The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-02
From the Daily Keystone Extra Of Tuesday,
TER RISEESLE
STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION !
EXPLOSION OF THE LUCY WALKER;
go TO so KILLED 81 WOUNDED!

go TO so KILLED 81 WOUNDED!
The Louisville Morning Courier of iht
24th inst. furnishes us with the following
account Of most hearl.rending cataslro
phe:
II is with feeling the most acute u pain
ful that we record the following fearful dis
isier, and the loss Of so many valuaf le
lives. The steamboat Lucy Walker, Capt
Vann, left this place for New Orleaus yes
tcrday, crowded with passengers, Wher
about four or five miles below New Albany
and just before sunset, some part Of her
machinery got out Of order, and the engine
was stopped in order to repair it while
Iengaged in making the necessary repairs.
the waler in the boilers got too low; and
about G'e minutes after The engine had
ceased working, her ,hree boilers exploded
with tremendous violence, and horrible and
terrific effect
The explosion was upwards, and that
palt of the boat above the boilers was blown
into thousands of pieces. The u. S.
lSnag-boat Gopher, Capt, l.. B. Durham,
was about two hundred yards distant at the
time Of The explosion. Capt. Dnnha II
was immedi a,ey on the spot, rescuins
those in The water, aud with his crew
rendering all the aid in his power. TO hin
we are indebted for most Of our particu lars
He informs us that the Lucy Walker WASH
the middle of the river, and such was III,
force Of the explosion, that parts of tht
boilers and the boat were thrown on shore
Just after the explosion, the air was fIlet
with human beings s&lragmenls of human b
ing One man vas blown up fifty yards & lel
with such force as to 60 entirely through
the deck of .he boat. Another was Gu
entirely in two by a piece of the boivr
We have heard Of many such hearlrending
and sickening incidents.
Before Capt. Dunham reached the pac
where the Lucy Walker was, he saw
number of persons who had been throwr
Into the rlver down. lie however save
The lives of large number of persons b.
lhlowing them boards and ropes, and puII
ing them on his boat with hooks. I'm
medalely after The explosion, ihe ladie
cabin took fire, and before j, had been con
sumed, she sunk in twelve or fifteen fec
water. Thus is presented the remarkabl
circumstance Of boat exploding burn ing 4
sinking, all in the space Of few minutes
The screams and EXPLANATIONS of III
females, and those who were not killed,
represented as distressing and awful. W
believe none Of the females on board wet
Iinjured-some however, may have bee
drowned The books Of the boat wer
destroyed, and Of course il will be imposs
ble ever 10 ascertain the names of or tn
number Of those killed.
There were at leas, fifty OF sixty person
killed or missing, and fifteen or tweni
wounded, some dangerously. Capt Dur
I, ham left the wounded at New Albany, a
Of whom were kindly and well cared fc
by the hospilaGIe and humane citizens {
lha, town. Captain Ounham deserves tn
thanks Of the community for bis humane
vigorous exerlions to save The lives Of, an
. his kindness and attention TO the sufferer
lie stripped his boat of every blanket, ,shee
and every thing else necessary for the
comfort.
Mr.. John Hxon and Mr.. Henry Bebe
passengers on the Lucy Walker, deserv
notice for their GOODNESS and their efficie,
: eXerlions in saving the lives Of drowne
persons.