New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-17
TIE EXPLOSION.

fllibuster who was on board the Scott ct the time
of the explosion thus describes il:
The steamer left Kellsy's Point and proceeded
down the river toward Sarapqui. conveying Lock-
ridges troops from Castillo, after the unsuccessful ex-
pedCn. She was accompanied by q small iron
steamer called the Rescue On the first day out two
of the fues Of the steamer broke This was about
twenty-five miles from Fort Hunter. The intention
to cndeavor to reach Geytown, TO leave the Sex
and those who were determined 10 return home, while
those bound for Walker proceeded. On "Wednesday,
about ii a. m., when n mile and half from Sarapi-
oui and about thiry-two miEs from keleys Point,
We were all startled by the explosion. l was at the
time on the second deck, among the sick There
were about one hundred at that moment standing
around Just over the boiler. The sick were all con-
fined ON the second deck, aft of the boiler. Within
about ten feet Vi us were about two and and halt
tuns of powder covered with canvas and guarded
by sentinel. Fortunately none of this took fire. L
myself helped to put 1t ON board. Quite large num-
her Of those the second deck were blown into the
river and one or two blown on 10 the shore.
They had lust turned toward little island in the
river where they about to lay to TO let the iron
tender pass on that they might go down the river and
rec whether the enemy had fortified Sarapiqu and n-
tended 10 oppose them in Castillo. Lockridge felt
socitous ab0u: this point, because the steamer
had 80 much powder board, which chance
shot might destroy. The Rescue Ctender had
about two hundred men on board. At the time OF
the explosion the Rescue was about a quarter OF
n mile behind Us. The Rescue. and those ON board
the -tcnIIer not injured, Immediately proceeded to
nick NJ the injured and take them ashore. There was
no Sccomn odation, and they were all put on the
N, rnd with nothing over them. Their suffer
ing, wer, lum,ntab!c. Lockridge and Weeks were
both Tn the steamer n. the time. Lockrdge was un-
niur, d but Weeks, who was washing on the second
deck near the whcelhouse, was blown out of Il win
dow into the rivor. AS he got up and got his
head ont of water he exclaimed To Me boys who
jumping oyt rboard, Boys, don't jump there is no
doug,rm This stopped the panic, aad prevented
further loss Of life by drowning. There were about
twenty-five killed, aud thirty or forty wounded Some
,i,Lt or ten tf the wounded died after being got
ashore. AT the time Of The explosion the men were
scattered oil the steamer playing cards come
ringing and one party conycrsing, wishing them
selves home instead OF here they The explosion,
from what could ascertain, was caused by one OF the
h, ads of the boiler being blown out. Ii carried away
all the upJcr deck and the arboard wheelhouse, aud
II potion oi the bow Of the boat. large hole, too,
was knocked in the bottom. The boat Instantly filled,
ard c1t over on her side toward the beach. The
force of the explosion drove the bow of the boat some
little distance to the sand bar. There were on
board tn. steamer j. n. Scott among other firearms,
Two little guns one fOurpounder, aud two sX-pOund-
crs nna q hoHitze! Most Of the men killed were Of
the hundred who intended to proceed with Lockridge
to iou Walker. All were finally taken on the Rescue
-thc wounded and ALTO Greytown, where they
found the Tennessee. Here they were told by the
agent they could come home III the steamer If they
chose Some got aboard, and some did not, but all
would have been glad TO come