Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-10-17


On Saturday, October 5th, the Kate Fleming
bound from Louisville to Cairo, with . large num-
Der of passengers board, blew up at the foot OF
Walkers bar, about IS or 40 miles above Paducah.
The accident happened just as the boat had sue
ceeded in getting over the bar on which she had
been aground for several hours. 1t is thought that
there not drop Of water in the boilers when
the boat crossed the bar. The pump, supplying the
boilers, is supposed to have been filled with sand,
while the boat was on the bar. and the moment the
boat got into deep water and the pump commenced
to work, the sudden rush Of water into boilers,
brought nearly to white heat, caused the explo-
sion. The explosion was followed by dull, faint
sound and only very slight escape of steam. That
there was no water in the boilers, il supposed to
be evident from the fact that Of the large number
blown overheard and afterwards rescued from the
wreck, not one was found badly scalded. All those
killed or wounded, received their injuries from
the asat and the natural force Of the steamboat
ing water had but little share in the tragedy.
As soon as the smoke and steam cleared away
the wreck was discovered to be on fire. The
| steamer Fleetwood was in sight at the time, and
made every effort to reach the burning boat. I'm
fortunately, the Fleetwood and the fiat she had in
tow, grounded when within few hundred yards,
but Immediately sent her yawl to pick up those
blown overheard. More than dozen skiffs and
other boats from the shore were engaged in pick
lug up the living and dead. Many OF the persons,
however, with shame be it said, in Christian age
and civilized land, acted more like pirates and
robbers than human beings. Many went in for
booty alone and paid attention to the wants of the
dead or the dying. lady, with four children, had
her trunks broken open and ried Of their contents
and wretch had the impudence to demand 81, as a
recompense for returning her a change of her own
clothing. Two scoundrels, caught in the act Of
making OF with large share Of booty, were tied to
tree and made feel the cost Of their villiany.
The boat took fire Immediately after the expo-
sion and in less than three hours burned to the
ter's edge, together with the entire cargo, books
and large amount OF baggage belonging to the pas
sengers. The whole fore part of the boat was
blown to atoms, and the destruction Of human life
was very great. The Captain was on the hurricane
deck at the time and received severe injury. Both
the clerks were killed and their bodies burned in
the wreck. The engineers and pilot were saved
II will never be known, however, how many nor
who were killed, as the books and papers OF the
boat were burned. It is estimated that from TWEEN
ty to thirty were killed.
few days after the accident, the iron safe Of
the boat was rescued from the wreck, and was
found 10 contain every thing there deposited unin-
jured. One gentleman, Capt. Bentley, had $4,000,
in the chest, which he took possession of, as also
did Others who had money and "aluablss therein.
Judge Paschail, of Arkansas, had in 1t purse con-
tanning four tive hundred dollars in gold, which
was returned to him. The first engineer abscond.
ed soon after the explosion and has not since been
seen. To his negligence and the want Of water in
the boilers, the accidents attributed by the latest
accounts from the wreck, many dead bodies had
been discovered, some partially, others almost en-
tirely consumed; and those partially burnt, so
much defaced to leave no trace OF their identity
behind. An inquest had been held, and all the
bodies found were gathered up and committed to
one common grave.
The Kate Fleming was entire new steamer,
on her second trip, and hound for the Tennessee
river, where she was to run as packet above the
Muscle Shoals.