The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-02

From The NJ o Courier Extra.
BY the arrival of the steamer Buckeye, we
have been put in possession of Louisiana
Chronicle Extra, of Wednesday last, giving the
annexed particulars Of The explosion on the
Clipper.
The number of deaths, as far as ascertained,
are IA; missing 10; wounded 8 unnjured Is.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION
DESTRUCTION OF THE STEAMER CLIPPER
GREAT Loss or LiFE.-It has become our
mournfu duty TO record one OF the most terri
rible cataslrophes which has ever happened on
the Mississippi Yesterday, at about quarter
past IL O'clock, as the steamer Clipper NO l,
was backing out from her moorngs at our land
ing, she blew up with an explosion that shook
earth, air and heaven, as though the walls of
the world were tumbling to pieces about our
ears. All the boilers bursting simultaneously
machinery, vast fragments Of the boilers, huge
beams OF timber, furniture and human beings
in every degree of mutilalion, were alike shot
up perpend cular many hundred fathoms in die
air. On reaching the greatest height the va
rious bodies diverged like the jets Of a fountain
In all directons-ialliDg TO the earth, and upon
roofs OF the houses, In some instances, as much
as two hundred and fifty yards from the scene
of destruction. A
The hapess victims were scaded, crushed
torn, mangled and scattered in every possibIe
drection-many into the river, some in the
streets, some on the other side of the BAYOU
nearly 300 yalds some torn asunder by coming
in contact with pcke's and posts, and Others
shot like cannon balls through the solid walls Of
houses al great distance from the boat. All
IN front OF the wheel-houses appears as though
swept by whrlwind. But ANYTHING 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, but II seems TO have broken in two and
partially sunk. She had just taken on board
al me railroad Depot, about Sc bales cdtton
nearly an OF which, together with the money
chest and most of the cabin furniture. we are
glad to learn has been saved.
On reaching the spot under whip and spur
we Immediately bent our steps towards The tenn
porary hospital hastily prepared for the rece =
uon OF such as might be found to retain spark
OF lie. The scene was such as we hope never
TO look upon again. The floors of the two large
warerocms were literally strewn with the
wounded and dying, and others pouring in as
last as 1t was possible to convey them-pray-
ing, groantng, bowling and wrihing in every
possible contortlon OF physical agony. In the
midst ofthis confusing din, up to Their arm pits
IN oil and cotton and bandages, we found our
praise worthy physicans-like good Samartans
uolng sood-quletly and silently, but with the
energy and activity apparently of fifty pair of
handsIrow washing a burn, now dressing
wonderland anon splintering fractured limb.
lhdeediour citizens generally, every man and
mothers son, appeared only anxious as to know
now tney might render most service TO the poor
sun, r,rs-w hite and black, without distinction.
The following are The most important parti-
culars, as far as we have been able 10 gather
th m: tr q - go
The crew consisted of l captain, mate, 2
Gle Ks, engineers, 2 pilots, carpenter, /
Waterman, chambermaid, 5 stewards, cooks.
Is 6remen deck hands
PAssENGERs-L. Thomas missing P. B.
Mon'amat, commission merchant, New Or
leans; and one small boy wounded. Deck pas
sengerS, one wounded two not hurt
Capt. Laurent escaped unhurt. Mr.. Bessey.
chet clerk missing, and the I'd clerk killed.
John Tyson, chief engineer, badly wounded -
VIM. Sumter, I'd engineer, thrown $50 or 200
yards through the root and gable end of a honse
into the back yard against the fence-one arm
torn of, and fragments of his carcass scattering
over the trees. VIM Neson, Sd engineer. /.
m. c., killed Arnault J Lavaud, pilot, missing.
lliam Wall, pilot, killed John Peterson,
mate, badly scalded, though likely TO recover
Gabriel Fool, carpenter, missing Watchman
Killed. Chambermaid saved unhurt Stewards
ah h'hed or missing. Two OF the cooks killed,
ana one wounded Eight hremen killed or miss
ing. -Four deck hands killed or missing.
IL may be well enough here to state, that all
those we have put down as missing, are doubt
less dead, as every search has been made in The
vicinity 10 recover their bodies IN vain. They
have Doubt SIS found watery grave
Inc remains OF those picked up on shore,
were Int FRED decently
he Waterman, white man, was thrown,
alive, 100 yards through the solid wall Of Ba-
cons Hotel, into a bed. He retained his senses
perfectly for some time after, but the poor fellow
expired during the evening.
The cabin boy was thrown about 200 Yards,
through The roof OF shed, and was picked up in
inged condition.
T. 5. Since the above was in type, we have
leafned the death OF another Of the firemen.
Mr.. Thomas, grocer of Bayou Sara had but
just taken leave OF his wife ard family and stepped
on board when the explosion occurred. His wife
and child, and another lady and child who happened
to be with her, hearing the uproar, ran Immediately
to the front windows TO ascertain the cause They