Des Arc citizen., 1859-04-29

TERRIBLE DISAsTER-EXPL0SI0N OF THE STEAMER ST. NICHOLAS
 GREAT LOSS OF LIFE-T0TAL
 DESTRUCTION OF THE BOAT
 CARGO ALL L0ST!!
 The boilers of the steamer St. Nicholas, Capt. McMulen, exploded at half past ten o'clock Sunday night at Island 60, about seven miles below the scene of the accident to the steamer Pennsylvania, and the boat burned to the waters edge immediately afterward. By the accident between fifty and sixty lives were lost, and the boat and cargo were totally de- stroyed.
 Among those who are known to be lost are Captain Me Mullen, the commander of the St. Nicholas; Mrs. Cline, the estimable wife of the first clerk; the first and second engineers, thirteen of the deck hands and iremen, num- Der of the cabin crew, and many of the cabin and deck passengers--in all, about sixty per sons. From Mr. Mart R. Fisher, the clerk of the steamer Susquehanna, from MT. Gillem, the second clerk of the St. Nicholas, and from MT. Reid, the pilot who was on watch at the time of the accident, we have learned the fol- lowing particulars.
 The steamer Susquehanna was but a few miles below at the time of the explosion, and she was soon alongside the wreck, and render ed all the assistance that was possible in saw ing those who escaped injury, and in rescuing the sufferers. The Susquehanna brought the wounded-siXteen in number-to this city, nearly all of whom are either with their friends, at private residences, at the hotels, or in charge of their brethren of the order of the Sons of Malta. But one sufferer was sent to the hospital.
 " In addition to the list of the killed, we regret to chronicle the loss of Gideon J. Pill low, Jr. the son of Gen. Pillow, of Tennes see Young Mir. Pillow embarked on the St. Nicholas at this port, on Sunday evening, for his fathers plantation, near Helena; and as there is no account of his escape, there can be but little doubt that his life was lost in the general disaster.
 At the time of the accident, Capt. Me Mnl- len, Capt. Cline, the clerk, and Mir. James Reid, the pilot, were on watch. Capt. Me Mullen fell below, and his leg was caught in some timbers and, although efforts were made to eXtrcate him, ne was burned to death, while his cries for help were distinctly heard by those around him.
 MT. Gillum, the second clerk, was in his berth at the time of the accident, and says that his first sensation was similar to that which attends the report of pistol. When he awolle to consciousness, he was on his mat trass, floating in the river, a hundred yards from the boat. He reached the shore without assistance. MT. Gillum is badly scalded, but will recover.
 Capt. Cline. the clerk, was badly burned, but there is a hope that he will recover. Miss Ella Kennedy, cousin of Capt. Cline, is also badly scalded. They are both at the residence of Mr. S. H. Shock, and are attended by Drs. Tucker and Keller.
 It is remarkable coincidence that, just be- fore the accident occurred, Capt. Me Mullen, Mir. Reynolds, from Sioux City, Iowa, Band gentleman from Warrenton. Miss. were in | the pilot house together, engaged in conver- sation in reference to the disaster to the steamer Pennsylvania, which occurred in the ton was a firm believer in the Calvinistic doc l urine of qualifying the ex- preSsion with the statement that he hoped ht was always prepared to meet his fate, what ever that fate might be-. The particulartcon- versation had not closed, when the boat was blown into thousand atoms, and none of the party in the pilot-house were saved but tht pilot, MT. Reid.
 During the passage from the wreck to this port, four deaths occurred on board the Sus quehanna and the dead bodies were brought to this city for interment.
 Many of the sufferers lived in St. Louis, in cluding the majority of the crew. Such oi them as were able to be moved with safety were transferred from the Susquehanna to thu Philadelphia, and left for St. Louis last even ing.
 MT. Reid, the pilot on watch at the time o1 the accident, informed us yesterday, that a the time the steam was a little above the or dinarv guage, and that he could distinctly hea it escape as he stood at the wheel in the pilo house.
 The majority of the sufferers now in thi city are badly injured, and it is feared tha some of them cannot recover. There IS grea hone. however. that Capt. Cline, and hi
 cousin, Miss Kennedy, VIII De restored U health.
 Capt. Frank Hicks, of the Daniel Boone which boat passed up few hours behind tn Susouehanna. saw the burnt wreck of the St
 Nicholas short distance below Helena, an expressed the belief that it was the hull of tn
 wharfboat at Helena that had been burned. The officers of the steamer Oakland, whicl boat arrived there at an early hour yesterda morning. saw the light of the burning steame behind them during the night, but had no sus
 picion that it was the wreck of the St. Nicho las, which boat they had met few hours be fore.
 The St. Nicholus was regular packet be !. tween St. Louis and New Orleans and this city , and was owned by Capt. A. Reeder of St. Louis and Cant. B. " Cline, the clerk. She wa < built at Pittsburg seven years ago the comm
 autumn. She had been reftted recently at heavy expense. She was worth, perhaps, abor } S20, ,000.
 There was not much money or many valua bles in the safe of the boat, and the pecuniar losses were confined principally to the frelgh RS5 Two centuries ago not one perso in 100 wore stockings. Fifty years az not one boy in 1000 was allowed to ru at large nights. Fifty years ago not on
 girl in 1000 made waiting women of he