Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-12-06

In reference TO the mass of iron at the
corner of Canal and Levee streets, which
is an entire half of one of the Louisiana's
boilers, the fue is crushed or rolled to-
gether like sheet lead. One end of this
huge fragment is smeared with blood,
mixed with hair. The effects of the ex-
plosion on the ceiling of the Bostona's fore
cabin ere awful TO behold. The whole
surface is stained Of claret-color, occa-
stoned by the scattering Of the blood ofthe
victims. >.a
GREAT PRESENCE OF M1rD.-Capt.
Mason, pilot Of the Storm, was in the pi-
dollhouse on the upper deck when the ex-
plosion occurred. Those who have seen
the Storm, perfectly riddled as she is, from
fore to aft, can alone form an opinion Of
the narrow escape he made. A negro at
the wheel, working under the direction Of
Capt. Mason, and standing three feet from
him, was killed Immediately. His body
fell over the tiller of the rope-Capt. Ma
son himself was stunned and slightly
wounded. Perceiving the Storm was mo-
wing out, her ropes, which had made her
fast, having been cut, Capt. Mason, with
admirable presence Of mind, rung his bell
for the engineer to set the engines to work,
and prevent the boat from getting out into
the current. The engineer promptly res
pended, and the boat was thus kept up
Capt. M. then perceiving that the explo-
sion proceeded from the Louisiana, lying
alongside, and not the Storm, and that the
Louisiana was rapidly sinking, halloed
out TO some persons he saw in the after
cabin of the Louisiana, to take care of
themselves, as the boat was sinking
Capt. M. says the bodies Of persons fell
from the air into the river like hail.
Wherever body fell the water dubbed
up and blood was visible for some min
utes after. A number Of persons rushed
aboard of the Louisiana to rescue the
wounded, who were crushed under the
wreck. About twenty were saved, and
many others were picked up by the fruit
boats.
The wife Of the clerk Of the Storm was
sitting in her state-room, when she was
struck over the neck by large spar from
the Louisiana, and instantly killed.
CAUSE OF THE ExPLosIoN.-Much diff
ference Of opinion prevails as to the cause
of the explosion. The majority of peo-
pie, however, believe that the explosion
occurred from the wilful neglect of the
engineer, in keeping up the fires without
suf6ciency of water in the boilers, there
by causing the formation Of infammable
gas. That there was water in the boilers,
seems TO be established by the concurrent
testimony OF many persons, as to the ejec-
ton Of large volume of water, which
fell for some distance around. Mr. White,
agent of the boat is certain as to this fact,
SO is Captain Cannon, both of whom were
standing within few feet of the gangway,
when the explosion occurred.
Captain Cannon says that the fires were
low, and there was but little steam in the
boilers, SO that he had just ordered the
engineer to fire up in order to proceed
down to the shipping in the Third Munich
pali;y to take emigrants. About fifteen
minutes before the explosion Capt. C. had
directed the engineer to keep the wheels
in motion to prevent the boat from drag
ging, as the water where she lay was not
deep.
On the other hand it is said that the |
boilers of the Louisiana were very old
that they were the same that had been
used in the old Dallas, some years ago.
We do not vouch for the correctness of
this statement, but we learn from an UNI
doubted source, that they were the boilers
of the Gov. Jones, which was broken up
a year ago, when they were transferred to
the Louisiana, new boat. If it should |
turn out that the boilers were unfit, we
trust that the owners and all concerned
will be held to rigid accountability for
such diabolical recklessness. And as to
the engineer, should the general opinion
prove correct that it was by his neglect the
accident occurred, there is no punishment
Too severe for him. We trust our police
will inquire into the matter, and see that
the lives of hundreds of our people are
not destroyed with perfect impunity. The
first engineer has not been seen since the
explosion. Capt. Cannon thinks he was
aboard, and was blown up. One Of the
engineers, who is very badly wounded, is
At Stones Hospital.
NOBLE AcT.-Just as the Louisiana
was sinking, poor negro woman was
seen hanging by her dress to some of the
wreck, and uttering the most piteous cries
or help. She held in her arms young
child, which with great strength she made
'ut to throw into the arms of a man in the
,oat, who Immediately went off with the
'hlld. The boat had sunk to the waters
'dge, and the poor negress was struggling
IN the water, when gentleman on board
II the Bostona, whose name we regret we
could not learn, threw off his coat and hat
md leaped into the water, and swan to-
wards her. The poor woman, mad with
right, seized the gentleman around the
eek, and thus prevented him from using
is arms-they sunk toge::..,er. Some one
RED out, they are both gone. Buti rr!res- |
n,iy they came up, and the gentleman, , .
gliding the negress in his left arm, swan
shore. The poor woman tainted from I
xhaustion and fright. When she came t
,, she began to cry for her child, and ran 5
bout like one possessed.
AFFECTING INCIDENTAL little girl.
he daughter of one Of the Storage passen- :
ers, was taken from the wreck, and being