The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-11-07

u
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DiSAsTER---EX
PLoSIoN OF THE LUCY wALKER--60 To
so KILLED AND OUNDED., \
The Louisville Courier o! The 81 ul brings the fol
owing particulars OF The most dreadful steamboat ex
7lOsion that has occurred for many monh pas. Fiji,
r Siry persons were killed OF missing, and fifteen ol
twenty wounded:
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER.
# is with feelings the moel acute and painful that We
record the following fearful disaster and the loss of SO
many valuable lives The Steamboat Lucy Walker,
Capt Vann, left this place for New ORLEANS yesterday
crowded with passengers When about four or Eve
miles below New Albany and just before sunset, some
part of the machinery got of order and tie engine
was stopped in order 10 repair it, While engaged in
making the necessary repairs the wafer in the boilers
gOt too low; and about five minutes after the engine
ceased working, her three boers exploded with remen-
violence, and horrible and terrific effect The ex-
poion was upwans and that part OF the boat above The
boilers was bluwn into thousands fpieces The U. s
snag boat Gopher, Capt L. B. Durham was about two
hundred yards distant at the lime OF the explosion onthe
spot rescuing hose in the water, and with hiscew rem
dered an the aid in his power
To him we are indebted for The mostof cur particu
lars. He informs usthat the Lucy Walker was in the
middle Of The rver and such was the force of the expo
sion that paris fthe boilers and,boa were thrown on
shore Just after the explosion The air was filed with
humGn beings and fragments Of human beings. One
man was blown up fifty yards, and fell with such iorce
as to go entirely through the deck Of the boat. Aneth
er was cut in two by piece OF the boiler. We have
heard of many such heart rending and sckning Incl
dents
Before Capt Dunham reached The place where the
L.Walker was he saw number Of persons who had
been thrown into the river drowned He however saved
the lives OF large number ofpersons ~ throwing them
boards and ropes and pulling them on his boat with
hooks. Immediately after the explosion, the ladies
cabin look fire, and before it had been consumed she
sunk in twelve or fifteen feet water. Thus is presented
he remarkable circumstance Of boat exploding burn
ing and sinking all 10 the space Of few minutes The
screams and exclamations otthe females and these who
we're not killed. are represented as having been dstres
ing and AWFUL. We believe none Of the females on
BOARD were injured Sy the explosion--some however
nay have been drowned The books Of the boat were
destroyed; and of course it will be impossible ever 10
scerain the names OF those killed or their nnmber-
There were at least fifty sixty persons killed and mis-
ing and fifteen or twenty wounded-some seriously.
Capt. Dunham left The wounded at New Albany, all
# whom were kindly and wei cared for the hospita
lie and humane ci izens of that town. Captain Dun
lam deserves the thanks Of the community for his hu
name and vigorous eSertons 10 save the lives Of and
lis kindness and attention to the sufferers. He stripped
lis boat of every blanket, Sheet and every thing else
ecessary for their own comfort.
LATER.-The Louisville Coulter Of Monday last |
ontans further particulars OF this terriuie disas
err # says: Il
"The number Of persons killed by steamboat ace |
ens is generally very much exaggerated in first ac
cunts. Weegret TO say such is not the case with the
lucy Walker. Our first impression was that some so
# 60 persons were killed We are now satisfied tina,
here Eot less than 80 persons killed and drowned
nd more than probable The number will reach nearly
not quite 100. Had not the snag boat Gopher been
near as 10 give such prompt attendance, moi more
han had probably not as many as half dozen out ot
he large number OF souls or board, would have been
eft to te II The sad tale"