Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-11-16
From The Louisville Journal
TERRIBLE STEAM BOAT ACCIDENT

Durham, OF the United States snag-
boat Gopher, for the following facts
relative to the loss of the rteamboat
Lucy Walker, and the great destruc-
ton ofhuman life on board of her:
The Lucy Walker left this port
Yesterday, for New Orleans, crowded
with passengers. When about four
miles below New Albany, in the mid
die Of the river, her engine was stop
ped, in consequence of some slight de-
arrangement in part OF her machinery.
In few moments, while the necessary
repairs were in progress, her boilers ex-
IplodeG with terrific. and with the most
fatal and awful effect. Capt. Dun
ham represents the scene at this time as
terrific in the extreme. Such was the
force Of the explosion, that the entire
upper works Of the boat were blown
away, and together with several hui
man beings, hurled to a great height in
the air. Although in the middle OF
the stream, part of the boat and her
machinery were thrown on the Indi-
ana shore. One man was thrown to
the hight of fifty feet and came down
with such force, that his dead body
went through the planks on which it
fell. Tie explosion was instantly fol-
lowed by the most fearful shrieks and
groans from men, women and children.
At the time Of the explosion, the Co
pher was but two hundred yards dis
tant. Captain Durham repaired TO the
spot with the greatest possible haste.
and was the means of saving many
lives. He sent out his yawl, threw
overheard ropes to save those in the
water, and made his men swim to the
rescue Of the drowning. and with hooks
recovered some who had sunk. lmme-
diatcly after the explosion, the after
part OF the boat took fire, and she com.
menced sinking at the bow. She
went down in few minutes, in twelve
or fifteen feet water, and the fire burnt
every thing to the waters edge. The
books and papers of the boat were lost,
and it will be utterly impossible, of
course, ever to ascertain thc.namcs or
number CT the killed and lost. From
the bcs Information VIC have, we shold
suppose that there were probably fifty
killed and missing. Captain Durham
landed the wounded, fifteen or twenty
in number, at New Albany, all Of
whom were kindly taken care ofby the
citizens Of chat place. The following
is list of the killed, wounded and
missing, as far as we have been able
to ascertain them. We entertain strong
hopes that some of the missing are
saved.
DEAD Or MISSING.
Gen. w. pegram, of Richmond Va.
Phillip Wallis, Of Baltimore.
Nicholas Ford, formerly of Louisville.
Sam NJ. Brown, U. S. Mail agent,
Lexington, Ky.
Rebcca, daughter Of A. J. Foster,
Grcensvillc, Va.
J. \. Cormic, Virginia
Mr.. Hughes, formerly OF Lection Ky.
Mr.. Matlock, ofNew Albany, engineer
Chas. Dome, of Louisville.
Jas. anderberg, of Louisville,
David Vann, captain.
Moses Kirby. pilot.
Second clerk, second mate, bar
keeper, three deck hands and four ne
gro tircmcn-names unknown.
WOUNDED.
Capt. Thompson, pilot, arm fractur-
ed.
Mr.. Raines, of Virginia, badly hurt.
w. Ii. PEBBLES. badly hurt.
First engineer, badly hurt.
Mr.. Roberts, OF Philadelphia, slightly
hurt.
Capt. Durham brought up several
dead bodies, which could not be re-
cogniscd. He informed US that almost
every survivor was bitterly bewailing
the loss of relatives.
Nearly all who were saved LOST every
thing they had on board. Even their
clothes were torn from their bodies,
and they were, indebted to Capt. ID.
and others for blankets and other gar
monts to cover them. The restitution
and distress Of some of them, appeals
strongly to the charity of our citizens.
The boat was owned by Capt.
Nann, and was insured.
Come GRAMMAR.-" Glass in gram
mar may come on the floor. Now,
IobD co,,,,apno 0AlI the world is