Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-05-06
ANOTHER DREADFUL STEAM-
ROAT ACCIDENT. s& pa
Explosion Of the Prairie State
From Fifteen TO 7ioenty Lives LOST

by the poliseness of Capt. Harlow,
OF the fine steamer Lamartine, up yes.
teTday, we were furnished with copy
OF the 81. Louis Eueaing Mtelfeencer,
of Monday last, and from which we
copy the following account Of another
dreadful steamboat explosion on the Illi-
nois.-Barlington Daily Telegraph.
By the arrival of the Avalanche tb;.
morning from the Illinois river, we learn
that the stepmer Prairie State, in round
ing out from the landing at Pekin. on
Illinois, between nine and ten o'clock
Sunday morning, collapsed the flues of
her larboard boiler, killing, scaldiog and
otherwise wounding some twenty per-
sons, mostly hands on the boat aud deck
passengers. The boiler blew out both
forward and aft, literally sweeping every
thing frolh the forecas.le, and but for a
quantity of hay slowed in the engine
room, would have swept the deck aft in
like mgnner. The head engineer, Mr..
Wilson, was on watch at the time and
was slightly wounded; young Wilson, his
s'ep-son, aud assistant, was Instantly kill
ed. A panic siezed the passengers and
nearly every soul on board sprang into
the water Immediately after the explo.
sion, and number were drowned. Sew.
eral persons bound for California, il is
thought, were in this way lost. a
The Avalanche was jus. on the point
OF landing, to take on freight, a short
distance above, and came to the assistance
of the ill-fatei boat. Her officers, crew
and passengers succeeded in rescuiny
from the water a number of persons.
who would otherwise have perished.-
After the explosion, the Prairie State
took fire and the flames were witt diff.
Guilty subdued by the crew of the Ava
lanche. The boat was towed into shore,
and the wounded taken off, conveyed to
a temporary hospital, kindly provided
by the citizens of Pekin, who were un.
firing in their attentions to the unfortu-
nate. aaas.s asah. sg "a s -- s,1 q
The boat sustained but little damage.
The steam forced its way up through tho
social hall floor, but no one, il is thought.
tiAC CuUiu.
The body Of young Wilson was found
wedged between some bales of hay,
dreadfully mangled. His step-fa;her
was only slightly hurt about the should
ers. The mate standing on the forecas.
tie, was blown overheard but caught by
the chock and held on until rescued
But three or four dead bodies were found,
and only about an equal number of seri.
ously woundedwere taken from the boat.
The killed and missing, Capt. Sprigg in
forms us, was as near as could be learn
ed, abobt 20, mostly of the crew.
The Prairie State was on her down.
ward passage, with full freight. The
cause of the collapse has not been salts
factorily accounted for. A rumor has
been circulated that she was racing with
the Avalanche. Capt. Russell, of the
latter boat, states that such vas not the
case. The Prairie State was a new
boa, and in time gone by looked upon
as one of the fastest and best managed
boats in the trade. She was owned by
Capt. Ryder, her commander, and Ayres
g. Lombard. of Griggsville. BY the
next arrival from the Illinois, we hope
to be placed in possession of the names
of the unfortunate killed and missing.