Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-03-06
From the 81 Louis Intellieencer.

landing was soon thronged with spectators, many
ofwhom were anxiously inqnring for friends or |
relatives supposed to be on board.
Arriving at the scene of disaster only few mo.
ments after the accident occurred, we found the |
bodies of VIM. w. Benson, head engineer, and /
three other dead persons, near by on the Levee, |
where they were blown. Going on board seven |
persons were discovered stretched upon the lower
deck, five OF whom were quite dead, the other two
writhing in the agonies Of death. Not less than |
thirty persons were on board at the time Of the
cident, and OF these, only about eight or ten es-
capped with life. Several bodies were known to |
have been blown verboard, the fricinas of whom,
only will know of their fate. From fifteen to |
eighteen persons are either kil,d, or missing. and
several Others wounded. The pilot house was |
blown high in the air, and the pilot, Alexander Nc
kean, was thrown to height Of one hundred and
fifty feet, and falling upon the Levee, was taken to
his boarding house, and soon expired AT the mo- |
ment of the explosion, we happened to be standing
at the corner Of the Levee and Vine street, distant
six eight squares, and distinctly fragments
OF the machinery and cabin flying in the air. The
larboard boiler was literally blown in fragments.
The fues were carried some distance up the Levee
and the greater part of the boiler, fattened, was
spread upon the deck, just forward Of where 1t
stood. Pieces were picked up at a distance of
several hundred yards. The forward part OF the
cabin demolished. The stove in the cabin we
are informed by an eye witness was blown TO the
height Of upwards of one hundred feet and fell
back upon the boat, breaking hole in the low er
deck floor, composed OF two inch plank. The lar
board boiler blown to the side OF the boat,
sweeping every thing before il, and crushing a
horse against the railing. The rider was most
probably blown into the river and lost. Of the
several persons seen floating In the river, not one
picked up. But four females were known to
be board, one OF whom, Elizabeth Jarvis, daugh-
ter Of Lewis Jarvis is among the missing-most
likely blown into the river. OF the seven bodies
on the boat, aside from three hands, the body of
John w. James, an interesting boy, aged some four.
teen, the only one recognized by friends; Mrs.
had Ian hes nyl cIs fnP fnr9 thnSx
way through the dense crowd, and instantly re-
cognized the corpse. The mother threw herself
upon the bleeding body Of her son. and was with
difficulty persuaded to leave it. The cries Of mo-
ther and sister would have brought tears to the
eyes OF savage.-Young James was not SCALED.
From appearances, he was killed by some of the
flying fragments, most likely by the falling stove
near which his body was lying. But three or four
Of the de ad we saw were scaded; their injuries
principally resulting from flying fragments. The
conclusion must have been very great, as the hat
ches. some three or four in number, were, without
an exception thrown from their positions and scat
cred about the lower deck. Portions of the boiler
were driven with great force into the deck of the
boat and piece through the bottom of the hull
causing the boat to leak badly. The leak was got
at and soon stopped. As soon information reach
ed him, Coroner English was upon the ground
| and instantly commenced his mournful task. From
his inquest and the information we picked up, we
make out the following list OF killed, missing, and
wounded.
teaches none but the want of water in the boiler.
| 1t seems Benson, the head engineer warned
of the danger. and not only ran himself, but told
! those around him TO do the same. Himself, and
young Trundley started, but did not escape. Be-
| fore getting of, the explosion took place and in
| stantly launch he'd both into eternity.
After taking of the bodies that belonged to this
| city, the wrecked boat was towed to Iliinoistown
| al late hour last evening, with those on board
! that belonged to that place.
1 inf med MT To fir rin m
the ferry boat, was absent yesterday morning from
his post full one quarter Of an hour. and only re-
| turned moment before the explosion. He went
to the Kansas to borrow wrench leaving the fer
~ boat with fires up, in charge Of an inexperienced
boy. When he returned and tried the water in
the boilers. his first step was In leave the boat and
10 advise all within hearing to Co likewise. Hthis
be true, most dearly did hs pay for his negligence.
