Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-10-19
From Tie Ncio Orleans Picayune, Sept. %.
A DREADFUL EXPLO SION-GREA1
hl,n AI, L L.

BY the arrival Of the Buckeye, this morning.
we have been favored with an extra of the Louis.
lana Chronicle, which we hasten to lay before our
readers
/, has become our mournful duty to record one of
the most terrible catastrophos that has ever hap
pened on the Mississippi. Yesterday, about quar-.
ter past ten o'clock, as the steamer Clipper No. |
was backing oNt from her moorings at our land
ing she blew up with an explosion that shook
Garth, air nnd heaven, as though the walls of the
world were ~tumbling to pieces about our ears
AlIthe boilers bursting simultan eously-machinc-
~, vast fragments Of the boilers, huge beams of
TIMBER, furniture and human beings in every de-
gree Of mltllltion, were alike shot up perpcnGic-
ularly many hundred tathoms in the air.
Ga reaching the greatest height, the various
bodies diverged like the Jets Of a fountain in all
difec,ions-hlling 10 the earth, and upon roofs Of
houses, IN some instance as much as Two hundred
and fifty yards from the scene of destruction. The
hapless victims were scalded, crushed, torn, mang-
led and scattered in every possible direction-ma-
ny INTO the river, some into the streets, some on
the other side OF the bayou, nearly 800 yards, some
torn asunder by coming in contact with pickets
and posts, and others shot like cannon balls lhro'
the solid walls Of houses a, a great distance from
the boat All in front ofthe wheel-houses appear
as though swept by a whirlwind. But any thing
like an adequate description Of the scene of wreck
and ruin Is utterly out Of the question. What re.
mains OF the hull has been firmly dashed to the
shore, bu, II seems 10 have broken in two end par
tally sunk. She had Just taken on board, at the
railroad depot, about eighty six bales Of cotton.
nearly all OF which, together with The money chest
and most of the cabin furniture, we are glad 10
learn, has been saved.
On reaching the spot, we Immediately bent our
steps toward the temporary hospital prepared for
the reception Of such as might be found 10 retain a
spark Of life. Tbe scene was such as we hope
never 10 look upon again. The floors Of The two
large ware-rooms were literally strewed with the
dead and dying, and others pouring in q. fast as
1t was possible 10 convey them, praying, grooming,
bowling and w%rilhing in every possible conionion
OF physical sgony.
This awful and heart rending catastrophe wa.
attended with circumstances which becaar de.
sciipuon. We only mention a few facts and leave
the balance to the Imagination OF the reader.
One Of the sufferers was thrown a distance OF
about three hundred yards, his body striking the
house occupied by our late colleague, DR.. Jones.
tearing away q portion fthe roof and passing out
through The weather boarding at lhe end into the
yard, where il was found, presenting a most shock.
Jag APPEARANCE; another was thrown over our Of
fee, nearly an equal distance, and so mutiated as
TO be scarcely recognized a thId vas hurled
through a window into one Of our public houses,
AMI lodged on +, bed, fully one hundred yards dis
tan, from the boat, yet this man survived a few
hours; and a fourth wa. cast about the same dis
nnce and fell dead upon the levee.
Heavy masses Of iron were hurled in every d.
retion, tearing away porion. oflhe oofsnl PEN
Grating The walls Of houses in The vicinity. The
larger portion Of one Of the boilers fll upon the
house occupied by Mr. Thomas, completely sun
dering the roof from comb TO cave, passing ihro'
To the lover floor, but fortunately dong 10 Other
injury 10 sny Of the inmates.