Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-12-07
The Late Terrible Disaster--Fuli
Particulars of the Explosion
Of the Steamboat Louisiana.

The Late Terrible Disastcr--FuN
Particulars Of the Explosion
Of the Steamboat Louisiana.
Yesterday morning we gave all that
could be gathered at the time, relative to
the almost Overwhelming catastrophe that
has clothed our city in mourning. and
made desolate the hearts of many of its
citizens. The list of the missing is still
very incomplete; no register has been
found of the passengers of the Inflated
Louisiana, and until the river gives up
its dead, the blank cannot be filled! The
emigrants that thronged its deck have
gone to that far off country from whence
no traveller returns. The bright eye of
woman lies dimmed beneath the weight
of waters that press upon il; the strong
mans agony has passedsaway in its en-
brace. Anxious days, months-months
months will be spent by loved ones ia,
away, and yet no words Of joyous well
come can ever fall upon the dali, cold ear
of death. Fathers will bend beneath the
blow that is now flying, a swift winged
messenger of sorrow TO the homes that
can know the lost no more; mothers
heats will break for the idols there so
long enthroned; brothers will bow in
manly grief, and sisters pour out the
gushing tenderness of the wealth Of love,
until the fading forms give sorrowful ear
nest of another victim.
Thir;y-six hours since gay assem-
blage, clothed in bright hopes. gathered
on board of the Louisiana. Where are
they now! And on whom does the aw-
full responsibility rest of sending into eter
nifty so many souls!
We are told that the origin Of the ex-
plosion is not known, and yet we know
that the first engineer was on shore, with
leave to JON the boat at Lafayette; and
that the second engineer must have been
absent from his post, from the fact that
the instant before the explosion he re-
turned to the engine, found that there
was something wrong-cried out to the
mate to run for his life, and saved his
own by rapid movement to the stern.
Negligence the most culpable is too
plainly seen. The boat was within a
few minutes of its departure, when Off
GERS and crew should have been doubly
vigilant; and yet how different from this
are the facts shown.
The steamboat Storm, having Just
came in from Louisville, had her larboard
exposed 10 the explosion and her upper
works were made complete wreck
Death was hurled in the midst of her
passengers. with giant force of steam,
and they fell amidst the crashing timber
that overwhelmed them.
The Bostona, also lying alongside of
the Louisiana shared the fate of the Storm.
Her decks were strewed with the dead
and dying, and her cabin presented a
dreadful scene. ..I 49,. #H
The crowd of persons upon the levee,
bidding farewell to kindred and friends,
also added their quota to the terrible
work that in an instant summoned two
hundred human beings TO their last ac-
count. .. .... ..
number of clerks of mercantile hou-
ses were on board Of the boat receiving
their bills of ladng, and their names, as
far as we could CLEAN them, are in the
list of the "missing'-a word that tells
their fate at the present hour.
News boys eagerly pursuing their dai.
iy trade, became early victims to the
dread destroyer, and their humble homes
are In mourning as sincere as the resi-
dences of the more favored of fortune
Grief levels all dstinctions-side by side
we found yesterday the penniless and the
millionaire, searching among the bleeding
mass of disfgured corpses! Their tears
mingled together-words of sympathy
came from each. #1
A number of amputations have taken
place at the Charity Hospital, and the
medical faculty have invariably used
chloroform, with the greatest success. A
vast amount of suffering, in this catas-
trophe alone, has been saved by this
great discovery. asa.a. ~ .s
The Picayune puts down the number
of sufferers at eighty-one killed, sixty
wounded, and eighty missing. These
are known. The total amount of casu
alities is estimated at not less than two
hundred. aa ~
On the 18th, the flags of all the boats,
vessels and public houses of the city
were hoisted at half mast, from the ri
sing to the setting sun, as token of res
pect and sorrow for the dead.
Euli1ratinn