Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-03-08
Explosion Of the oregon.
DESTRUCTION OF LIFE,

Explosion Of the Oregon.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE!
The following account, by George Benedic
clerk Of the steamer Empire State, Of the ex
plosion and destruction of the Oregon, at Is.
land Eighty-two, has been furnished by the
operator:
Vichsburgh, March 3.-On Sunday, cd March,
on entering the Chute Island Eighty-two, the
steamer Oregon, Captain Montgomery, from
Louisville for New Orleans which had passed
US but. a short time before, was discovered ut
the distance of about 4 mile lying to, her cabin
over The boilers, and the piIot-house, being an
entire wreck, and smoke issuing upwards,
showing too plainly that she had not only ca
ploded, but was Oh fire. Before getting down
to her, the lroquois, bound up, had run up to
her and taken off all who could be found on
board; but on account Of the fire was soon COM
PEELED to leave her. The yawIs of the %Iroquois
and Empire State ran out lines to the shore,
but the immense weight Of the boat, in a
strong current, parted them instantly, when
drifted on down and lodged on the bend of
the Island, where she burnt to the waters edge,
and undoubtedly will soon sink. The boat
was under way at the time Of the explosion,
the servants being at dinner, and the passen-
gers y%ariousiy situated about the boat.
Those who were in the after part were, so
far as can be ascertained, uninjured and sever
al ladies' who were in front of the pilot-house,
on the hurricane deck, with children, on the
very portion of the boat which was blown to
pieces, are now on board the Eclipse, still un-
hurt. The following list comprises the names
of all who were taken on board this boat from
the ~Iroquois:
Mrs. Haunon and two children, Indianapolis;
Mrs. Hughes ard child, RruieY Landing, La.;
D, c. Gully and lady, Mrs. Culiey and five chill
dren, and two servants, B. Patterson, ALTO
Kentucky;R B. Sheldon and lady, Versailles,
Kys Miss Daniel, Nicholasville, KY; Miss Far
rar, New Orleans; w. II. Kurd, lady and SOM;
George Mathis, Lexington, KY; Mrs. Asher,
four children and servant, New Orleans; R.. H.
Phillips, Mississippi; Monroe Gibson, St. Lou
is; DR.. Dusenberry, Caroline, Va; S. R. En-
lis, Houston, Texas o. C. Woodward, Mem
phis; Mr.. Valid, Patrick Philber, a fireman,
Anderson Terrence, Lake Providence; W. A.
Montgomery, II. Wimplar, Gosport, Ind; G..
lib, Rising Sun. la; A. McGregor, Terre
&c, Ind; Charles Bos!and, Ohio; L. l.. La
COX, Baton Rouge; w. A. Bedell, Columbus,
Ga; S. w. Vincent, Delaware; the barber of
The boat, and his wife.
The following are injured: Mr.. Cully's two
servant women, badly; Mrs. Asher's youngest
child, since died; Mrs. Asher's servant, very
BADLY scalded; Anderson Terrence, badly scald-
ID; Pat. Phllber; very badly sealded. All of
he above are very badly injured, and can hard +.
y recover. Montgomery and Wimplar are
slightly wounded, and a barber quite badly.
Montgomery was reported to have his
broken. Ills surviving passengers gave 1
nm much praise for his efforts to save them ]
rom the burning boat. Mr.. Brown, the first
Jerk, Mr. Lubken, the second clerk, badly /
calded, went up on the ~Iroquois. The pilots ,
nd engineers are saved. OF the balance of !
ne crew cannot obtain any reliable informa- $
ion, but very many Of the cabin, crew, and e
ands are undoubtedly lost. Most of those c
Tho were at the servants table, in the forward il
art of the boat, received injuries. a
The cloud Of steam was seen from this boat, :
ut no noise heard by any one. Some of :,
lose on board OF the Oregon say there were u
so dlstinetreports about fifteen minutes apart. &c
eyeral saw one of the boilers 90 overheard, je
I'd afterwards float 3 moment on the water. OF
ne mate OF the boat, VINO was on board of lie
Ie oregon a fter the flames had nearly enyel- -
bed the whole boat, is confident that he heard
e8yolces OF hive or six different persons; and q
is the general opinion Of those who were al
Yed that from ten to fifteen dead2or dying OF
'rsons, were on board when the boat burnt. de
Ichard Young, of Shelby, badly sealded, is on as
lroquols. The number and names of those y,
remained on board of the Iroquois are !,
! known to me. and the estimate of the loss :
soimperfect, that it is probably one made =
W would prove to be wide:of the truth.
GEORGE BENEDICT, =
Clerk of the steamer Emnire State