The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-19
EXPLOSION or THE STEAMER PEYNsYLvr

Through the politeness Of gentleman connect.d -
the Memphis Bulletin who reached this city Last s
have been placed in possession OF copy Of tia,
of Tuesday morning, the 18th inst, containing IAN
particular narrative of the circumstances stten.n
explosion Of the boilers Of the steamer Pennsylyani
Klinefelter, and her subsequent destruction by 4,
brief account Of which has already been communhss
telegraph
The Pennsylvania was one OF tho regular steamer,
ming between Few Orleans and st. LJuis The exn.s
took place Sunday morning. the 18th inst, al.mt
clock, opposite the little village Of Wayne In Ahm
twenty Ave miles above Helena The cause of the avs
sion in wrapped In mystery. There no racing NJ
fort 70 make great speed. and everything going
according TO the usual routine. The two engineers ~
part owners OF the boat, sober, and reliable men a
superstition is that great quantity OF mud had a,u
mulhted in the boilers, preventing adequate suppy
water from flowing into the same. The boilers wer
aud thin, UnRt for the purpose Of psupelling boat
size and capacity Of the Pennsylvania The nnmbe
on their way to the North and other points to u
the summer. considerable amount OF specie Wa y
on board, and very large freight.
AT the time Of the explosion but few II the paseu,
out Of their state rooms many Of them not h.
awake and to this circumstances ID attributed the ss
Of many lives. Forward Of the wheels but few pep1
escaped injury DEATH aft the loss OF life was less
in the ladies cabin scarcely any injured linn
diately after the explosion the boat took fire. and ND
consumed rapidly that IL Is feared many persons r
ished in the flames
Immediately after the explosion the anchor was let a.
butt strength of the current such as to part IN
hawser, and the wreck foated down the stream AT n.
moment the the boat in the highest desr
distressing. The passengers were rushing to and hO
crying out that the boat fire; that she was su
ing, etc. Capt X endeavOred for moment To still IL,
tumult and quiet the fears Of the excited paengcs
surfing them that ii they would remain quiet all wous
be saved. The boat by this time had by the course
the current been carried rather the shore when
Raboat observed tied to the trees the shore Cant
klnefeter had the e-boat Of the Pennsylvania imme
dately launched and Ia few moments brought the IA
alongside of the raft The paasengers all hunle
aboard the iatboat from the burning wreck and most
them found foothold on it, Some Of the German deck
passengers were very loAth to leave the wreck with
out their baggage, and several Of them, it feared
were burned up with the boat The wreck b
this time almost sheet of fame and Ii,
fatboat was ia great danger from the fire. Wit
great difficulty the fiat pushed off from the bumn
wreck and secured to the trees the shore where il IL
manned for six hours without any assistance presenth
itself Some of the persons who were thrown out int
the water swan ashore, to the Mississippi side wha
they found assistance and relief
After the fiat, containing the wounded and diving am
those who escaped unhr had laid up near the shore
several hours, the steamer Imperial hove In sight
came near the boat which made fast to the stern
the steamer and towed to Austin, distant about Sv
miles. Here every attention paid to the sryiyos
and nothing omitted to relieve the suferings of N
wounded and render the others comfortable Shortly Al
forwards the steamers Kate Frisee and Diana reache
Austin from below, and took the survivors on board
leaving the injured and wounded at Memphis Herr
again. the citizens and authorities We'd with each ote
In administering to the necessities of the unfortunate
The mayor appointed large stan Of physicians to attel
upon them some were carried to the Gayosa House
and others to the Exchange building the latter btn
the particular charge of the city and citizens generally
The Bulletin gives complete list of the saved an
wounded. The number Of lost Is believed to be abo,
had,M and Jyythe loss Of liis being the create
perhaps that has ever occurred the Mississippi rive
large number of deck passengers board, incl
ding two hundred German emigants their way to Il
West.