Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-04-26
From the Baltimore Patriot, April l5l

AWFUL CALAMITY!
DREADFUL STEAM BOAT
EXPLOSION IN OUR BASIN
-GREATLOSS OF LITE
MANY PERSONS DANGER
OUSLY FOUNDED And
SCALDED.
A most violent and fatal explosion
of a steam boat occurred at ole Of the
wharves in this city yesterday and I'M
der circumstances OF an astonishing
character. The Baltimore Steam
Packet company had just finished a
beautiful steamboat called the Medora,
and her engine having been completed
she was 10 have started on trial ex-
cursinn down the Bay. The boar
was a model Of workmanship, and her
engine Of great power. The boat and
engine had bolh been built with view
to speed. and ii was supposed by those
who are judges, that she would have
answered fully the high expectations of
her owners. She was intended t. run
in The line of boats bale cen Baltimore
ard Norfolk. The boat was living at
the wharf on the soulh side of the basin
attached TO the establishment Of Mr..
John Watchman, and at 3 O'Clock the
hour for arting on the excursion,
number of citizens, including the Off
GERS of the boat, had assemble on board.
With view to prevent too great a
crowd Oh board, the boat had been
hauled out about thirty feet from the
!, wi arr, and those who were invited 10
the excursion were conveyed tosher in
small boats. A little delay in starting
took place, IN consequence Of some of
The principal officers ofthe Company not
having arrived al the hour appoinled.
Among those who were thus drruiuua
was John c. Moale, Esq. the general
agent of the company. He'passed our
office a; about three o'clock, and in
few words of conversation with him
he manifested the high qualification he
expected from the performance of the
new boat, to whose completion he had
for weeks been looking anxiousIy for
ward. Alas! little thought he, O. hs
now afflicted family, when be rose from
the dinner table to 90 to the boat, that
it was the last meal he should take on
earth, and that in a few hours he would
be in eternity!
Mr.. Moale having reached the boat
and others expected having also arri-
yea, about half past three O'Clock the
bell rung and the engine was started.
AT this moment, the great crowd Oi
passengers on board were fortunately
aft of the engine, but a good number
) ofthem were standing near the smoke
stacks, and several, among them Mr..
Moale, were looking at the machinery.
: Mr.. Waterman, the proprietor of the
establishment in which the engine
was made, was standing among those
4 who were near the smoke stack, and
turning to Mr.. Thomas WiIdey, who
5 stood by his side, asked him if he
had piece of paper. The latter re-
piled that he had piece in his pocket
book, and they walked towards the ait
Of the boat, that Mr.. Wildey might get
= The paper and for the purpose OF being
5 out of the crowd. At this moment,
: and when the wheels had only made
/. two revolutions, the boiler exploded,
1 throwing the smoke pipes, the fore part
t of the upper deck and the persons
who stood on it, some forty or fifty. feet
/ MO the air-tearing open the sides Of the
y eSsel round the boiler, and scattering Tag
ments of the wood and irol all arouud-
md raising the immense iron boiler up ana
throwing 1t crosswise on the deck. The
l. scene presented by the boat at once a
G mournful evidence Of the immense power
O OF steam, and of the uiu Of which Ii can
@ ne the instrument. Large oak beams are
Z SplIntered 10 pleces-iron bars, that would
A. nave withstood the strength of a hundred
! men, are broken and wrenche1 into many
u shapes--the lighter vol work of the deck
l. IS blown almost 10 atoms.
II We have not been able,in the confusion
y and The variety of statements that are ID
$ circulation, TO arrive at the number OF per-
y sons on board, but rumour estimates them
|. at from fifty TO hundred aud fifty, but Il
,f IS probable there were near one hundred
e For The same reason we have not been abe
q 10 ascertain the number and names OF al
/ those who were killed and wounded, OuI
: the suhJoined list comprises those of whom
{ we had authentic accounts. 1t is prooa-
l. Bile that several were blown off info Inc
6 basin, and ei'ber killed by the explosion
n or drowned thereafter and as their dtath
/, may only be asceItained BY their absence
n from their homes, it may be some Gays
: before the full extent of the loss of life =
known. Others may have been serIousls
J or slightly injured, but having retirns.
e quickly to their homes, before an account
+ of their injuries was taken, no report \
i made Of them.