The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-05-12
Terrible Disaster on the uississip-
ri ii-Particuinrs Of the Explosion
Of the 81 Nicholas.


nj Particulars Of the Explosion
Of the 81. Nicholas.
The Memphis Apoionehs OF April 2hth. gives
the following particulars Of the explosion Of the
steamboat 81. Nicholas:
The steamer ST. Nicholas Capt McMullen,
from St. Louis, exploded her boiler at Isl nd
60, under full hesdwsy, ct 10 O'Clock on Sunday
night last April oath, 1859. BY which nearly
sixty lives we're lost, and the boat, with a large
aud valuable cargo, entirely destroyed.
THE EXPLOSION
took place as before stated, at ten o'clock on
Sunday night, st the head Of 81. Francis Island.
II is the opinion OF oil the survivors that slt the
boilers Of the boat exploded OF one time, csus-
ing complete and instant wreck Of the boot,-
As is usual IN such cases, no reasonable cause
can be assigned for the accident. The boilers
of the boat though somewhat old, were consid-
ercl sale when properly attended to, and the
engineers are said 10 have been attentive and
careful
The BURNING OF the BOAT
Immediately after the explosion the boat took
fire, the flames spreading with great rapidity,
and quickly enveloping the whole boat in one
sheet OF fame. No imagination can conceive,
no pen depict, the dreadful horrors OF the heart.
rending scene which was presented ct tho mo.
ment when The glow OF the flames from the bur-
ming boat revealed the sad picture.
the DEATH OF CAPT. M'MuLLEN.
In the vast recc rds of disaster rs which have
occurred or our Western waters there is moth
ing 20 compare with thu h"rOisn exhibited by
Capt MGNiuIlcn, the commonlcr of the ill-iated
ST. Nicholas. At the time of the explosion re
was Oh watch, uul vas ~ the pilot house. A
heavy piece Of timber, di.pldccd by the explo-
sion, caught his feet ond held him iast by al
most sup p'rhuman effort ir disengaced his right
! foot but his left still fciGuintd fast. During
this time he exhibited great sulicitude for the
IN fety ol persons on the boat and not until the
| famrs had come wi Thin rpat n Of his own body
did he exhibit any anxiety for himself. Their
finding he could not rel ase himself. he implor
ed those in reach of his voice 10 relieve hin
| from his dreadful dilemma, requesting at las
that some one would bring him nn ak ond cu
OF his leg Every exeron was made TO reliev,
him, but without avail and the noble Captain
aud true man was consumed by the flames
meeting death munluly at his post.
FEMALE HERoIsM.
Oe Of the most affecting incidents Of this
entire tragedy occurred in the conduct OF Mis-:
Kennedy cousin OF MI CLINE, the CHI cler!
and one OF the owners Of the boat She wa
thrown by the explosion from her state room
into the river ana floaed down to the stern o
the boat when she caught her hand in one o
perlous dilemma, when death stood threatninI
upon either hand To loose her hold was I,
sink into the waves aud to hold on was to burr
with the wreck to which she was clinging-
every moment being an age OF alternating hop
aud despair She remained in this position un
Ill the flames actually burned the hair and ski
from her head the only part Of her body abov
the water, except the hand by which she clnnj
to the wreck, and that was burned TO crisp
While in this awful suspense und suffering in
tensely from the heat, such was her presence o
mind and her wonderful herosm, that, q ma
who was worse stunned, perhaps, than herscl
by the explosion was floating by her q drown
ing condition, she seiz'd him by the hair wit
her disengngrd hand aud held his face out q
the water uni a skin was broaght TO he res
, cue ot BOTH
r RELIEF OF THE WOUNDED.
The Susquehanna arrived at the scene Of tn
disaster in very short time after the exp!oso
occurred, and was instrumental in saving man
OF those saved from the wreck Of the st. Nicho
las The wounded aud oil those escaping ur
hurt, were received on boarl aud every after
ton paid to them. On the arrival Of the Su:
quchunnn here the wounded were taken
charge by the city authorities aud benevolel
order of the Sons OF Malta aud their wants a
tended to.