The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-16
From the Baltimore Sun.
AWFUL DISASTER!


From the Baltimore Sun.
AWFUL DISASTER!
Explosion ofne Steamboat yNedora Great Loss of Life
| One Of the most melancholy occurrences with
which our city has for long time been visited took
place yesterday afternoon, at about half past two
oclock-an occurrence which sent thrill of horror
through the general heart, and carried the
sequent on violent and unexpected death, into the
bosoms of many families. The steamboat Medora,
| recently built by the Virginia and Maryland Steam
Navigation Company and intended to ply between
this city and Norfolk, was about to leave Cullys
wharf upon excursion down the bay, for the pur-
pose of testing her qualities. number Of respecta-
BILE citizens were invited to witness her performance
| but how many were actually on board when the
heartrendng occurrence Of her ploson took place,
we have, as yet, no means Of ascertaining All
things, however, being prepared for her departure
the bell rung and the wheels made three revolutions
when the boiler burst with tremendous report
throwing up clouds of vapor, attended by fragments
of the vessel and by the bodies of unfortunate
human beings who were on board-the whole
| presenting to the spectators scene of indescr-
bable and terrific sublimity. AS the smoke cleared
away, the effects Of the calamity became visible.
The vessel was made, in instant entire wreck
all her timbers, from the engine forward being rent
away. She sank Immediately to her guards, and
now lies &C sheer hulk" in the basin. Hundreds Of
persons the wharf, at the time displayed the ut
most alacrity in rescung from the water the dead
and dying. News of the disaster soon brought
large number of persons to the spot agated by the
dread of finding relatives or friends involved in the
calamity, and among the rest, many mothers, who
told by their tears and cries. the fearully lehen
sons they entertained for the safety of their children
Their fate was, from the circumstances of the case,
mystery, and this idea created for short time,
scene of unutterable agony aud terror Immediately
after the occurrence, the mayor Of the city, Solomon
Hen, ESQ., and the high constable, together with the
police of the city, arrived, and were actively engage
ed in assisting by every possible MEANS the wretch
ed survivors, in searching for those who had sunk
into the water unnoticed, yet in the cabin of
the boat. simultaneously with their arrival large
number of surgeons and physicians also arrived, rea
dy to exert their professional skill. In addition to
others whose names have not learned, we noticed
Doctors Miller, Smith, Whitridge, Hintze, Monkur,
Mcclure, Dunbar, Riley, kinneman, Albers, Baker,
the two Doctors Richie, and the two Doctors Roberts
Under the circumstances, and in the absence of
any investigation it is of course impossible to say
what the direct and immediate cause OF this fatal
calamity. 1t is generally supposed, however, that
the boat had been some time ready for departure
| and the steam up, that the boiler must have been
nearly exhausted, and had become hot, and that in
this State water turned in it is certain that at
the moment of the explosion, steam was letting of
with considerable force.
! A gentleman who witnessed the event from the
deck Of the Georgia, directly opposite, remarks that
dense smoke for an instant obscured the immediate
part of the boat at which the explosion took place,
and the report, which, though as loud as small
field piece had dull and heavy sound, reached the
ear, the smokestack seen darling like an arrow
out of the cloud hundred feet into the air and
each side were thrown the bodies Of human beings,
with the and legs extended by their whirling
motion through the air.
The Medora, at the moment Immediately
abaft of the steamboat Constitution, and almost in
contact with her, fact which it is necessary to
| IL
tailed below.
We annex list Of the persons killed and wounded,
the latter either suffering from confusion, fracture or
scalding
John c. Moale Esq. General Agent of the Com
pany to whom the boat belonged suffered severe in
ternal injury attended with dreadful fracture of the
ribs he taken from piece of the upper deck in
the water, and conveyed home, where he died within
al hour.
| William Moale his son. youth of Ia years, was
taken from the wreck, dead the skull having been
verely fractured.
John Vickers long known the proprietor of a
tavern in McClellans alley was blown from the boat
completely the stern of the Constitution, and fell
on the wharf; he taken up dead, his head beng
awfully fractured
John Speedy, ship joiner, Of Bond street, F. P,
was thrown board the Constitution and fell upon
stout d-rai which broken in two; the scalp
of his head cut ii three four directions from
t. crown, each cut being many inches in length.
about hour, when he was removed, but died before
he reached his residence He leaves wife and two
children
John Young Alice Anna street, F. P, a mwrighi,
was taken out of the from a piece OF the
wreck one two of his limbs fractured, and
| he much hurt internally, that he died at the
house to which he aken within couple OF hours.
He leaves wife and child.
John Lecount of the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
was fireman on board taken out of the wreck, with
~ o~.I bob hall Had
he convey ed TO house adjacent, and died about
| five o'clock He leave a wife and children.
Benjamin French, painter, OF Fell's Point was so
much hurt and scaded that he died within hour at-
ter the accid, Mt
John K Boone, printer, whose residence in
| Lee street. very much injured by confusion and
scald, and ex pIred befoie dusk.
The body of John Burns, a fireman on board was
drawn up from amongst the floating remnants by the
side of the boat Two hours after the accident.
The body of John Harper, the second mate was
dragged from the fore part of the Medora which was
gdnwale down, short time before night
The above completes the list of those known to have
been killed and who discovered during yester-
day evening The following is, so far has been
possible in the midst of the most intense and painful
eIcitemtn to make II So accurate list Of the
! dltion of Others who unfortunately on board
! Andrew F. Henderson, Esq, President of the Com
pany, very badly scald d.
! Captain Sutton, the commander of the boat, badly
! hurr aud scalded.
Jackson Reeder a SOP of Charles Reeder, an extern
sive lnacbnst Federal Hili badly hurt and scad-
ed-very low Il night
Joseph Craig, an engineer, very badly hurt, and
scarcely expected to survive; living in Light street,
near Hill.
John Mitchell, taken from the wreck with both
thighs broken; bis brother, James Mitchell is mis-
The following are all very much injured, by contu-
sion Oh otherwise: