command OF
Capt. Carter, now of the Diana. She
has heretofore been considered safe
bully boat, "a term applied TO steamers
when they make t1renty miles an hour
down stream and sixteen up.) She lately
passed inspection at Louisville under the
new steam boat law and was provided
with all the necessary certificates. Her
unfortunate commander we learn, was a
man of not much scientific knowledge,
having been large portion OF his life en-
gagged in fiat boating on the Ohio and Miss
sissippi rivers. His knowledge as pilot
was undoubtedly good, but it did not quail,
ify him for having the entire control of
such complicated piece of machinery as
a sixty-horse- power steam engine, and
that too on a high-pressure principle
Poor man! he has, with most of the Off
GERS of his boat, paid dearly for the lack
of knowledge and discreilon-and has sent
to the bosoms of, perhaps hundreds, a sting
that will rankle during their sojourn on
this uncertain stage of existence. We
learn from a passenger, Judge of
machinery, that it has been ascertain
ed, that a few minutes previous to the
explosion, the gage showed fire hans
dred pounds Of steam to the inch!!!-
We advise all those accustomed to travel
on steamers, to discountenance racing,
never TO patronise boat exclusively be-
cause she is of the s'bully" kidney; al
ways to notice whether portion of steam
is let off when the boat is still, and inva-
riably TO keep aft of the wheel house
whenever she gets under way.
The following list will show the names
of cabin passengers known, to be dead or
D. L. Davis, Natchez; E. Sibley, ir. do.
w, A. Miller, do; Dr. Samuel D. Price,
Horace F. Blanchard, do;
Edwin Hubbard, New Orleans; Robert
Johnson, Vicksburgh; t. r. Gathwait,
Mr.. Conway, ]. L. Long, Vi
ialia, La.
The following is a list Of The officers,