Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-05-26
From the California Weekly Journal, April l6
Explosion of the Steamer Jenny
Lind.

FIFTY persons KILLED and 6ddfy scdtded
The steamer Jenny Lind blew up on
Monday last, while she was ON her way from
Alvlso To this city, with about $50 passen-
gers. She was passed at IL O'Clock, pre-
clsely, on Monday, Hin, oG the Pulgas
rancho, by the Express, going the other
way. At ten minutes past l2--the boat
being ;hen ahsat fo1r o.iies. trsn tbs Yves.
shore of the Bay--a violent iremor was felt
throughout the boat, like the conclusion
produced by the firing of cannon, aud ia
a second after, tremendous report was
heard. and the whole vessel was enveloped
in dense cloud of scalding steam. A plate
on the after head of the boiler had been
blown out, and the steam and boiling water
burst out with fearful violence The bulk
head separating the boiler from the CABIN,
which was aft. was shIyered into thousand
fragments by the force OF tae shock, aud
each fragment became missile Of death
and destruction.
The cabin was a closely confined room.
about ID by 30 feet, with small windows
looking out upon sort OF gangway that IN
tervened between it and the railing. Ii was
Just about dinner time, the table was spread,
and FIVE minutes before, The ladies, chill
dren, and gentlemen in charge OF ladies', had
been introduced into the cabin, SO that they
might not be incommoded by.lhe rush 10
dinner when the bell should ring ; they were
about seating themselves at the table; some
Of the ladies were already seat Just at
. this moment the explosion took place-the
dense volume of steam rushed Into the cab
in and instantly peryaded il. All who were
in it, were stricken down as II wllied by
heat. They were scalded lrlghuully exier-
nally, and all inhaled the fearful steam.
Not one escaped they were all killed IN
stantly, or have since died. Many OF them
had their clothes literally torn from them ;
the skin was entirely burnt of their faces
and bodies. The sight presented was hor-
rible beyond description; they were not
simply scalded, but all were more or less
mangled by the fragments al the boiler AID
bulkbead, and streams of blood flowed from
their muiiated bodies. Some few gentle
men managed to grope their way ont OF the
cabin, crying pileously to those above To
save their wives aud chidrep. When some
below, the sight that presented itself stag.
gered them, and some becaue faint. They
found the dead and the dying in a confused
mass on the floor, covered with fragments
of chairs, tables, furniture aud timber, and
horrible TO relate, they were writhlng III
scaldIng water, which lay SIX inches deep
on the floor.
Poor little children were crying piteously
for their mothers, who could hear, but bin,
ded, could not see. Mothers were shrek.
ing with agony. or calling on some one tc
save their children. The picture, even il
recollection, is heari-rendIng. Such wa:
the scene in the cabin.
The volume of steam struck, as we have
said, against the bulk-head 10 the rear 81
the boIler-the greater portion burst thro
the cabin on its mission of death, whilst an
killing Instantly one of the iremen, who
was standing in front of the furnace doors
MORALLY scaldlng another who was on the
forward deck, and killing several passen'
gers who were standing on the forward par
of the lower deck. Those of the passen
gers who were standing on the forward par
OF The upper deck, were nearly all saved
A few only were scalded, and those no
dangerously. Those about mIdship, RICH
over The boiler, were entirely unlnjuret.-
But the most terrible destruction Of life wa
on the after part of the upper deck, just ov
er the cabin. Here large number Of pas
sengers were congregaled. After the sleaa
had done its work of destruction IN the cab
IN, II burst up the companion-way, aud IL
an instant swept those in It's path to III
deck, like grain before the sickle. No.
man stood; fifty lay PROSTATE, scalded
wounded, shreking with agony or moanin
in the last moments Of life.