Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-02-09
Fran .SasAmenio Unioa, -Feb-d +~--
AWFUL, CALAMITY

Wrcck-Incideats, DC, DC.
terrible calamity, only equaed in these
waters by the awful disaster which destroyed
the Pearl year ago, occurred on the oacre-
mento River yesterday morning. The Steamer
Belle, Capt. Charles III. Houston, lett TINS
city at o'clock for Red Bluffs. AT precisely
II o'clock, and when opposite the Russian
Ford eleven miles above town the boiler burst
and instantaneously the stream was strewed
with mangled bodies, and fragments OF the
wreck.
MIR. James A. Powell, farmer at Grand
Island Ranch, below Colusa, who was one oil
the passengers, states that at the moment oi
the explosion he was leaving the ladies' cab
in and when the accident occurred was com
petely stunned for the moment, but immedl-
ately thereafter recovered. On looking about
him he first saw a child badly hurt, and also
number of persons floating down the river.
The steamer General Reddington, on her
downward trip, reached the scene OF the ac-
cident at O'Clock, and Immediately took OIL
the survivors from the wreck.
The entire boat with the exception OF some
forty feet of the after portion, sunk instantly,
and the wreck is more omplete than was
that of the ill-fated Pearl. AT the moment
of the arrival of the General Reddington, the
body of Capt. Houston was drawn from the
water considerably mutilated VIM Shall
cross. one of the pilots, was found with his
thigh broken and head cut. He is dangerous
" hurt. Napolean Hyte, another pilot, is
missing also, Alonzo Taylor, clerk; +.
Sheets, mate and two deck hands.
Among the wounded are John Smith, deck
band-leg scalded Major John Bidwell,
skull fractured doing well Wallace Miller,
lad about IA years of age, face confused,
knee cut and scalded slightly James Parker
bar keeper, nose aud forehead cut Rev. |. 5
Delhi, thigh broken John Cunningham, I'd
engineer, badly injured A. S. Wilson, deck
hand, head shoulders confused and scalded /;
Henry Christian, passenger, Dane, breast
bruised Peter IL. Myers, carpenter of Red
Bluffs bruised generally Clay Wilson, of
this city, slightly injured Nelson Hocomb,
late of Hudson, Summit county. Ohio, slight
ly; VIM. DAILY, watchman, severely cut and
Injured Thos. McAlpin, Of this city, slightly
injured Mr. Brintnall, of this city, slightly
injured.
The names of the dead whose bodies Lave
been found, so far a ascertained, are as fol-
lows
Chas. H. Houston, captain VIM Green,
fireman; John White, (Swede) deck hand !;
Chas. Yakey second cook, was taken to Price
e. Proctor's hospital, where his leg was am
putated, death resulting Immediately after ;
Wells Holcomb, just arrived in the State,
from Hudson, Summit county, Ohio ; one un-
known
As near as we can ascertain, there were
two tables set each of which was filled, and
a number Of the passengers declined to par
take Doubtless, at least one half of those
who left the city on the steamer are either
dead, wounded or missing.
William a. Mix, passenger, while read
ing, was requested to move by waiter who
was sweeping, and passed into the cabin
While conversing with another passenger, the
explosion occurred, killing the latter, himself
escaping unhurt Capt Houston, who was
standing between the clerks Office and the
rail on the boiler deck, was thrown overheard,
and his jaw and claricle broken. Mr.. Mix
was thrown upon his face on a sofa in the
cabin. He Immediately jumped out OF the
window upon the deck, and saw 10 or 20 per-
sons floating in the stream, all or most of
whom he thinks he could have saved had
there been small boat at the stern. As
soon as he recovered from the shock of the
accident and perceived those struggling in
the water, he commenced throwing overheard
boxes, bales and everything moyeable that
would float. for their assistance.
The end llues of the boiler were driven in
the cabin to the wheel. There must have
been number of persons drowned. AT least
half an hour elapsed before the wreck was
grounded on the shore.
A canary bird belonging to Mr.. Mix was
in q cage placed on table in the cabin, at
the time Of the explosion. Although the ta-
ble was almost entirely demolished by being
cleared by portious of the boiler, the bird and
cage escaped uninjured, with the except on of
the latter being slightly bent. The bird is
now singing as sweetly as ever at the Orleans
the accident having merely disturbed its plu-
mage.
The excitement in the city on the reception
of Intelligence OF the calamity was intense
and painfully suggestive of that which pre-
vailed TO so great an extent and with so
muth lhVchslly CohoepueHt ou .ne hShoi apie
Pearl explosion. Immediately, as the news
spread, the human tide was determined with
increasing volume towards the Levee, all ca
ger to learn who of their relatives, friends or
acquaintances, had been hurriedso sumnarily
from this busy life.
The steamer Gen. Redington, which was
the bearer of the sad tidings, and upon which
were a number of the survivors and the body
of Capt Houston, was Immediately beseigeC
by anxious inquirers. Her mission having
been accomplished, she returned to the wreck
and was followed soon after by the steamer