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

steam water works, (about three quarters Of
mile below where the accident occurred,)
having her chlmneys and about half of .her
upper cabin above the water. A great
many persons are employed in gathering
the bodies, feishi, &c. Only four bodies |
nave to to-day been taken from the boat,
VIZ German woman and her two chill !
dren, and another small boy. The num-
Der OF dead and mangled bodies, altogether.
tnat have been recovered, is about twenty, !
as nearly as has been ascer,ained. A nun
Der OF persons, severely wounded, have
been sent To the hospitals, but whose names
we have not yet heard. One young man
OF the name of Edward Sexton, fro,h Con-
necticut, we saw in neighboring house,
dreadtuily scalded but his physician thinks
he will get well.
The lower deck of the boat is yet en,re-
ly under water, and when the boat shall be
raised, very large number of persons, it
is expected, will be found.
We copy below an account of the explosion
OF the steam boat Oronoko on the Mississippi
on the 2lst ult. The loss of lives has been far
more extensive than at first apprehended, some
accounts saying that fifty persons were killed,
and others giving the number at between 20 and
! 90. This added to the enormous destruction on
board the Moselle, furnishes fearful record,
and calls imperatively for prompt and efficient
legislation. Within the last fortnight, no less
than four different steamboat explosions have
occurred on the Western waters, viz the IRE
mont, near Cape Giradeau; the Eutaw, al
Steubenvile; the Moselle, at CINCINNATI and
the Oronoko, at Princetown, Miss.
| From The Louisville Journal, Of Aprii %.
THE EXPLOSION OF THE ORONOKO
We mentioned Yesterday the bursting of the
boilers of the steamboat Oronoko at Princeton
on her way from New Orleans, and the grea,
destruction of human life on board of her. We
\ have since received from our friend q. w.
Jackson, Clerk of the Peru, the annexed state
ment of some of the circumstances of the dis
tressng occurrence. Mr.. J. informs ms, that
the statement, so far as il goes, can be fully re-
lied on il having been obtained from Is or 20 of
the passengers of the unfortunate boat, who
came up in the Peru. We have conversed with
several fthe passengers, all of whom declare
their inability TO give any thing like an adequate
idea of the scene of horror.
The steamer Oronoko, Capt John Crawford
left New Orleans on Monday, April 10, 1885,
On Saturday morning, the 2lsi, at about 5 o.
clock having made but two revolutions after
leaving Prncetown, Miss, burst one of her boi-
lers, blowing overheard some Is or 90 persons
and severely scalding between 40 aud 80 that re-
manned on board. Some or of the latter
died previous To the departure of the Peru. A
mong the scalded that were ON board, as near ms
could be ascertained, there were between 30 and
80 white men, chiefly deck passengers, or 6
women. and about the same number of children
from the age of to years that have since died
Among those that went overheard about 4 or b
were saved Some few cabin passengers were
supposed to be missing. The ID Engineer was
badly scalded. The I'd Cook, Ia black,) who
was badly scaldcd, jumped overheard some time
after the explosion and was drowned. The gen
eralsupposition ofa physician that was on board
was, that few would recover having been scald-
ed inwardly. The Peru remained so short
time, that it was impossible to ascertain the
names of the scaded or survivors, some having
gone back on the boat which was towed to Vicks-
burgh, and some on the Peru and n Albany
bound up. The number Of cabin passengers on
board the Oronoko at the time near could
be ascertained, was from 75 To so; on deck 90
TO 20, including blacks and children. Most OF
the passengers in the cabin were IN bed at the
time of the accident, otherwise the loss of lives
would have been immense. Every effort was
made by both passengers and crew TO alleviate
the suferiDgs Of the unfortunate beings, but OF
little avail.
! The screams and groans were hear-rending |
in the extreme; prayers and supplicaions for
water to put period TO their existence. Many
thanks are due Captain Shrodes of the Peru,
Captain Wheeler Of the Independence, for their
prompt answer TO the calls of distress. May
they never witness similar scene on their boats.
There was also number of valuable race hors-
es belonging to Col. Oliver and others badly
scalded.
LAKE AccIDENT,-The Buffalo Journal
states, that the Steam Boats Buffalo and Com
modorc Perry ran foul of each other on the