The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-10
TsleSraphIc.
Particulars Of the Explosion and Burning Of the
Steamer Oregon.


Steamer Oregon.
C,ScIsSArr. March THE steamer Oregon,
bound down from Louisville while passing throug IN
the chute Of island No. Eighty two, at p. m, on
the morning Of the Cd instant burst her boiler with
tremendous report, carrying away the forward
cabin and upper deck, killing and wounding sixty
persons She was heavily laden. and had from
eighty to one hundred passengers, Who had just
finished dinner and were generally collected in the
hall and forward guards at the time.
She took fire after the explosion, and burned TO
the waters edge; and being in the channel Of the
river under way at the time would have consumed
all on board but for the assistance of the Iroquois
which was wooding within a mile of the Oregon.
Upon seeing the explosion, Capt. Lee, Of the Iro-
quois gave orders to go TO her relief. which was de-
layed but few minutes before she was alongside
the Oregon. The flames had just burst through the
hurricane roof Men, women, and children were
collected together the afterparto the boat with
out the means of getting away but by jumping
into the river. The shrieks OF the women, the
phrenzy Of the men, ready TO leap overheard TO
avoid the more horrible death by fire, and the
groans of the scalded and dying, and the piteous
lowing Of the cattle, battles description Captain
Lee ran the bow Of the lroquo;s aft of the Oregon
and ladders being placed from the upper deck OF
the Oregon to the lower deck Of the Iroquos, all
board the burning vessel able 10 walk got of, the
roquois being all the time In great danger Of taking
ire Captain Montgomery was the last man to
leave the wreck, which he did just as the !roquo;s
was backing away, and the parting of the boats
caused the ladders TO fall precipitating Captain Nj.
into the river. lie was rescued win seVerai
bruises.
The clerks office was entirely blown away, to.
gether with the books and papers Of the boat.
George Brown, first clerk, was in the Office at tho
time of the explosion, and was killed. The walters
in the cabin were at dinner, and all were killed ex-
cept the steward. Eight white tiremen were
killed.
tia impossible to give correct idea Of the loss
of life, nothing having been left whereby to ascer
tain names The tioor OF the lroquols presented an
awful sight
The Oregon was scuttled, but it proved useless,
tho burning of the upper works caused her 10
rise faster than the holes could allow the introduc
ton Of water to sink her. The Bulletin came up
soon after the accident occurred, and ondcavored
to cxtinguish the flames by means Of the engines,
which, however, proved abortive The passengers
Of the Bulletin afforded much aid, and remained
aboard the Iroquos until they reached Memphis,
many of them in the agonies Of death. The Iro-
quois had on board twenty-five OF the scaldcd,
eleven OF whom died before reaching Memphis.
The following is list of the killed and wound
cd as far as could be ascertained
hiled.--George Brown, first clerk; Richard
Young, Of Shelby county, Kentucky; VIM. Miller,
of Harrison county, Indiana; Mrs. Asher Of Louis
vile; Patrick Murphy, Louisville; Patrick Lyon,
deck hand; William Larkin, Louisville; six cabin
boys; one engineer, name unknown; and eeven
white fircmen.
Scalded and Injured. Capt Montgomery badly
hurt; Barrett Muiikin, I'd clerk, slightly; J. T..
Musselman, Coyington, KY, badly scalded; q.
Atkinson, Galloway county. do; Isaac J. Falls,
Princetown, Indiana, do; John johnson, barber,
do; Mr.. Lyons, barkeeper, slightly; Mr.. Common,
pilot do; John Nj. Cox, of Nelson, county, KY, do.
Escaped UnhWt-James Pitol, Mr.. Dean, steers
man; = Peck, barkeeper; John White, steward,
Mr. Miller, mate; Peter Brigg, Waterman; II.
Smith, carpenter; Mr.. Curd, wife and three daugh-
ters; VIM. ID. Quissenburgh, Of Georgia, ID. G
Robb, wife and son. of Indiana; three engineers
and number Of slaves