Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-17
LATE CALAMITY on LAKE poNrcHARrRAIs

The New Orleans papers of the 9th instant contain
many particulars relative to the late appalling steamboat
explosion on lake Ponchartran Of which we had brief
teegraphic account several days ago. We copy the fol-
lowing from the g Commercial Bulletin: !"
1t appears that the steamer 81 James, Capt CLARKE
Ieft Bay st. Louis Sunday night in company with
the steamboat California having on board large nun
Der of persons who had been spending the Fourth at the
watering places. There about seventy passengers
and crew of over thirty, board The ST. James was
about fifteen miles distant from the Pontchartran rail-
road landing between two and three o'clock on Mon
day morning, and short distance ahead of the
steamer California, when the boilers exploded killing
several persons immediately scalng others and making
complete wreck OF the forward part of the boat The
stanchons being torn away by the explosion the whole
OF the boiler deck fell upon the boilers and machinery
and many PERSONS hot hurt by the exposo n were then
burned and scaded.
were asleep. The that followed is beyond descrip
ton. We may imagine the alarm and the fearful conl-
SION when the California came up the ST. James was in
ames which several times communicated to the former
boat Although in such dangerous proximity, Captain
ENSIGN, OF the California, acted coey, with judgment
and with noble determination human life where
possible The California made fast to the stern Of
the burning boat the landing plank was run ont and All
the passengers that could be SEMINARY of them badly
injuredwere taken off, Captain CLARKE being the last
person to leave his boat As the California showed off
boy named Boulgny was seen running about the wreck
IN dreadful condition His were blown of-no-
thing but the stumps leand he appeared to be insane
Assistance to him was impossible and the poor boy was
left to perish.
1t is impossible to state correctly the number of lives
lost Not than half the passengers it is said had
registered their 1t is however known that fifteen
or sixteen persisted There various estimates as to
the numbers some say twenty, others more lost their
lives. Among the number is Isaac I. Preston one of
the Judges OF the Supreme Court; Mr. Richard Turner
late Commissary Of the Fourth Ward Second Muncipai
ty j. M. Wolf member Of the Bar; John Molloy Nj
cholas Read; Mr.. She'd of the United States Branch
MINT James NJ jones' mate of the boat the Waterman
OF the boat servant of Dr. Permission boy of Captain
Tuft Mr. Paul. engineer; free colored boy; John Ia
colored man, second steward Of the boat Mrs Asher
her daughter (aged about sixteen and two young chill
dren Robert Smith, the steersman and s. Forester
VINO uied AT Luzenburgs Hospital Mr.. Gachet Delisle
VINO got on board the ST. James at Bay ST. Louis is sup
posed to be lost Nineteen persons were wounded some
Of them severely.
The Pcayune says that the scene during the burn
ing OF the ST. James, described by eye-witneses was
one Of terrible interest
The space between the boats was lighted up bv the
blazing confagntion the brightness of midday and tina
spectators from the California could see the terrified men
and women on board of the St. James hurrynr IN and
no. wrngng their hands, sezng upon such articles "a
they could md for temporary support and jumping into
the lake. The awfuly distinct and harrow
ing, not from the burning boat merely but from the
water in all directions where the swimmers were shout
ing Tor help and drowning, shrieking or gaspng with
agony Voices calling from all points as the boats
Oh the California went about swiftly picking up such as
could be reached The Mortified eyes Of those upon the
california could see men struggle and 90 down
without the power to help them or by striving catch
the gnmpses OF some floating head, as they might be
caught in the flashes of the moonlight which sparkd ON
the rpples beyond the immediate Of the conagraon
II was scene to harrow up the feelings anguish to
be remembered with horror to the close Of hfe."