The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-08

!, ceivable state of sad mutilation, had bee
Il dragged from the wrecks, which were sur
rounded by the dense crowd that had as
sembled. Hacks and furniture carts wer
sent for, and the wounded were conveye,
away to the hospitals. The sight of tn
mangled bodies which strewed the leve
on all sides, and the shrieks of the dying
were appalling, making the blood crudl
with horror. We saw one man with hi
head off, his entrails out, and one leg of
A woman, whose long dark hair lay we
and matted by her side had one leg of
above her knee, whilst her body was shock
ingly mangled. A large man. having the
skull crushed in, lay corpse, his face look
ing as fit had been painted red. Others
Of both sexes, also with legs and arms of;
mere trunks-lay about in different places
Two bodies we found locked together
brought by death into sudden and close
embrace. But it is utterly impossible to
describe all the revolving sights which met
our view Suffice it to say. that death
was revealed there under almost every
variety Of appalling horror. The Louisi-
ana sank about ten minutes after the eX-
plosion, and it is supposed many who
went on board to assist the wounded were
carried down with her. This, we 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 providentially
saved.
A gentleman, who was passenger on
the Louisiana, was standing on the hur-
ricane deck, abait the wheelhouse, when
the explosion took place, and escaped
He distinctly saw the faces and arms of
several ladies and gentlemen vainly strug-
Cling to free themselves from the falling
planks and timbers. They were carried
down with the boat when she sank. He
succeeded in saving little negro boy.
About 90 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. A portion of the
stern of the ladies' cabin Of the steamer
is still out of water. Numerous small
boats were employed picking up the wound
ed. At thalfpast 5o'clock, p. m, an alarm
of fire was given from the Bostona, which
called our firemen 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 a
severe confusion in the head, but was not
wounded. About 12 or Is
PERSONS were killed, and large number
some of whom will probably not
ecover
The confusion was so great that it was
tterly impossible to ascertain the names
f one-quarter of those killed and wound
d; and most probably. from the promis-
uous crowd of strangers, emigrants. &c.
portion of them never will be known.
The fragments of iron and blocks of
,ood which were sent with the rapidity of
ginning from the illfated Louisiana, car
led death and destruction in all directions.
len were killed at the distance of two
undred yards. Legs, arms, and trunks,
,ere scattered over the levee. Among
nose injured on the levee was Mr. Wray,
clerk in the House of Moses Greenwood
! Co., who had been on board the steam
r Knoxville, lying below the ferry land
~, and was passing up at the time of the
ccurrence. He was struck on the thigh
v a piece Of wood, and so badly injured
lat It was feared last night that amputa-
on of the limb would be necessary. we
aw the dead bodies of several lads; but
le names, as yet, are unknown. Those
'ho were near the spot at the time OF the
yplosion, state that bodies were blown as
igh as two hundred feet in the air, and
il in the river. One man, it is said, was
Iown through the pilot house Of the Bos-
ma. making a hole through the pannels
hich might be mistaken for the work of
annon ball.
The steamer Storm was very close to
,e Louisiana at the time of the explosion,
nd she was sent back by the conclusion
least fifty yards into the stream. Her
aptain, although severely wounded, ap-
cared on the hurricane deck, his face COW
ed with blood, and coolly gave directions
r bringing his boat again in shore. He
.mained firmly at his post, aflording all
e assistance in his power as long as it
as needed. We noticed that one Of the
rrv boats from the First Municipality
me up, but she was unable to render
uch aid. as the Louisiana had already ;
,ne down.
There were many miraculous escapes
the time of the explosion DR.. Testut,
; this city, was standing on the wharf, !
st after having parted from his friend,
r. Blondine, Of Point Coupee, who is
st, when a fragment OF iron struck man
own at his feet. The poor fellow in fall
q stretched out his hands, and convul-
vely grasped the doctors paletot, tearing !
s pocket nearly out. Death soon relax
his grasp. Some were Frustrated by t
,o1 apualopad in cuooko L..