Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-01-07
Explosion of the steamer A. N. Johnson.

Explosion of the Steamer A. N.
SEVENTY LIVES LOST.-We are indebted to
a friend for an extra from the office of the Cincinnati
Commercialof Thursday. giving an account OF a hor-
rid explosion and loss of life on board the steamer A.
N. johnson near Maysville. That paper says:
yesterday morning at 2 O'Clock, Dec. 18th, the
steamboat A. N. Johnson, bound for Wheeling, when
10 miles above Maysville. blew up, with a trcmend-
uous explosion-the boat and cargo a total loss. The
explosion threw one whole boiler about 200 yards, in
to a cornfeld, and one half of another was thrown
about SOC wards in an opposite direction. The boat
took fire with the explosion, and burnt to the waters
edge. There was supposed to have been on the boat
when the explosion took place, 95 cabin and ID deck
passengers. The boat had landed toput off some pas
sengers, when the fearful accident occurred. Several
children were thrown on shore, only one OF whom
was hurt. Some of the men took a skill and pro
ceeded to Maysville for assistance. The steamboat
Daniel Boone proceeded to the scene OF distress, and
gave all the assistance in her power. RThe wounded
were dressed, and every possible relief afforded them
by the captain, who, after attending to the wants OF
the sufferers, as far as possible, took them to Mays
vile, where every attention was paid them. The Odd
Fellows, Masons, and Sons of Temperance, appoint
ed committees to attend to their wants, and relieve,
as far as was in their power, their distress.
s"'There were supposed to have been 60 toto lives lost.
OF those not killed, 81 were not expected to live
Twenty horses were on the boat and persisted in the
flames. The survivors were five ladies, not known.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Chronicle writ
ing from near Maysvifle, under date of Wednesday
night says:
'Iti impossible to get anything like a correct state
ment of the loss of life out of the several JUNIORS in
circulation. 1t may however be set down, | think,
at about. 4O,s some Of the reports say as many as'one
hundred Several pieces Of the wreck have been seen
floating past our city; and a trunk was picked up a few
moments ago.
''Our City Council, on hearing of the disaster, i'm
mediately convened, and made an appropriation to
charter the Boone to go up to the ~reliefof the sutf-
erers. The Sons Of Temperance and Odd Fellows,
have sent up Committees to look after the unfortunates
On the return of the Boone, which leaves at 8 O'Clock,
l will drop you another line, giving such
as may be obtained. in the mean time accept assur-
ance of my good wishes
IN. B. The trunk brought to shore, belongs to
c.. Walker, N. Y, and contains a package for de-
livery in Philadelphia, from ]. Draper, Cincinnati.
"P S-The Boone has just returned from the wreck
bringing with her thirty-four of the badly wounded.
Most of them must die, and two dead-the clerk and
Mr.. Fairchild. 1t is said, by those who have escaped,
that there must have been upwards of one hundred
lost! Our citizens are actively engaged in relieving
the distressed. l never witnessed such a sight, as
the Boone presented on her arrival at our wharf"