Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-03-20
Fearful Steamboat Explosion

Loss from Forty to Sixty Lives-To:al Wreck of the
Steamer Pearl.
We take the following particulars of the steam
boat explosion from the San Francisco Journals
SACRAMENTO, Saturday, Jan. 81, 1855,
l.S0 O'Clock, P. NJ.
One of the most fearful accidents that has ever
happened on the Pacific coast, has Just occurred.
The steamer Pearl, from Mirysville, Just as she
passed the conhux of the Sacramento and Ameri-
can rivers, exploded, and sent in moment from
forty to sixty human beings into eternity. 1t ap-
pears that the enterprise, Citizens Line,) and
Pearl, Combination Line, )were racing from Ma
rysvlle to this city, and just as the latter was
nearing the wharf, the boilers burst and resulted
as above described. There were ninety-threc
passengers on board, many of whom were China
mcn-most of them were on the toward part of
the boat, nc:r the guards, is usual on the land
ing of the boats. 1t is impossible to tell how
many were saved but from the statement of an
eye witness, who assisted in conveying several Of
the wounded and dying to the hospital, it is be-
lieved that more than two-thirds have perished.
Some of them were drowned; others completely
blown to pieces others with their legs and arms
blown of, and otherwise terribly mutilated-
The pilot who was thrown several feet into the air
escaped with but little injury, and also the cook
and steward. These are the only officers of the boat
who were saved. Capt. Davis, Purser Gilman,
AID Mr.. Mcbride, of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Ex-
PAccS3 uIC oh uCous Luz siCdSuTe UtIOuEI0g 10
Wells, Fargo & Co., is sunk. They are now about
making preparations for its recovery. Mr.. Kcefer
of Adams & Co.'s Express, was saved The
mangled corpses of several Cinnamon are living on
each side Of the river-most of them at Yolo.
The bow of the boat was literally blown into
ten thousand pieces by the explosion, and here it
was that most of the passengers had assembled,
to catch the first sight of their destination. In
the cabin the floor was torn up by the stcsm pipe
communicating 1.-THE Pearl being a stem wheel
boat) with the engine and shaft. Several gentle
men were found here badly scalded, and some in
a dying condition. The boat or rather the wreck,
then commenced parting; one-h half being more COM
pletely destroyed, than the other broke loose
from the remaining portion of the hull. The efforts
of those on board and on shore were then direct
cd to bring the wreck to the shore. This was
soon effected, and what remained of the boat was
moored alongside the storeship situated about
the foot of q street. ! s1Hs}t .e g. tus1e
In the meantime many bodies (some of them
mutilated in shocking manner) were recovered
from among the fragments floating in the river.
The number of missing is about thirty, while
eight dead bodies have been found, and also sew
eral persons who we're wounded. 4a nr ll.s-u
As an accident worthy of note, it is mention
ed that a large and powerful dog, of the blood
hound species, plunged into the river soon after
the accident, and rescued Mr.. James johnson,
who was slightly scaldcd, but nevertheless help
less, and would have been drowned but for the
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