Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-18
Don tAs HsiiimsSs Patriot. .4Pra Is.
AW RUL CALAM
DREADFUL STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION IN
OUR BASiN-GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
MANY PERSONS DANGEROUSLY
SCALDED OR MOIf\DED.

OUR BASiN-GREAr LOSS OF LIFE
MANY PERSONS DANGEROUSLY
SCALDED OR WOUNDED.
A most violent and fatal explos on OF Steam
| bost occurred NJ one OF the wharves IN this city
yes1erday and under circumstances OF an astonishs
ing character. The Baltimore Steam Packet
Company had Just finished beautiful steamboat,
called the Medora, and her engine having been
completed she to have started on trial excur-
| SION down the Bay. The boat a model OF
Workmanship, and her engine of great power. The
BOAT and engine had both been built with view
to speed, and it was supposed by those who
Judges, that she would have answered fully the
hish expectations OF her owners. She was intended
20 run IN the line OF boats between Baltimore and
Norfolk The boat was lying at the wharf on the
south SIDE OF the basin attached TO the establishment
OF MIR John Waterman, and at three o'clock, the
hour for starting on the excursion, number Of
citizens, including the officers of the boat, had
sembled on board. With view 10 prevent too
grea, crowd on board, the boat had been hauled
out about thirty feet from the wharf, and those who
were invited TO the excursion were conveyed TO her
an small boats. little delay in starting took place.
m consequence OF some OF the principal officers OF
the Company not having arrived at the hour ap.
pointed. Among those who were thus detained
was John G. Moale, Esq the general agent OF the
Company. He passed our Office at about three
O'Clock, and in few words Of CONVEX sation with
him. he manifested the high qualification he expected
from the Performance OF the new boat, 10 whose
completion he had Tor weeks been looking anxously
forward. Alas little thought he, or his now nil cl-
ed family, when he rose from the dinner table to 60
To the boat that Il was the last meal he should take
on earth and that IN lew hours he would I've IN
eternity
Mr. Moale having reached the boat. and others
expected having also arrived, about half past three
o'clock the te ruug and the engine was started
At this moment. the great crowd of passengers on
board were fortunately aft Of the engine buta good
number of them were standing near the smoke
stacks, and several among them Mr. Moae, were
looking 1t the machinery. MIR Watchman the pro.
prctot OF the establishment IN which the engine
was made was standing among those who were
neHr the smoke sack, and turning to Mr. Thomas
Widely. who stood by has side. asked him il he had
piece oi paper. The latter replied that he had a
p.cce in his pocket 10 IL and they walked towards
the aft a. the boat, that MIR Wildey might get the
rapcr, ard To- The purpose Of ncin out of the crowd
~ this moment, md when the wheels had only
made two evOlu;ions. the boiler exploded. throwing
the smoke pipes, the fore part Of the upper deck
ana the persons who stood on II, forty or fifty
ieet into the sir-te 'rns oaen the sides OF the YES
Sci round the boiler, and scattering fragments Of the
wood and non all around-and raising the lmmense
iron bcier up and throwing II crosswise on the
deck. The scene presented by the boa, afford
Ell NJ once muurriul evidence Of the immense
powct OF steam. ami OF the ruin OF which il can lie
the instrument La-ge oak beams are splintered 10
pieceS-iron bars. that would have wihstcoi the
strength OF a hundred men. are broken and wrench
ed into many shapcs-the lighter wood work of the
deck IS blown almost 10 atoms.
n gentleman who was passing along the head Of
the bastn, AZ the moment OF the explosion and
whose attention was attracted Ivy il, describes the
noise rs neither loud nor sharp ut rs NJ some hea-
w material had fallen with n dead Sound from
great height. There appeared also 10 be three ex-
blossoms cs NJ :htce boilers were bursted. There
beng but one boiler, the sound of three explosions
were mos likely produced Ivy the boiler striking
against and b'eakins the sides OF the vessel.
