The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-01
INCIDENTS OF The EXPLOSION.

Whilst we we're on the levee. Ia all, eleven were
taken out OF the water Yesterday
INCIDENTS OF rHB EXPLOSION.
TIE ENsIxEKEs or THE LoUIsIASA.-we stated
Yesterday what was 4 cunentrepoTt, that The en-
sineer had left the boilers Just before the erplo-
sion. We have since been induced 10 believe
that this report was Incorrect Captain Hopkins,
of The Storm, says he saw the engineer of the
louisiana at bic post when the explosion occur
red. One Of the engineers, who was badly wonn.
ded. is now at the Hospital, and he declares that
there was not much steam an the boilers, and he
was about TO order them 10 IRE up.
C.PT.Ts CASKON-We had an interview with
Captain Cannon. tie is young man whom we
have long known as beaTing good character for
prudence and discretion. Captain Cannon is q
b,oiher Of our esteemed fellow citizen Elijah Can
noa, whe has long resided in Common street 10
his city. Dir. Elijah Cannon was aboard at the
time OF the accident, and WAS slightly wounded
and bruised Captain Cannon alhrms that there
WAS 50 little steam in the boilers that he had
dered he engineer 10 get up steam to proceed 10
the lower shipping 10 take in passengers. He be-
l...rfa that the ~ osion was caused BY gun-pow-
de-. barrel OF which was carried aboard and
TAB en- down into the hold 10 make intOicartTidses,
70 FIRE 4 salute when the boat lett he had gwen
his consent 70 FIRE the cannon, and the mate and
one of the hands went 20 q store 10 get powder.
They presently returned, and the Captain remark
ed as lhey were going aboard, "Whst did you get
a whole keg for instead Of pound or So" This
IL the last be saw of the mate and the hand.
Saortly Afterwards the explosion look place-snd
Captsin Cannon declares there ware two reports
immediately following each other. he thinks
the conclusion and vacuum caused BY the eIplo.
sion Of the gun-pOwdeT, produced collapse OF
The faes Of al the boilers at the same time. He
arrives al this conclusion from knowledge Of
he low stage OF the steam in the boilers and the
81 na L., ne FIRM and 2 fafet
efthe lsrge cusBtiiy ofwsisr elected into the air,
which Wnen il fell, was cold as rain. Thee
are certainly some curious facts connected with
this affair, which, We trust, wall be thoroughly
investigated. Captain Cannon says he courts the
fullest inquiry. lie is the heaviest sufferer by
he disaster, having lost his all-the boat being
ovaeS half BY himself and half by the first clerk,
hr. McMachen. captain cannon minis rnrre
were $500 N money aboard OF her. Hearing that
an affidavit had been made tor his arrest, he sur
endered himself yesterday evening, and will sP-
pear this morning 10 snswer any charge that may
be made against bin. The first engineer, whose
name was John Smith, Captain Cannon thinks
had gone TO lafayette. There were three other
engineers aboard.
GREar PRESEScE on MISD-Capt Mason, pilot
Of the Storm, was in the Pilot-hoUse on the upper
deck when the explosion occurred. Those who
have seen the Storm, perfectly riddled As she IT,,
from fore 70 aft, can alone form an opinion OF the
narrow escape he made. A negro al the wheel
working under the direction OF Capt Mason, and
standing three feet from him, was killed immedI-
stely. His BODY fell over the tiller roPe,-Capt
Mason himself was stunned and slightly wounded.
PerceYing the Storm was moving out, her ropes,
which had been made fast, having been cut, Uapt
Mason, with admirable presence o! mind, rung his
bell for the engineer 10 set the engines 10 work,
and prevent the boat from getting out into the cur
rent The engineer promptly responded, and the
boat was thus kept up. Capt NJ. then yine
that the explosion proceeded from the Louisiana,
lying alongside, and cot the Storm, and that the
Louisiana was rapidly sinking, hslloOed out 10
some person he saw in the after caoif Of the Lou.
isiana, 10 take OF themselves, as the beat wat
sinking. Capt NJ. says the bodies Of persons Eel
from the air into the river like hail. Wherever q
body fell, the water bubbled up and blood was Wis
ible for some minutes after. A number OF persons
rushed aboard of The louisiana 10 rescue tbs
wounded, who were crushed under the wreck
About twenty were saved, and many Others wef'
picked up by the fruit boats.
The wife of the clerk Of the Storm was sittIni
In her stAte-room, when she was struck over thu
neck BY large spar from the Louisiana, and in
starty killed.
CAUSE OF EHB ENPLosIoN.-Much difference o
opinion prevails as to the cause of the explosion
The msjoIiiy of people, however, believe that III
explosion occurred from the wilful neglect of IN
engineer, IN keeping up the fires without SUI
6ciency of water in the boilers, thereby causin
The formation OF nfammsble gas. That there wa
water in the boilers, seems to be established b
the concurrent testimony OF many persons, as
the election Of a large volume OF water, which fe
for some distance around. Mr.. White, agent {
the boat is certain as to this fact is Capt Car
non, both Of whom were standing within few fee
OF the ganewsy, when the explosion occurred.
Capt Cannon says that the fires were low, an
there was but little steam in the boilers, 90 III,
he had just ordered the engineer TO fire up in oId'
10 proceed down 10 the shipping 10 the Third MI
nicIpsiity TO take in some emigrants. About d
teen minutes before the explosion, Capt. c. hs
directed the engineer TO keep the wheels in M
ton 10 prevent the boat from dragging, as the vat
where she lay was net deep.
NOBLE Acr.-Just as the Louisiana was snkin
poor negro woman was seen hanging by her drei
70 some of the wreck, and uttering the most pit
Gus cries for help. She held in her arms your
child, which, with great strength, she made out
throw into the arms Of a man 10 the boat, who II
medistely went off with the child. The boat hI
sunk TO the waters edge, and the poor negress W
struggling in The water, when a gentleman,
board of the bostons, whose name we regret v
could not learn, threw of his coat and hat, al
lesped into the water, and swan towards hs
The poor woman, mad with fright, seized the ~
tleman around the neck, and thus prevented hi
using bis sms-they sunk together. Some o.
Crled out, mey are OOtn Bout. Dut presently IN
came up, and the gentleman, holding the negre
in his left arm, swam ashore. The poor won
tainted, from exhaustion, and fright When 8
came 10, she began TO cry for her child, and Z
about like one possessed.
AFFECTING lNcIDEET.-A little girl, the dsul
ter Of one Of the steerage passengers, wac TAX
from the wreck, and being placed on the Iev'
began to CRY for her mother. Being shown some
the dead bodies, she recognized that Of her mott
from the ring on her fngar, and threw herself,
deep grief, on the mutilsted remains This lii
girl is at the house Of gentleman in this city.
generous rivalry was enacted among our citize
70 extend TO her all the protection and kindness
Their power.
MARROW EscAPEs-A number Of young m
clerks, had gone aboard the Storm to examine
manifest How they escaped is miracle, for
Storm exhibits the most perfect Kidding we h
ever seen. II hundred cannon Of The are
cslibre had been playing on her, they could
have cut her mp more completely. Mr.. Sim,
Tracy, who was standing on some bales of hay
the bows Of the Storm, was knocked down BY
body of man, which lay across him. He esca
without injury. The clerk of Mr.. Mathew Mar
Who was on the Louisiana, was thrown some
lance into the air, and landed In the river, ON
farther side of the Storm. He swan ashore
landed Ia safety, without serious injury. De- I
int - afandin9 on the wharf. iuot After mar