The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-04-30
TIFF EXPLOSION OF THE ST. NICHOLAS
rppruep PARTICULARS


Tho s,eancr At. Nicholas exploded on the MIA
.s.ippi river on Saturday last, near Memphis
Tenn, about 10 o'clock 10 the morning iee
Memphis, Tenn, Bulletin says:
She left this port At O'Clock on SUNDAY e.e
ming. having awaited the arrival OF tue eeen,as
train, and when opposite Island Sky e1p'e .u
several boilers, aud immedtsteiy ai'e rs $50 ~
Are aud burned 20 the waters eose; ue "a
the disaster Ia about seven miles below tne spot
a. xh,ch The memorable accident to the Pennsy''
rsnts occurred on the 18th Of last June, ana some
s,xtv A Va miles below this city Inc e1pios,oh DC
cnr,na about 10 O'Clock Sunday night, Captain
vsw.iten being on watch ut the time, and but q
s. ,ainutes elapsed before the flames had con-
.umed the entire boat, with the exception OF the
huii. which hoated on down the river Inc DOCKS
and papers being destroyed, 1t is imposshe 10 arr
rive at perfectly accurate statement OF the num-
hsr of persons lost, but enough is known to war
rant the belief that from 80 to GO are killed and
mIs.,na. and among them several ladies. The loss
Of life would necessarily have been much greater,
had Il not been for the opportune arrival OF the
susquehauna, which boat came to the reiiei Oh the
sufferers when the Inflated steamer was about
half consumed, and took on board all those unin'
iured by the explosion or fire, as also 10 OF the
| wounded, picked up while floating upon the water
| The Susa johanna arrived at our wharf about
O'clock last evening, and left all those in any wise
injured. who we're Immediately taken in charge
| by the city authorities and Sons OF Malta, al
whose hands they received sll necessary attention
| Four Of the unfortuRates died on the passage up
| aud will be buried tosday, as per notice given
elsewhere eass ;a!Su - S4xss m.t- - a
| Al the time of the accident. Capt. McMullen, as
| .Iready stated was on WATCH and in the pilot
| house, from whence he fell through to the boiier
| deck where a sharp piece Of timber penetrated ia
foot and holding him fast, entiie'y pfesen'eu LIE
| are with which he might sever his leg from Ms
BODY. and thus exricate himself from the periious
position in which he was placed, but failing 10 re-
| ceive assistance, he persisted IN the names Inc
| nilot on duty, James Reid, was also precipitated
below but had the good fortune to reach the water
| from whence he was rescued by one OF the susque'
Cant. r. Y. Cline clerk and part owner Of the
boat on watch at the time, lost his wife fnd one
| consin-a Miss Dunnica-and was very badly scad
| cd and burned himself. Another cousin, Mics
| Kennedy, of Brunswick, Mo-, was also severely in
| jured Capt. CLINE and Miss Kennedy we're res
moved TO the residence Of Mr.. s. H. Shock, in the
navy ysrd and strong hopes entertained by the
attending physicians that they will recover
Mr.. G. ii. III. Gillum, second clerk, was asleep
in his berth, and tie first intimation had BY BIN
of the occurrence was on awakening 70 ma MN
seIf in the river, fully one hundred yards from
the boat with his msttrass and bedciothes IN.
der him and in as perfect order as though re-
naming in the stateroom. lie is badly burned,
but will recover.
their way to Vicksburg to reside, consisting OF
father mother, and a little SOD, were lost, with
the exception of the latter, who lost nearly all his
clothing by the fire. and was himself consider ably,
though not seriously burned.
As q somewhat singular coincidence we may
state that few moments before the explosion
took place. Capt. McMullen and gentleman from
Warren ton, Miss, in the course OF conversation,
spoke of the Pennsylvania disaster, which occur
red at very place they passing at the time,
when the gentleman referred to, took occasion to
assert his belief in the doctrine of predestination
that whatever occurred was right, aud that he
was at any time prepared to die, and IN whatever
manner the summons might come. The words
had scarcely been uttered when the boat exploded,
and he was summariy called to test the truth or
falsity of his belief
Both the engineers on watch, WilliamiFew and
John Jenkins, we're instantly killed, aud hence
nothing definite is known as regards the origin of
the explosion. Thirteen of the deck.hands and
iremen are also killed and missing, rs also the
barber cabin boy, two berth makers, cook and
chamber maid. Indeed, it is doubtful If similar
disaster has ever occurred on the Mississippi
which more destructive to the lives OF officers
and crew than the one in question
The St. Nicholas was Pittsburg. built boat, of
good size, about seven years old, was owned by
Capt A. Reeder, of ST. Louie, and Capt. b. v.
Cline chief clerk, and worth from SIS, 900 to &c.,
600. She had recently been refitted and repaired,
and was in complete running order Her cargo
consisted of $50 barrels of -four, 1000 kegs OF
lard 300 barrels pork, $50 pigs lead, 300 hogs 46
CATTLE mules, horses, 60 barrels molasses 900
sacks oats, all consigned to parties in New Or.
leans, with the exception Of a small amount for
Vicksburg and the Yazoo River, and the total
value of which it would be impossible to estimate
with any degree of certainty.
The names of the killed have already been pub
lished. teIegraphic dispatch states that Benz.
V. Cline the chief clerk of the boat, died on
Wednesday and that Briscoe Baldwin Stuart, of
Stanton, Va, and O. II. Reynolds, of Sioux city,
are not expected to recover. Mr.. Stuart, as has
heen stated is a son of Hon. A. IL. Ii. Stuart,
and was on his way to New Orleans to be mar