The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-12
Explosion Of the steamer ~. Nicholas

Explosion OF the steamer ~. Nicholas.
We gather the following particulars Of
this terrible calamity, from the Memphis
avalanche, Of the 2Gth April:
The steamer 1t. Nicholas, Captain Nc.
Mullen, from st. Louis. exploded her boilers
at Island 60, snder full Roadway, at 10
O'Clock on Sunday night last, April oath,
1859, by which nearly sixty lives were lost
and the boat, with large and valuable
cargo, entirely destroyed.
THE EXPLOSION
took place, an before stated, at 10 o'clock on
Sunday night, at the head Of ST. Francis
Island. II is the opinion OF all the surviv.
ors that all the boilers Of the boat exploded
Mt one time. causing complete and instant
wreck Of the boat. As is usual 10 such
cases, no reasonable cause can be assigned
Tor the accident. The boilers Of the boat,
though somewhat old, were considered safe
when properly attended to, and the engi-
neers are said TO have been attentive and
careful.
THE BURNING or THE BOAT.
Immediately after the explosion the boat
took fire, the flames spreading with great
rspidity, and quickly enveloping the whole
boat 10 one sheet OF flame. No imsgina
ton can conceive. no pen depict, the dread.
ful horrors Of the heart rending scene which
was presented at the moment when the glow
Of the flames from the burning boat revealed
the sad picture.
TIE DEATH or CAPTAIN x'MUILES.
In the vast records Of disasters which
have occurred on our Western waters there
Is nothing 10 compare with the heroism ex-
hibitei by Captain McMullen, the commsn-
der OF the Inflated st. Nicholas At the
time Of the explosion he was on watch, and
was in the pilot house. A heavy piece OF
timber, displaced by the explosion. caught
his feet and held him fast. by almost So
perhuman effort he dengaged his right
foot, but his lett still remained fast. Dur
ing this time he exhibited great solicitude
for the safety OF persons on the boat, and
not until the flames had come within reach
Of his own body did he exhibit any anxiety
for himself Then finding he could not re-
lease himself he implored those in reach Of
his voice to relieve him from his dreadful
dilemma, requesting at last that some one
would bring an axe and cut off his leg.
Every excrtion was made TO relieve him. but
without avail, and the noble Captain and
true man was consumed by the flames, meet
ing death manfuly at his post,
FEMALE HgRoIsx.
One Of the most affecting incidents Of this
entire tragedy occurred in the conduct Of
Miss Kennedy, cousin Of Mr.. Cline the
Chief clerk. aud one Of the owners oi the
boat. She was thrown by the explosion
from her state room into the river, and float
III down to the stern OF the boat, when she
caught her hand in one OF the rings attach
cd TO the hull. and hung in that pcrilous d.
lemma. when death stood threatening upon
either hand. TO loose her hold was to sink
into the waves, and 10 hold on was to burn
with the wreck TO which she was clnging-
every moment being an age OF alternating
hope and despair. She remained IN this po-
sition until the flames actually burned the
hair aud skin from her head, the only part
OF her body above the water, except the
hand 10y which she chung TO the wreck. and
that was burned 10 crisp. While in this
awful suspense. and suffering intensely from
the heat, such was her presence Of mind and
her wonderful hcroisn, that. "a a man, who
was worse stunned, perhaps, than herself, by
the explosion. was floating by her. in a
drowning condition she seized him by the
hair with her discugagcd hand and held his
lace out OF the water until q skitl was brought
10 the rescue Of both.
RELIEF os THE WOUNDED.
The Susauehauna arrived at the scene Of
the disaster in very short time after the
explosion occurrNi, and was instrumental in
saving many cf thosc saved from the wreck
OF the ~. Nicholas. The wounded and all
those escaping nnhurt were received on boari
and every attention bestowed upon them.
"a the arrival ot the Susquehanna here. the
wounded were taken in charge by the city
authorities and the bcnevolen, order Of the
Sons OF Malta. and their wants attended Ia
REx,Rk,sLs COINCIDENCE.
The Memphis iPpoii says;
II - u remarkable e,inchienc,n. tina, ius,
before the accident occurr,d, Captain Nc.
Mallcu. Mr.. Reynolds, from Sioux City
Iowa. ami gentleman from Narrenton.
NJ Mississippi. were IN the pilot house toyeih-
cr, engaged IN couv,rsailou IN nj, renee 20
the disaster 10 the steamer Pennsylvania
, Which u>cgrr~i IN the Sam locality. The
g,uiivman from Warpnton was a firm b,-
l.cNcr IN the ta.V.HIs,ic ioc,t,oc Of prtj,s,l
nanou-V qualifying the eNpn~sion With the
s,a,erneu, tina, be hoP,Nl tina, b, WAS always
prparci 90 met bl, bate. What, vyr that lat,
mlga, 4 The particular conversation had
DOT c.uss.,l Shcu the b,at vas b,uNa into a