Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-22
Further Particulars of the Explosion
of the A. N. Johnson.

From gentleman who visited the scene
of the disaster of the A. N. johnson, we
learn further particulars of the heart rend-
ing scene. The explosion blew away the
boilers, leaving the furnaces and fire partly
exposed, and much of the cabin fell IN
Passengers, when they opened their state
room doors, rushed to where the cabin had
sunk amidst the flames, which had seized
on the fallen timbers of the cabin. Mr.. S.
Saunders, of this city, who was, on account
of the crowded state Of the cabin, lying on
the floor of the social hall at the time Of the
explosion, fell with the cabin, on the deck,
and in the fall the timbers of the cabin fell
on his legs, which prevented him from ris-
ing or doing anything. The boat took fire,
which was monentarily approaching him,
and, while lying in this situation, he saw
several perish in the flames, their hands ex-
tended for aid, and shrieking with agony
and despair; but there was none to help
them. As the fire approached the horses,
tied on the forecastle, they became wild with
Albright, and commenced kicking. rearing
and plunging. In this wild excitement, the
itinbers which held Mr.. Sanders were so
removed rs to liberatc him, when he arose
and approached the side OF the boat next
to the stream, and seeing the river full OF
ice, he caught up wet blanket, threw it
around himself, and rushed through the
flames to the opposite side and made his es-
cape to the shore, which was overlooked by
/ a high and perpendicular bank. After walk
ing some distance along the shore, he reach
ed place where he gained the summit and
seeing house he proceeded to il. When
| he got in he was going 20 throw himself on
the bed, but was prevented by the woman
of the house. Immediately DIR. Gillespie
came in and attempted TO throw himself on
the bed, hut was prevented also--he sunk
on the floor almost lifeless, and expired soon
after being taken TO Maysville. We win
here state that the friglHiul appearance of
/ Mr.. Sanders and DIR. Gillespie so alarmed
the woman, that she hardly knew what she
was doing, and there were two children ia
the bed. As soon as her senses rallied,
she removed the children, made up good
fire and contributed TO the extent of her
power to the relief of the sufferers brought
there. il.
The scene of heart rending agony on
board the boat was indescriballe. There
were the dead and dying. The flames
bursting from every par. Of the boat--the
shrieks of the men as they sunk into the
flames 20 rise no more-the wild fright of
( the horses---all conspired to render the scene
beyond the power Of language to depict
but the agony Of those who persisted instant
" by the explosion, sunk into flames and
were thrown into the water to rise no more,
were short, and their fate we could almost
say preferable to some who survived--thcir
flesh burnt to coal, and pealing from the
names In the midst of suffpriuo the most
acute they in their agony were begging to
be shot--calling for axes and other instru-
ments by which they might end their snf-
ferings On the shore, and in the adjacent
corBfield, were 10 be seen the most ffightfnl
spectacles. Heads, trunks, limbs, and eve
r. part of the human frame, torn from the
other parts, and in fragments, scattered a.
round.
The horrible accident is attributed to DIFF
ferent causes--no person was in fault
4 The engineer when dying, said there was
plenty of water IN the boilers; whilst engi-
neers who were on the boat at the time,
say there was no.. II Is alleged that the
iron Of which the boilers were constructed,
was bad--that they WIRE menEied IN this
city, and pronounced 80 by the workmen;
and Some doubts were entertained that they
would not stand the trip. Our Informant
says, that Mr.. Brown, when he and his ne
gro girl were landed, heard the third engi-
neer ask the second engineer if the boilers
were safe. " No" said the second engineer,
fbey are not, and you know it, That there
was cause for this explosion, all will adj
nit, and we think the cause should be in
yesiigated.-Cia. Com.
2