Whilst the body OF Merriwether S Smith, one Of
the killed OF yesterday, lying upon tho deck of
the ferry boat, some heartless wretch stole from
his pocket a valuable gold watch. The william
who would rob the dead under circumstances like
| those Of yesterday, deserves to he hanged higher
than Ham an, and without benefit of clergy.
| The whole number OF killed is thirteen mis- sing
two, mortaiy injut ed, two, making seventeen as
far as ascertained. Several others are known to
have been blown overheard. and either killed or
| drowned. We cannot be far from the mark in
setting down the number Of lives lost at twenty.
| ---e----
| Most Dastnrdy Conduct.
To THE PuDLic.-As citizen and friend to
an honorable and much injured man. / have wit
messed with regret. the effort Of guilty and hire
ling persons, to add insult to injury. upon a man
who they think, and would attempt to make com :
munity believe has absconded. No doubt it would
| be well for some Of them he had.
desire to Call the attention Of the nnprejudiced
public: tn the exparte. garbied and unjust puhica-
ton of an article in the Iowa Republican, under
the caption of dastardIy conduct, and from that
copied into some other papers ofthe Staie in rela-
ton 20 an unfortunate difficulty which recently oc-
Cured, between Samuel Workman on the one part,
and Jesse Williams aud others on the other part
and in order that proper construction msy be
gwen, and the public may not PREJUDICE molten
sive and peaceable citizens, beg leave to relate
some facts and circumstances leading to and con-
nected with this difficulty, which have from q
liable and direct source.
This man Samuel Workman, who has been
branded as a villain and coward, is the younger
son of one of the most respe ctabe. prominent and
influential citizens of the State of Pennsylvania.
and being young man of UNIQUE stonable integrity
with good business habits and capacity. he was
rendered and accepted responsible and most re.
spectacle position in one of the state offices at
HarriSburgh, the seat OF government OF his native
State, which position he main tanned and filled
with credit to himself and all concerned
During the time Of bis residence at Harrisburgh
he became acquainted with and married very
young, then amiabe and most respectable daughter
of one of the Oldest and most prominent and re
spectacle citizens of that place.-Soon after his
marriages he emigrated to and settled in Iowa City
where ne mas since rescued, engaged as reSpec
table merchant and business man, now holding the
most responsible office in the county.
But from the confession Of his noU unfortunate
ruined rife. in whom he had unlimited confidenc,
and from other facts and circumstances very recent
ly brought to his notices he learned with horror tina
his domestic happiness and family association.
have been blasted and ruined by the conduct o
l.. ose, whom he had supposed honorable men ant
ne rsonal friends. On being unmisfdkeably advise,
Of the ruin Of his wife, by those dasardy scoundres
he proceeded .as any other man and father woult
have done" to iniliGt punishment and proper chas
tisemcnt upon the said Jesse Williams, Secretary
the Board of Public Works, one Of those who wa
implicated and By the ,roman charged rtth guilt o
her prostitution and ruin. What less could h
have done? should he be branded as villain ant
coward for Cowhiding any and all scoundreis W ht
may have been guilty Of injuring him--ds he ha
been injured-would not he have been iustifiabe in
doing more than he has, under the circumstances
If those who are guilty escape with what has occur
red, they will be fortunate.
will here say to those who would wish to Great,
the impre sion that Workman is a coward and ha,
absconded, that have known him well from in
fancy, and those who know him as do, know tina
he is coward. He has gone to perform al
act Of an honorable and injured man, in taking hi
unfortunate and ruined wife, to her parents at Har
| risburgh, Pa, where he received her as his wife
there to leave her forever. lie will however, re-
turn within the shortest possible time, and demon
strate to those who are guilty of injurlng him, tina
is not coward, but that he has the feelings ant
spirit of man, with the disposition and ability Il