New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-07-09
Explosion of the Steamboat Lexington

.
The Louisville Democrat, in an extra, gives
the following account of this terrible affair,
which has already been announced by tele-
graph:
LOUISVILLE. Saturday Night,
June 80, 1856, 10 O'clock
by the j. G. Fremont, Just arrived in port,
we learn the terrible and narrowing particulars
OF the explosion of the steamer Lexington, ON
her way from st. Louis to this port
The accident occurred at about or o'clock
this morning, about FIVE miles above Stephens
port. Her entire works forward of the wheel
were blown away; the boat then took fire and
burned to the waters edge, and then turned
bottom up. Skiffs and fatboats put of from the
shore as soon as possible, and succeeded in saw
ing considerable numbers
The u. A. Given was coming up, q short dis
tance behind her, and came in sight in time to
see the burning wreck. and saved all she could
pick up. She then went back to Stephensport
ito bring a doctor up for the wounded that were
ON shore. The ]. e. Fremont came up behind
the Given, ,apd rendered all the assistance that
could possibly be given. The D. A Given
succeeded in saving the baggage, to great ex-
tent -1as
i The Fremont brought up eight Of the pas.
sengers, all badly wopnded--among them Mr..
John Bernard of this city, who is very badly
hurt; it is supposed that one of his ribs is
broken, if other and more seri0us injuries have
not been sustained. Mr.. Jno r. Hall, from
Liberty, Mo-, who was on his way to Lexington,
Ky ito purchase some negroes and stock for
his farm, and who had with him some two thou
sand dollars in money, was also brought up on
sthe Fremont. and is very much hurt; one o.
his arms is broken. and perhaps one rib be
states that the first thing he knew of the exple-
sion, he felt that he Nss going up in the air in
his night clothing. When he fell he struck
upon the wreck, or he would have been drowned
His money is all gone to the last cent, and he
lies in critical condition,
Mr.. w. G. Harkins, of Madison, Indiana, also
came up. He is badly hurt-his feet being ter
|ribly inangled. A striker on the Lexington
was also among the cabin passengers of the Free
montAhis hurts are rather slight. He cannot
give any account of the engineers, or what be-
came OF them, and it is supposed they were
lost. Three white men came up ON deek--two
of them very badly hurt. A coiored man. fire.
man, is very badly sealded, and his back terri.
bly, cutup. rss =~#.s. 81
The chief clerk of the Lexington was saved
but the books and papers were all lost. NJ
news could be had of Captain Throop. and it il
feared that he was killed. The steward was
also among the saved, as well as all the ladies
Ion board. sss 13
| How many were killed is not known--th,
lnumber Of passengers not having been ascer
ttained, nor how many of them and of the crey
were saved. But it is supposed that severa
twere killed, either by the explosion or in tn
flames, or by drowning.
The officers and passengers on the Fremon
did all in the power of human beings to allie
vigte the sufferings Of those they brought up, a
well as to save all they could find on or abou
the wreck. The few who had been taken ashore
Eby the flats and skifs were cared for by the
Given and Fremont, and the people on shore.
i The explosion, occurring as it did before day,
and no one being up about the boat except the
Epilot, the Waterman, and the engineer, with tive
or three freman--the engineer being lost, OF
supposed to be, and the pilot too there was nc
one to give information of the cause of the dis
aster. '-+ @
[ The Journal of the Sd inst. states that Capt
Throop fell from the hurricane deck, but was
caught by the second mate standing on the fore
castle before he reached the deck otherwise hi
would have been killed instantly The mate
though Immediately forward of the boilers, sus
tained no injury. The clerk found himself il
the river, with his desk close beside him.
/ A passenger expressed the opinion that no
less than rs lives were lost. but thefollowin
list of the sufferers contains all the names know
Fat present:
L hHted-Henry Lewis, Samuel Lowry, lcoi
ored), two brothers, (name not known) got ol
board at Smithland, supposed to be from Geor
gia, one killed and the other missing ".
.Mssing-J ames Miller, I'D clerk, Nashville
Tenn } Willis, ia engineer,) Mr., Fairchild
SHaines, tcarpenter,) Phillips, (Liberty. Mo,
John Taylor, (colored,) , Baldwin, tcolored, NeN
Albany,) Harrison. (NeW Albany,) one of tn
Georgians above mentioned.
/ Wouaded-Col Bsyles, Louisville, slightly
Thos. Payne, Cincinnati, do. Thos. Z. Gibson
first mate, Switzerland, do; D. G.. Davidson
Nashville, do; J. B. johnson, first engineer
l.do.; NJ. Twigg, do; s. W. Andersmith. assistar
engineer, do; D. Harris, Cincinnati, do; Harr,
New Albany, badly soaldedi J. NJ. Gardns1
Kings landing. Ky. severely burned, P. Film
Auburn, N. Y, slightly wounded; J.,H, Fres
man, (oolored) New Albany. do; L, B, Johnsol
st. Louis; A. Badger, pilot, st Louis, badl
scalded W. p Johnson, Madison, leg broke
and badly bruised; T.Ryan, st. Louis, slight
wounded; Capt Thos. White, louisville. ,.hadl
, hurt Capt. ], Throop. very badly soalded; M
; McElroy, Lebanon, Ky, Slightly scalded;
Hall, Liberty, Mo-, badly wounded; Chnri
squires, badly wounded
| Ur,Yr, n.r huDarr oIs n or fa