Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-27
EXPLOSION Of THE STEAMER PEARL
AND GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE.

EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER PEARL,
AND GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE.
The Sacramento papers Of the 18th July,
received by the last arrival, contain long nc
counts Of a fearful and fatal steamboat explo-
sion. The Sacramento Union says
The high pressure steamer Pearl, Davis
master, left Marysville at seven o'clock with
an unusual crowd of passengers, numbering, as
nearly as can be ascertained, one hundred and
one, Of whom thirty-fve were Cinnamon. The
accident occurred at precisely Gfteen minutes
before one o'clock this afternoon, and when she
had almost reached the city, and when Just be-
low the mouth OF the American river, when an
explosion occurred which lifted the forward
deck, and threw it directly over the bows The
boilers exploded in the forward part, and the
accident is said to have been occasoned by
want of water in them.
There were fifty or sixty lives lost by this
dreadful disaster. Nearly dozen were blown
into the air, and one or two to height of sixty
or seventy feet, and nearly to the opposite shore
of the Sacramento.
The wheelhouse was blown overheard, and
the pilot wheel was broken into five or six
pieces, but strange TO say the pilot was not
killed, although he is considerably injured.
The upper deck was blown completely of, and
the passengers chung in crowds to il and to the
guards Of the boat, as the confused mass Goated
down the river. A line was made fast to a
tree opposite Carys mill, above the mouth Of
the Slough, where the wreck now remains.
Fortunately no females were either killed or
injured. There we're but four on the steamer,
all Of whom we're saved. Among the pas.
sengers killed was Colonel Anderson, dis.
tinguished lawyer Of Nevada, late Of Shenan.
doah county, Virginia.
This painful event which suddenly hurried
fifty persons into eternity, created profound
sensation among all classes Of citizens A
gloom was thrown over the whole city. Meet.
ings Of the common council and of citizens
we're held to make arrangements for an i'm
posing funeral and procession. The Sacra-
mento Union of the Both January, gives the
following account Of the procession and the
funeral ceremonies:
The Victims or the Explosion.
Public Demons tyatioA--P Rneyai Procesuon--C e,e
monies AZ The Cemeteyy
In accordance with the action of the Council
twenty.nine OF the victims or the recent expIo-
sion we're attended TO the Cemetery yesterday,
by the largest funeral cortege ever witnessed in
this city. The tokens Of popular sympathy
manifested during the day were marked and
general. Flags we're displayed at half staff at
most of the public houses and edifces, and on
the various steamers moored within our waters
many OF the stores werc closed and draped
with emblems of mourDing--the several courts
adjourned-business was generally suspended,
and large numbers of our citizens gradually
collected in the neighborhood Of the Water
Works, where the bodies were deposited, until
at the appointed hour the levee was more
densely packed with human beings that we
remember ever before to have noticed.
Meantime, the number Of bodies at the de.
pository was being gradually increased by the
discovery Of others--additional evidence of the
terrible calamity that had so shocked the public
mind and awakened the active sympathy Of n
community. AS if to add TO the solemnity Of
the occasion, the discharge Of ordnance to pro.
cure the dislodgment Of the bodies still remain.
ing in the river, was heard booming at intervals,
while the procession was being marshaled, pre-.
paratory to the march. AT about the appointed
hour, 3 o'clock D. M, the several fire bells we're
toled, and the procession moved along Front
street to X, up X TO Second, through Second
to j, mp J TO Seventh, and through Seventh to
the Cemetery, in the following order:
Grand Marshal and Aids.
Music
Sacramento Pioneer Association.
Five Hearses.
Citizens in Carriapps