Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-11-24
From the NJ o. Picayune Of NoU. 16.
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE.

DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE
One Hundred and Fifty Persons Killed.
One of the most deplorabe catastrophes that ever
cured in the history of steamboat explosions took place
at our levee Yesterday evening, few minutes after 5
o'clock.
The steamboat Louisiana, Capt Cannon, bound for
St Louis with valuable cargo, and having on board
was lust backing out from the wharf at the foot of
Gravier street, when the whole of her boilers burst with
a tremendous explosion, which resounded throughout
the city The conclusion great that 1t shook the
houses to their foundation for many squares Distant
The Louisiana was lying alongside the steamer Boso-
ma Capt. Dustin at the time OF the disaster, and the
steamer Storm, Capt. Hopkins, had Just arrived from
Louisville, coming in on her starboard side The upper
works of these two boats a complete wreck their
chinneys having been carried away, and their cabins
stovein and shattered in some places to atoms. The
violence OF the shock operating on the boilers ire
mendous. part OF one OF them, mass OF consldera-
bic size, hurled with inconcevabe force the e
wee. 1t cut mule two, killed horse and the driver
OF dray to which they attached nstantaneously
Another massive portion of the same twelve feet long,
and OF immense weight, blown to the corner of
Canal and Front Streets distance OF 200 yards least
prosratng three large iron pillars which supported
wooden shed awning which stood before the coffee
house there. Before coming in contact with the iron
pillars, the fragment of the boiler through several
bales of cotton, which lay in its passage making the
staple scatter through the air as if it had been run
through cotton gin.
The news spread like wildre, and our citizens rush
ed from all directions the OF the disaster AL
ready arrival, number OF bodies in every con-
cevable of sad mulaton, had been dragged from
the wreck, which were surrounded by the dense crowd
that had assembled. Hacks and furniture carts were
for and the wounded were conveyed away to the
hospitals. The sight OF the mangled bodies which
strewed the levee all Sides and the shreks OF the
dying, were appalling, making the blood curdle with
horror We Jaw man with his head off, his
trails out and one leg off. A woman whose long dark
hair lay wet and matted by her side, had one leg off
hayL barh O61
gled. large man, having the scull crushed in, lay
corpse, his face looking if it had been painted red
Others, OF both sexes also with legs and off mere
trunks lay about in different places Two bodies we
found locked together, brought by death into a sudden
and close embrace But it is utterly impossible to de-
scribe all the revolving sights which met our view Suf
flee it to say that death revealed there under al
most every variety OF appalling horror. The Louisa-
ma sunk about ten minutes after the explosion and il is
supposed many who went on board to assist the wound
ed were carried down with her. This we Judge from
the TACT OF several persons who had escaped the first
effects OF the explosion having jumped overheard at the
time oil her sinking, and who providentialy saved
gentleman, who was passenger on the Louisiana,
was standing on the hurricane deck abat the wheel
house when the explosion took place. and escaped He
distinctly saw the faces and of several ladies and
gentlemen vanly struggling to free themselves from the
falling planks and tmbeTs They were carried down
with the boat when she sank He succeeded in saving
little negro boy. About twenty persons were stand
ing ON the bow OF the boat when she went down. most
of whom saved. The river was covered mme-
diaely after the accident with fragments of the wreck
portion OF the OF the ladies' cabin oil the steam
er still out OF water Numerous small boats were en-
ployed picking up the wounded AT half past o'clock,
p NJ, an alarm OF fire given from the Bostona,
which called tiremen promptly to the spot but it
happily was unfounded
On board the Storm the destruction of life was also
terrible Mrs. Moody, the wife of the first clerk was
standing ON the guard opposite the ladies' cabin and was
instantly Killed. The captain received severe contu-
sion in the head, but was not dangerously wounded
About twelve or fifteen persons were killed, and large
number wounded some OF whom will probably not re-
cover.
The confusion was so great that it was utterly mpos-
sble ascertain the of quarter OF those kill
ed and wounded, and most probably, from the promis
cHous crowd OF strangers, emigrants, &c. large por
ton OF them will never be known.
