Washington telegraph., 1844-11-13
From The Louisville Courier ofthc 24th nh.
EXPLOSION OF THE LUCY WALKER
GO TO so PERSONS KILLED AND worxpEp.


60 TO so PERSONS KILLED AND WOUNDED.
1t is with feelings the most 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 city for New Orleans yesier-
day, crowded with passengers. When
about four or five miles below New Albany,
and Just before sunset. some part Of her ma
chnery got out of order, and the engine was
stopped in order to repair it. While enga-
ged in making the necessary repairs, the
water in the boilers got too low; and about
five minutes af erthe engine ceased working
her three boilers exploded with Tremendous
violence, and horrible and terrific effect
The explosion was upwards. and that part
of the boat above the boilers was blown
into thousands ofpieces. The L. :. snag
boat Gopher Capt. l.. B. Durham, was A.
bout 200 yards distant n; the time OF the cS-
plosion. Capt. ID. was Immediately on tic
spot, rescuing those i'm the water. and with
his crew. rendering all the aid in his power
To him we are indebted for most of our par
iiculars. He informs usthat the Lucy Walk
er was in the middle of the river and such
was the force of the explosion, that parts Of
the boilers and the boat were thrown IN
shore.-Just after the explosion. the air ysAs
filled with human beings and fragments OF
human beings.-One man was blown up
fifty yards, and fell with such force as to go
entirely through the deck of the boat. An
other was cut entirely in two by piece Of
the boiler. We have heard Of many such
hcart-rending and siclscning incidents.
Before Capt. Durham reached the place
where the Lucy Walker was he saw mum.
ber of persons who had been thrown into
the river, drown. He however saved the
lives of large number of persons by throw
ing them boards and ropes. and pulling them
on his boat with hooks. Immediately nj u
the explosion the ladies' cabin took fire.
and before it had been consumed, she sunk
in IL or ID feet water. Thus Is presented
the remarkable circumstance of boat ex-
p,oding, burning and sinking. all in the space
of a few minutes. The screams and excll-
nations of the females, and those who were
not killed, is represented as having hccn
distressing and awliIl.-We believe none
of the females on board were injured some
however. may have been drowned. The
books of the boat were DESTROYED, aud of
course it will be impossible even 10 asccr-
tain the names or the number ofihosc killed.
There were at least fifty or sixty persons
killed and missing, and fifteen Or twenty
wounded-somc seriously. Capt Dmham
left the wounded at New Albany,all ofwhom
were kind and humane citizens of that
town. Captain Durham deserves the
thanks of the community for hi humane
and vigorous cxertions TO save the lives III,
and his kindness and attention ID Tie suffer
crs. He stripped his boat of every blan.
kei, sheet. and every thing else necessary
for their comfort.
Mr.. John Hixon and Mr.. Henry Belec.
passengers on the Lucy Walker. deserve
notice for their GOODNESS and their efficient
exertions 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.
Sam'l VI. Brown, Post office Agent, II
Lexington, Ky.
J. II. Cormick, of Virginia.
Chas. Donne. Of Louisville.
Phillip Wallis. formerly of Baltimore.
Rebeccai daughter OF y. }. Foster, Of
Greensville, Va.
Jas. Nandcrbcrg. of Louisville.
Mr.. Hughes, formerly of Lexington, Nv.
Mr.. Mailock, of New Albany, engineer
ON the steamboat Mazcppa.
Nicholas Ford. formerly of this city.
David Nann. the Captain.
Moses Kirby. pilot.
Second mate. second clerk, second engi-
neer, barlleeper, and three deck hands,
names unknown,
-Four negro fremen.
WOUNDED.
w. ii. Pecb!es-very badly hurt.
MIR. Raines, of Va. do
First Engineer, do
Capt. Thompson pilot-arms fractured.
II is supposed that John n. johnson
and Richard Phillips were on board-if 50,
they are lost. -..
The boat was owned by Capt. Nann OF