The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-27
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OxIoana-
The New Orleans papers Of the 10th instant are filled
with accounts Of the late awful explosion at that city
We give below the copious and clear description OF the
disaster given In the Picayuns:
One Of the most dePlonble catasophes that ever oc-
CURED In the history OF steamboat explosions took place
az our leves yesterday evening few minutes after I'VE
bound for st. Louis loaded with valuable cargo, and
having on board large number Of passengers had Iang
her last bell. and was just backing out from the wharf
at the foot of Gnvier street, when the whole OF her
boilers burst with tremendous explosion. which re-
sounded throughout the city. The concussion was 80
many % sares distant The Louisiana was lying along
side The steamer Bosona Capt Dustin at the time OF the
disaster and the steamer Storm, Capt Hopkins had Just
The upper works Of these two boats are complete
wreck-their chimneys having been carried away, and
their cabins stove in and shattered In some places 70
ers was tremendous A part Of one OF them. mass OF
considerable size, hurled with nconceivabe force
on the levee L. cut mule in two killed horse and
the driver Of dray, to which they were attached, in
simultaneously. Another massive portion of the same,
twelve feet long, and Of immense weight was blown to
the corner Of Canal and Front Streets distance OF two
lars which supported wooden shed or awning which
stood before the codee-house there Before coming in
cut through several bales Of cotton which lay in its
cage making the staple scatter through the air If
had been run through cotton gin.
The news spread like widre and our citizens rushed
from all directions to the scene Of the disaster Already.
arrival, number OF bodies, IN every conceivable
state Of sad muaon had been dragged from the wrecks
which surrounded by the dense crowd that had as
sembled Hacks and furniture carts sent for. and
the wounded were conveyed away to the hospitals The
sight Of the mangled bodies which srewed the levee on
all Sides and the shreks Of the dying, were appalling,
making the blood curdle with horror We saw one man
with his head of, his entras out, and one leg off A
% w.
crushed H. corpse his face looking as il i had been
arms o-mere tunks--lay about in different places Two
bodies we found locked together brought BY death into
sudden and close embrace But it is utterly impossible
Suffice il 10 say that death revealed there under al
most every variety Of appalling horror The Louisiana
sank about ten minutes after the explosion and 10 sup
were carried down with her. This Judge, from the
fact OF several persons who had escaped the first effects
Of the explosion having jumped overheard at the time Of
her sinking, and who were providentialy saved.
| A gentleman, who was passenger on the louisiana
was standing the hurricane deck abaft the wheel
house when the explosion took place and escaped Hs
distinctly the faces and arms OF several ladies and
gentlemen vanly struggling TO free themselves from the
falling planks and tinbers They were carried down
little negroboy. About 20 persons were standing on the
bow of The boat when she went down, most OF whom
were saved The river was covered Immediately after
the accident with fragments Of the wreck portion OF
the stern Of the ladies' cabin Of the is still OF
water Numerous small boats were employed picking up
the wounded. At half past o'clock p m, an alarm OF
men promptly to the spot but il happily was unfounded
On board the Storm the destruction of life 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 I2 or IS persons were killed and large number
wounded, some OF whom will probably not recover.
The confusion great that was utterly impossi
BILE ascertain the names OF onequarter OF those killed
and wounded and most probably IRON the promiscuou:
crowd OF strangers. emigsnts, &C., large portion Oh
them will never be known.
The fragments Of iron and blocks of wood, which
with hs Ss. Ill
Men were killed al the distance OF two hundred yards
Legs, arms and trunks were scattered over the eyee
in the house Of Moses Greenwood 4 Co.. who had been
board the steamer Knoxville, lying below the ferry
landing and wa. Passing ~ :, S 10 tune o. a a
and badly injured that was feared last night that am
putation OF the limb would be necessary We understood
that some newsboys who had been selling papers on the
Louisiana, and had Just got ashore were Killed We
the dead bodies OF several lads but the Names as yet are
unknown Those who the spot. al the time OF
s air. sas I
man. il il said was blown through the pothouse OF the
Bostona making hole through the panels which might
be mistaken for the work OF cannon ball.
The steamer Storm very close TO the Louisiana Al
the time Of the explosion and she was sent back by the
conclusion least fifty yards into the stream Her cap
tan although severely wounded, appeared on the hurr
cane deck 6s face covered with blood and cooy gave
directions for bringing his boat again in shore he re-
NAMED firmly al his post, anordng all the assstance
his power az long il was needed. We noticed tha
one Of the ferry boats from the First Municipality
up but she was unable to render much aid the Lou
isana had already gone down ....,,.
There were many miraculous escapes at the time OF TN
explosion Dr. Tesut, OF this city, was standing on I'M
wharf Just after having parted from his friend Dr. Bion
dine OF Point Coupee who Is lost, when fragment o.
iron struck man down at his feet The poor fellow u
falling stretched his hands, and convulsively grsspe.
the doctors Paeot tearing his pocket nearly out Deal
q soon relaxed bis grasp. Some were prosuated py I'M
and enveoped in smoke, but eappeared 10 tn
eyes OF their astonished friends ~ sooty IN visage as
: sweep, yet perfectly unhurt. =,
II is impossible 10 give anything like precise accoun
OF the loss OF he this sad occasion. Some estimai
. il at fifty persons-some hundred-whils others as
sert that not less than two hundred men, women, an
children, were killed or drowned. Mayor Crossman
who was on that part Of the levee where the Louissn
Law little before o'clock, and Immediately proceede
thher, when he heard the explosion, states that iron
observation and dgent inquiry. at least one hundre
and 6fty must have persisted by this accident Tn
ygbarves were lined with spectators. The Storm, frou
Cincinnati was loaded with passengers and a. the de
sructiye fragments OF the Louisiana scattered b
every direction, the havoc which made among IN
crowds cannot fall much below the figure 10 his honor
former steamboat explosion at New Orleans was visbl
in every circle OF society here last evening Dsmay wa
in every couniehance. and sympathy for the survvn
friends of those who thus pfemaurely burned Int
eternity and for those who have been nutlated REF
W every heart Never, perhaps was there boat whcr
by the explosive force OF that subtle and teshc agen
sieam was reduced TO fragments as the Louisan
"a We learn that before proceeding her wayto 81 Loni
this unfortunate boat engaged TO descend the sea
~ 10 the third municipality TO take on board 200 Gems
20 eniQrants The Storm, II IL also stated landed col