The fragments OF iron and blocks of wood, which
were sent with the rapidity of lightning from the i'll
tated Louisiana carried death and. destruction in all
directions Men were killed at the distance oftwo hun
dred yards Legs, arms, and trunks scattered
the levee
Among those injured on the levee was Mr.. Wray, a
clerk in the house OF Moses Greenwood & Co., who had
been on board the steamer Knoxville lying below the
ferry landing, and was passing up at the time of the
eurence. He struck the thigh by piece OF wood
and SO Iaa a that it feared last night that
We understood that some neWs-boys, who had been
selling papers on the Louisiana, and had Just got on
shore, killed. We saw the dead bodies of several
lads, but the names as yet unknown. Those who
the spot at the time OF the explosion state that
bodies were blown as high as two hundred feet in the
air, and fell in the river One man, it is said, was
blown through the pilot-house ofthe Bostona making
hole through the panels which might be mistaken for
the work OF cannon ball
The steamer Storm very close to the Louisiana at
the time OF the explosion and she was sent back by the
conclusion at least fifty yards into the stream Her cap
tain, although severely wounded, appeared the hur
rcano deck his face covered with blood and cody gave
directions Tor bringing his boat again in shore He
manned irmy at his post attordng all the assistance in
his power as long as it was needed We noticed that
one OF the ferry boats from the First Municipality
up, but she unable to render much aid the Louis
lana had already gone down.
There were many miraculous escapes at the time of
the explosion Dr. Testut OF this CITY, standing on
the wharf Just after having parted from his friend, Dr.
Blondine OF Ponte Coupee, who is lost, when frag
rlent OF iron struck man down at his feet The poor
fellow in falling stretched out his hands, and convusive
ly grasped the doctors paleo tearing his pocket nearly
out Death soon relaxed his grasp. Some were pros
trated by the conclusion and enyeloped in smoke but
to the eyes of their asonished friends as
sooty IN ylsage as sweep, yet perfectly unhurt.
II is impossible to give anything like precise account
OF the loss OF lille on this sad occasion. Some estimate
it at fifty persons some hundred, whilst others assert
that not less than two hundred men, women and chill
dren were killed or drowned. Mayor Crossman, who
was that part of the evee where the Louisiana lay
little before o'clock, aud Immediately proceeded
thher when he heard the explosion states that from OBJ
servation and dgent inquiry, at least hundred and
fifty must have persisted by this accident. The wharves
were lined with spectators The Storm, from Cnein- |
natl was loaded with passengers and the destructive
fragments of the Louisiana scattered in every d
rection the havoc which was made among the crowds
cannot fall much below the figure in his Honors est-
mate The effects Of this disaster unexampled in any
former steamboat explosion at New Orleans, was vsl-
BILE every circle OF society here last evening Dsmay
in every countenance, and sympathy for the surv
wing friends OF those who thus prematuey hurried
into eternity and for those who have been mutilaed rent
every heart Never, perhaps, was there boat which,
by the explosive force OF that subtle and terrible agent
steam, reduced to fragments the Louisiana
one that in an instant came annihaton
We learn that before proceeding on her way ST. Louis
this unfortunate boat engaged to descend the stream
TO the Third Municipality, to take on board two hun
dred German emigrants, The Storm, it is also stated,
landed considerable number OF her passengers at La
tayette in coming down, which circumstance no doubt
was the cause OF much saving OF life.
Mr. Bareis son has been found and it is expected will
recover also Mr. Elliott formerly ofthe post office, who
will recover.
Capt Cannon, of the louisiana at the time of the ex-
oloslon was on shore, the boat, talking with Mr.
Stone. The captains brother board the boat,
and supposed to be lost.
A lady and two children escaped from the wreck of !
he boat as it was sinking.
Most Of the passengers of the Storm got off at La
ayete, thereby escaping most awful fate.
Up TO 10 O'Clock last night, thirty bodies Of persons
whose name unknown had been brought to the Sc
ond Municipality watch house, in Raronne street.