Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-11-08
fSum the LOwisvalo COuier of Thursday


EXPLOSION OF THE Lucy WALKER.--G0 TO 80
KILLED AND WOUNDED The Steamboat Lucy
Walker, Capt Vann, left this place for New Orleans
yesterday crowded with passengers. When aboE
four or five miles below New Albany, and Just be-
fore sunset some part of her machinery got out of
ORDER and the engine was stopped III order to repair
it. While engaged in making the necessary re-
pairs the waters in the boilers got too low ; and
about five minutes after her engine had ceased
workings her three boilers exploded with tremendous
violence, and horrible and terrific effect. The ex-
ploson was upwards and that part of the boat u
bove the boilers blown into Il thousand pieces
The IT, s. snag- boat, Gopher, Capt. l.. u. Dunham
was about two hundred yards Distant at the time
of the explosion, Capt Durham was Immediately
on the spot rescuing those in the water, and with
his crew rendering all the aid IN ms power The
Lucy Walker was in the middle oil the river, and
such was the force Of the explosion, that parts Of
the boiler and boat were thrown on shore Just af
ter the cxplusion the air was filled with human be-
inrs and parts of human beings. One man was
blown up fifty yards, and fell with such force to
20 entirely through the deck Of the boat. Another
was cut entirely in two by piece of the boiler.
Before Capt. Durham reached the place where
the Lucy Walker was, he saw number of persons
who had been thrown into the river, drown. lie,
however saved the lives of Il large number of per-
sons, by throwing them boards and ropes, aud pull
ing them on board his boat with hooks. lmmedi-
ately alter the explosion, the ladies' cabin took fire,
and before it had been consumed she sunk in
twelve or fifteen feet of water. The screams and
EXPLANATIONS Of the females, ami those VINO were
not killed, is represented as having been distress
ing and awful We believe none Of the females
on board were injured, some however may have
been drowned. The books of the boat were de-
stroyed, and Of course it will be impossible ever
to ascertain the names the number of those kill
ed There were at least fifty sixty persons kill
ed and missing, and fifteen or twenty wounded
Itt.,.I iplf l,. Ill
at New Albany all Of whom were kindly and well
cared for by the hospitabe and humane citizens Of
that town.
Mr. John ilxon and Mr.. Henry Bebce, passengers
on the Lucy Walker, deserve notice for their cool
ness aud efficient eXertons in saving the lives OF
drowning persons. The following are the names
of the dead missing and Wounded SO far as we
have been able to learn them,
KILLED AND MISSING.
Gen J w Pegram OF Richmond, Va.
Samuel M Brown, Post Office Agent, of Licking
ton, Ky.
r Cormick, of Virginia,
Charles Donne of Louisville.
Philip Wallis, formerly of Baltimore.
Rebecca, daughter of A Foster of Greensville
Virginia.
James Vanderberg of Louisville.
Sir Hughes formerly of Lexington Ky.
Mr. Matock, of New Albany, engineer of the
steamboat Mazeppa.
Nchoias Ford, formerly of this city.
David NuEp the Captain.
Moses KIRBY, pilot
Second mate. second clerk second engineer bar
keeper, and three deck hands, names unknown
-Four negro liremen.
WOUNDED.
w II PEBBLES, very badly hurt
Mr. Raines, Of Va. do
First Engineer, do
Capt Thompson, pilot, arms fractured.
Mr. Roberts OF Phudel phia, Slightly hurt.
II is supposed that John N johnson and Richard
Philips were on board if so, they are lost.
The boat was owned by Capt Nann, Of Arkan
sas, and was insured.