We have not been able. IN the confusion and
the variety oi statements that Ire in circulation to
arrive al the number OF persons who " ere on board
but rumor esi'rlntes them AZ from frty n n hun
dr-i and hity. but 1t is probable they were near
one hundred. For the same reason we have not
been able 70 ascertain the number and names Of
all those who are killed or wounded hut the sub
joined list comprises those Of whom we have had
authentic accounts. Ii is probable that several
were blown oil into the basn and either killed by
the explosion or drowned thereafter; and as their
death mNY only he ascerianed by their absence
from Their homes. It may he some days before the
iul eKien, Of the loss Of iie is known. Others may
have been seriously or slightly injured but having
re'u-ne quickly 10 their homes, before any account
OF their injuries was taken, no repor, is made Of
them.
Assoc as the explosion took place, the boat was
ehVeioped m cloud Of scadins steam. and 1t was
from nhe.lng This that many were killed, and 10
tins danger those in the forward part Of the vessel
were all exposed. Others killed by the hy-
ing umoers, and many seriously hurt by being ex-
tcrr1lly sea dei by the steam
X.
engine, escaped entirely from the effects Of the ex
ploslon; but IN the CONSERVATION which the ex.
posion caused several OF those thus safe from the
steam. jumped overheard, and OF the m IS repor
ed 20 have drowned. Another great cause OF the
loss OF life, was the sudden sinking OF the boat -
he SIDES Of the boat around the boer. HAVING
= been blown away, the water rushed n ana she
sunk, about sixty feet from the wharf the water
reachns to near the upper deck. The steamboat
Constitution was yIng along side the dock with
her stern TO the Medora. and Captain Chav,or who
was standing on the Constitution, was knocked
down by the conclusion, ind driven several feet on
the deck OF his boat. The hats OF many OF those
on the at OF the MedOri, were blown of by the
current Of air caused by the sudden expansion Of The
steam.
Many on board, and who were in dangerous DO.
sons, had almost miraruoGs escapes One Of the
han1s had OCCASION, o. moment before the EXPLOSION
TO 20 into the pantery, aud wanting something be.
hini the door, he shut II at the moment the boiler
burst, by which he escaped unhurt. Had the
door renamed open, he would have encountered
the whole volume Of steam, aud been either killed or
dreadllIy scaided.
Our reporter was carly on the ground, and from
the niormauan he gathered, and from the accounts
gwen 10 The morning papers We are ena Ll.d 10 make
NJ me 'ubJoined lists Of the killed and wounded
~ me tune Of writing TINS our reporter still at the
scene oi the disaster, and shall hear from n m
10 tune Tor this afternoon, edition. the fui partcu.
.ars OF the discoveries made this morning.
with eommendnbie speed. the physicians and
surgeons Of The city, FASTENED n the place Is soon
as they heard OF the disaster and among those who
were present, We observed Drs. Collins. Smi h
Whtrdso, BiN'ey, Dunbar, Thcobold. Roberts
Richie, Miller, llin'ze, Moukur, Mcclure. Riley
knnem1n, Alberse, Baker, Cohen, Chew. and
there we're doubtless many others
Col. tlillen, tie Mayor Of tho City, was nrnong
the first 70 reach tho scene, and with he Hish Con
stable mud other city officers rendered most oiIi,ent
ald 10 reseulng the survivors and in getting the
killed from the wreck and water.
a LIST or THE DEAD.
John e Moaie E,q, the General Agen, IF the
Company lie was standing, a. We are ipfo,p,.J
near the machinery looking NJ ~ movement H.
was thrown III md fell upon piece Of the deck :;
the water. Whtn taken up he was sensible and
could ortIcu.nte. Ills face was wounded. ms ,J.s
were fractured and bis back much injured II IL
supposed that he had inhaled the steam. lie v,s
placed on Inter provided as soon az possible ADD
conveyed to his home In Calvert stree. lie lived
70 reach the house, bat died in few minutes tIsr,.
alter. lie was wgtiY and useful ci.izsn ,,J
his sudden and melancholy death comes iitc
heavy blow on bis Jercayed family and relatives
and friends '''
William Moale, fine boy, aged ahou, Ie wear.
son NJ me above. lie was killed Instantly bv n
severe imclure Of the skull and WIS also sc3ilss
tie was taken from 'ho wreck and carried viii oU
haste 70 The office Of his uncle, Do IInll m I,Y,n
ton street Bu, lie vas beyond the aid or ,osJ,rsi
/ SKI. Another son q VIZ Noole was ,'so an lo,,i |
ard was thrown into tho water. but VA, r,.,..' !
/ ny centernnn Ftnnding there. Aesooo 80 b., 90,