Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-06-24
BURNING OF THE
Steamer Pennsylvania.
Detailed account of the Catastrophe.
Incidents Connected With The
Dreadful Tragedy.

We are under many obligations to our es-
teemed fellow citizen, the Hon. Washington
King, who came up on the Diana last eve
ming, for an account of the terrible disaster
which has almost monopolized the public
attention for the last two days.
Quite mistake occurred in the announce
ment that Mr.. King came up on the "Penn-
sylvania."
He left New Orleans on the Diana, and
did not reach the scene of the horrible ca
tastrophe until six hours after the explo-
sion.
FIRST INTIMATIoN OF THE DISASTER.
The first intimation that the passengers Of
the Diana received of the accident was from
a signal given by the inhabitants of log
cabin, about fifteen miles above Helena -
The cabin was partially submerged, and
upon coming up TO within q short distance
of it they were informed of the explosion,
and found two Of the sufferers lying there
badly burned and scalded. They took the
poor people aboard, and upon hearing from
them that many CT the survivors were on
board the Imperial, some seven or eight miles
below, CAPT. Sturgeon ordered the pilot 10
round about, and returned down the river
to where the Imperial lay.
Upon arriving at the place where the In
perial lay, the Diana found along side Of her
the steamer Kate Frisbee.
TIE APPEARANCE OF THE CABIN OF THE
KATE FnlsBEE.
Mr.. King says the cabin floor of the Kate
Frisbee presented the most horrible sight
he ever witnessed. From one end 10 the
other lay, huddled together, The wounded,
the dying and the dead. The air resound-
ed with the cries of sorrow or Of pain, and
the voices of the dying, growing fainter and
fainter, until the lips were sealed, made an
impression upon tha mind never TO be e.
rased.
SISTERS OF CHARITY.
Through the crowded cabin could be seen
a couple of Sisters OF Charity" first here
then there-wandering thro' the thronged
hospital like angel visilents, speaking an
encouraging word 10 one-affording tempo
rary relief 10 anothsr-whispering prayer
with third-muttering blessing upon the
expiring. No effort was spared by them in
their work Of charity and love.
They came as passengers on the Penn
sylvania; and being in the ladies' cabin a.
the time of the explosion, were saved.
THE "IMPERIAL."
The Imperial also was crowded with the
survivors. Her cabin floor was put to the
same use as The Frisbee, and every officer
on either boat, spared no pains TO render
every assistadce it was in their power to
afford.
PASSENGERS RESCUED BY THE DIANA.
The Diana took about 200 of the survivors
from the Imperial, land about % or "a of the
badly wounded. She left the wounded at
Memphis, where they were taken TO the
Hospital. Half of them at least could not
possibly recover.
The passengers Of the Diana contributed
5000 toward defraying their expenses at
he Hospital. As many of the survivors as
desired 10 do so, came up on the Diana TO
Cairo.
THE OPERA TROUPE.
There was an opera troupe on board the
Pennsylvania, on their way from New Or
e ans to St. Louis. Most of the male mem
,ers were killed. Some three or four were
put off at Memphis by the Diana, to be con-
geyed to the hospital. There was a large
oortly man in the company, whose name is
lot known, who was put of at Memphis
His arms and hands were burned te crisp,
md from hi; internal sufferings, it was evil
lent he had inhaled the hot steam. He used
o sing with Madame Devries, in this city,
base singer, wore large moustache, and
vas of q very heavy build. He cannot pos
IDLY survive,
Mr.. King, in conversation with the sur
,ivors who came up on the Diana, learned
he following particulars:
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.
The first fireman Of the Pennsylvania has
,een on her since her first trip. He states
hat they had jIst cleaned out the fire bed
md started fire, when the explosion took
,lace. He attributes The cause 10 want /:
f water in the boilers. There were two I
explosion in quick succession. He was blown I
nto the water over the side Of the boat.
THE EXPLOSION.
The boat separated from line drawn
cross the boat from the barber-shop and
,antry. Those who were in the forward