The true Democrat., 1855-03-21


 a Total Wreck-Forty to Sixty Lives Lost.
 The last advices from California inform us of the fearful explosion on board the Pearl while racing with the Enterprise, between Marysville and Sacramento, on the 27th of January. We condense fIom the details the following partieu lars of the heart-rending catastrophe
 "There were ninety three passengers on board many of whom were Chiuamen-most of them were on the forward part of the boat, near the guards, as is usual on the landing of the boats It is impossible to tell how many were saved but from the statement of an eyewitness, who assisted in conveying several of the wounded and dying to the hospital, it is believed that more than two-thrds have perished Some of them were drowned; others completely blown to pieces; others with their arms and legs blown off, and otherwise terribly mutilated. The pilot, who was thrown several feet in the air, es caped with but little in ury, and also the cook and steward, these were the only officers of the boat who were saved. Capt Davis, Purser Gill man, and MT. Mcbride, of Wells. Fargo Gc Co.'S Express, are all dead. The treasure belonging to Wells, Fargo & Go. is sunk. They are now about making preparations forits recovery. Mir. Keefer of Adams & Co.'S Express, was saved. The mang led corpses of several Chinamen are lying on each side of the river-most of them at Volo. The boat is total wreck The En- terprlsc arrived this moment, being about twen- ty minutes behind the Pearl It is impossible to procure the list of passengers, as the clerk was blown up with the rest All that Is known definitely is, that there were ninety-three on board. rope was procured, and the wreck has been hauled to the river side, abreast the gas works. The after-cabin and the hull are all that remain of her. Those passengers who were fortunate enough to be aft in the cabin, provldentally escaped uniniured.
 1.-The bow of the boat was literally blown into ten thousand pieces by the force of the explosion, and here it was that most of the pas sengerS had assembled to catch the first sight ot their destination. h the cabin the floor was torn up phy the steam pipe communicating (the Pe1W being sterG-wheel boat) with the engine md shaft. Several gentlemen were found here badly scatded, and some in !; dying condition The boat <orrather the wreck) then commeucets parting; oAg half being more conDetaly de- stroyed than the other, broke loose from the ro- malling portion of the huu The efforts of those on board and on shore were then directed to bringing the wreck to the shore. This was soon effected, and what remained of the boat was moorad alongside ot 2 store ship situated about the foot of C. street
 "ln the meantime many bodies (some of them mutla-al in a shocking manner) were recover ell from among the fragments floating in the river The number of missing Is about thirty, while eight dead bodies have been found and also several persons who were wounded
 "As an incident worthy of note, it is men, toned that a large and powerful dog, of the bloodhound species, plunged into the river soon after the accident, and rescued MT. James John son who was slightly scalded, but nevertheless he would have been drowned but for the dog" Total number of passengers on the Pearl 99 Officers and crew IS