Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-07-10
Another Distressing Casualty
Explosion of the ct. James.
JUDGE Preston, j. NJ. Wolf, and Fifteen Or
Tacen,v Oilers Lost.

Twen,y Oilers Lost.
We learn from the Picayune OF Monday
evening last, that about 3 o'clock OF that MORN
Ing, the steamboat St. James, Capt. Clark, ex'
ploded her boilers at Pointe Aux-herbes, on
Lake Pontchertrain, and some fifteen or twenty
of her passengers, among whom were Judge
Preston, of the Supreme Court, J. M. WOLF
Mr.. Gates, and John L. Sheed of the Mint,
were lost.
The St. James left Bay 81. Louis at half past
10 o'clock on Sunday night, and about twenty
minutes afterwards the California, Capt. II. +.
Ensign, also started for the city. The PtcGy'
une says:
The passengers on board the California got
sight of he St. James OH entering the Rlgolets,
and soon after passed her. On getting into
! shoal water at the end of the Rigo;ets. the St:
/ James again caught up with the California aud
passed ahead. The ill-futed boat had not gone
more than a quarter Of a mile in advance, when
her boilers exploded. The scene which ensued
was terrible beyond description. The upper
part of the st. James was literally shattered
to atoms, and the wreck was almost instantly
in fl mes.
The shrieks of those on board the burning
boat were heard by the passengers on the Cal
! ~itornia, and as the flames rose and extended,
the suspense and anxiety became agonizing.-
Capt. Ensign steered directly for the wreck,
but the fire was so intensely hot that he was
compelled by due regard for the persons i'm
mediateIy under his charge to haul off a short
distance. The boats belonging to the Califor-
MIA were launched, manned and went to the
aid of the sufferers. Some were in the water
and others on the wreck, and as many Of the
former as were discovered were rescued.
The flames rose from the centre of the St.
James, and Capt. Ensign made a second at
tempt to reach the persons on the wreck. He
succeeded by skilfuI management III getting
under the stern, and a large number of ladies'
and gentlemen gained the decks OF the Calitor-
MIA.
We learn that Judge Preston had his berth
over the boilers, No. "a. He was seen to re-
tire to rest, and immediately afterwards the ex-
plosion occurred, the place where he was lying
was observed to have been shattered to pieces,
and he was nowhere to be seen. 1t is presum-
ed that he persisted instantly, although a faint
hope, which will cling 10 one when the destruc-
ton or safety Of friends are concerned, was en-
kcAtdlilSu tiiat ny ooiIC MA TIC hiIgIl tatc
reached the shore, which was not far distant.
J.. NJ. Wolf ard his son, a lad about fourteen
years of age, were seen standing on the wreck
of the st. james together. The boy urged his
father to jump Into the water and declared that
he could save him. The father refused to jump
in the water and the boy left him and struck
out for the California, which was then ap.
proaching. He reached her in an exhausted
state and was saved. A rope was thrown him
ust as he cried out that be could struggle no
more.
John L. Sheed, of the Mint in this city, was
on board the St. James with his lady. Mrs.
was rescued; and her husband is suppos-
ed to have persisted.
Col. Palfrey was among those taken from
the water, having swan f'om the burning
wreck. His hands were slightly burned.
We learn that Capt. w. H.. Wright. the
of the St. James, is badly scalded.
A yawl in which were SOME Of those who |
had been picked up out of the water, was
,wamped under the stern of the California, and
a Mrs. Asher and her three daughters were
among those drowned. Mr.. Paul, one of the
engineers of the P. F. Kimble, was also in this
yawl, and persisted in a brave attempt to save
The ladies'.
Five gentlemen, all of one family, who were
to have come over on the St. James, have not
been heard of.