Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-03-13
the Louisville Courier, Extra
Awful Calamity--ExpIosion of the steamer Or
gOn!!


The steamer Oregon, bound down from Louisville
while passing through the chute of Island So about
o'clock NJ on the I'd instant burst her boiler with
tremendous report carrying away the forward cabin
and upper deck, killing and scadins at least sixty per-
sons She heavily loaded, and had on board from
eighty one hundred passengers who had Just finished
dinner and generally collected in the hall and on
the forward quarts at the time Of the explosion.
She took fire Immediately ane burned to the waters
edge, and being the channel of the river under way
the time, would have consumed all board but for
the assistance ofthe Iroquos, which wood
ING within mile Of the Oregon. Upon seeing the
posion Capt Lee Of the Iroquois gave orders to 90
their relief, which was delayed but few moments.
The Iroquos Just reached the Oregon as the flames
burst through the herricane roof Men, women, and
children collected together on the after part OF the
boat without any OF getting away, but by pung
ing into the river flames surrounding them and the stern
carried away by the explosion
The shrieks Of the women and phrensy of the men,
ready to jump overload avoid horrible death
by fire and the groans Of the scaded and dying toget
with the pitous lowing of cattle, cacu-
lated to arouse the deepest feelings of our nature
Capt Lee ordered the Iroquois her bow aft the
Oregon Ladders being placed from the upper deck of
the Oregon the lower deck of the Iroquois, all
board that able walk rescued but with the
greatest danger Of the Iroquos taking fire.
wreck which he did Just as the Iroquois backing
away The parting Of the boats caused the ladder TO
fall; Captain NJ being it, thrown into the river,
but was rescued escaping with several bruises
The Clerks Office entirely blown away, together
with the books and papers of the boat George Brown
in the office the time of the explosion, and
killed. The waters in the cabin at dinner and
were all killed except the steward. Eight white fire.
men were killed II is impossible give correct idea
of the loss of life, nothing being left whereby to
tain names.
The floor of the Iroquois presented awful sight
The Oregon scutled, which proved useless, the
burning o the upper works caused her rise faster than
the holes could allow her TO sink.
The Bulletin came up after the accident occur.
red and endeavored extinguish tbs flames by
of her engines, which, however, proved unayalng Mr.
Williams and other passengers on the Bulletin afforded
much aid and remained the Iroquois until the boat
reached Memphis, where most of those board who
were scalded were taken to the hospital.
The floor covered by persons black and literally
skinned by being scalded many the agonies of death
The Iroquois had board twenty five Of the seaded
eleven of whom died belore reaching Memphis Below
of the scadcd together with the list of ofe-
ers and others far could be ascertaned
Scalded anSnlured, Captain Montgomery, badly hurt !;
Barrett Mulikin second clerk, slightly; Mr.. Lyons bar
keeper; Mr.. Cowne, pilot Jno. NJ. Cox, of Nelson
county Kentucky.
Killed, and since dead Geo. Brown, Ricl'd Young of
Mrs Asher Louisville Patrick Murphy, Pat Lyons,
deck hands VIM Larkins of Louisville, cabin boys,
one engineer, name unknown, white fremen
Badly scalded; G. c. Musselman. Covngton, C. At
kinson, Galloway Ky, Isaac l. Hall, Princeton Ind,
John johnson, barber.
Escaped unhurt; James Dean, pilot W. Dean, steers
man; Peck, barkeeper; j. White, steward; Mr.. Miller,
mate: Peter Bragg, Waterman; H. Smith, carpenter;
Mr. Kird, wife and three daughters; VIM d. Ouissn-
burgb, of Georgia; ID. NJ Robb, wife and son. of Indi-
ana three engineers. and a number of slaves.