Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-08
From the New osieans Delta. March i.



uia ton and produced universal thrill of
terror and grief 1t was the explosion of one
of the boilers of the splendid and favorite
Mississippi steam packet Princess, usually
considered one of the safest and best con-
Quoted of our steamboats,. As the news sent
by telegraph spread through the city, the
streets filled with anxious inquircrs, and
when our evening edition, giving the first
authentic intelligence of the calumi:y, was
issued, the demand for it was SO great that
it was with much difficulty we could sup
ply it.
Such intense interest was justified by the
extent of the calamity. the long list of the
victims and the high position and the large cir
Giles of friends of so many of them Among
them are several members of our Legislature,
and some of our most prominent merchants
and planters.
1t was not until yesterday afternoon, when
the Kate Dale reached our wharf, that we
could learn all the facts of the disaster.
The Princess was on her way down the
river from Vicksburg, having on board from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred pas
scngers, a crew Of at least one hundred, and
eighteen hundred bales of cotton. She had
touched at Baton Rouge, where she took on
board several gentleman of this city, includ-
ing the members of the Legislature, whose
names were given by us last evening, and
may be found on another page of our paper.
The Kate Dale had passed, and was pro-
cecding down the river at some distance, but
in sight of the Princess, when suddenly
loud report, as of the discharge of a whole
battery of heavy artillery, was heard, pro-
ducing a perceptible shock, and filling the air
with smoke and fragments. Al rushed on
nd Princess.
that she was the victim of this terrific ex-
plosion. A thick smoke, only broken by red
flashes of fire. completely envelOped the whole
steamer, which a few seconds before had eX-
cited so much admiration by her grand pro-
portions and graceful movements. Express
sions of horror and dismay arose from the
behoIders OF the sad scene. Capt. Smith, OF
the Kate Dale, Immediately ord' red his boat
to round to, and steer towards the Princess.
As soon as she neared the scene, the horrors
of the disaster came in full view. Language
is utterly inadequate to depict the heart-rend-
ing features of the dismal tragedy. The force
of the explosion had thrown the bow of the
Princess on the bank, the flames were rapidly
consuming the wreck. cutting off the approach
to the bank, and susjccting to further tor
lures the manned and helpless; the water was
alive with the wounded aud the unhurt, some
swimming. Others cinging TO bales OF cotton
and other floating objects, and all preferrlng
its chances. to the more mercileSs fury OF the
other element.
Some time-at least an hour, had elapsed
before the Kate Dale had reached the scene,
and OH what an hour was that The air
was filled with piteous cries and groans. cries
for help and screams of agony; the shrlll
tones of women mingling with the bOarse
voices of men. Prompt measures were taken
by all on board the Kate Dale, TO afford every
all in their power 10 the wounded and to
rescue those in the river. Fortunately. there
were two physicians on board the Kate Dale
their names Bulger and Blatfen, whose servi-
ces were most kindly and efficiently rendered
10 the wounded.
Seventy or eighty persons from the Prin-
cess were taken on board of the Kate Dale
The news of the disaster having reached
Baton Rouge, physicians were dispatched,
who arrived in time to render their aid. Soon
the Nc Rae and the Peerless arrived and united
with the Kate Dale in rescuing the passengers
of the Princess each receiving number of
them, who were carried to Baton Rouge.
After a while the NatcheZ also came up, and
n number OF the passengers were taken by
her, among whom was the first clerk, James
IZod, who was badly scalded, and Mr.. Joseph
Clark. second clerk, also badly scaldcd.
The Kate Dale had some thirty of the pas
sengers and crew, who were uninjured, put
on the steamer Vixen, and after doing all
that was possible for the relief of the unfor
tunate steamer, those two boats proceeded on
their way to the city, and arrived here about
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. We were
among the first on board of the Kate Dale.
The scene presented in the cabin of thet
steamer beggars all description. On the floor,
lay some fifteen persons badly wounded; FIVE
of them taken on board had already found
relief i'm death. Some of the wounded rolled
in agony, uttering the most sickening groans.
others lay motionless, helpless, and apparent
" paralyzed, and all presented that blacken-
cd, CHASTITY and horrible aspect of the burnt
and scaldcd-the most revolving aspect in
which the human form can be presented.
Every relief which the case demanded, was
extended to the unfortunates. Some were
taken to the hospitals, others to their own
residences and the hotels.
OF those received by the Kate Dale, the fol-
lowing died before she reached the city: Ed
ward Quigg, owner of the bar; Mr.. Carey,
bar-keeper; Henry Brown. assistant; Reuben,
(colored man. William Kingston, a mechan-
ic of this city. Among the badly wounded is
Mr.. Cockburn, well known merchant of this
city. formerly of the firm of Oakley. Hawkins
& Co., now of the firm OF w. ;. Mcdonald IL
Co. He is in very bad state, much hurt,
and so badly scalded and charred as not to
Samuel Wait, deck hand; james Collins a
fireman. and two colored iircmcn. We could
not get the names of the others wounded.
OF the crew uninjurcd. brought by the
Kate Dale, are the following: Chas. yates,
pilot; VIM Campbell, first steward; two sec
ond stewards, colored; VIM. Williams, col
ord. cabin boy; Joha Murray, and Peter
light. deck hands.
PASSENGERS SAVED, UNINJURED.-Mrs. b.
J. Butler Vicksburg; Mr.. and Mrs. Joel llig-
gins, and Joel Higgins, ir, of l., xington,
XIV: Mr. and Mrs. S. s. Booth, Mrs. Murray
and her daughter Drlin; Mrs. JEFF Ealer and
servant; Mrs. Manadiere, Vicksbnrg; Mr.. J.
A. Hoskins. Grand Gulf; Mrs. Wagner and
daughter: Mrs. Porter and Mr.. VIM. Biedsoe.
Several of the passengers above enumeratgd
desire mention of and a return oftheir thanks
to VIM. Campbell, the first steward OF the
Princess for the noble hcrOism and courage
with which he acted in rescuing persons. and
the untiring exertions manifested toward the
sufferers. Ore gentleman, Mr.. Higgins, III
particular, says that no one ever exhibited a
more daring spirit and greater GOODNESS in
dsnger. united with almost woman's tender
ness. He deserves and Is rendered the most
heartfelt thanks of the rescued.
The steamer Vixen also brought down the
following passengers, who were transferred
from the Kate Dale: Mr.. Loring and son; DR..
J. L. Burke, Tenn; A. l.. Hare; j. w. Blanks;
Messrs. Sprague and Stevenson, and twenty
five of the crew. all of whom are uninjured.
Asa number of persons were picked up
while clinging to bales of cotton, aud taken
to the opposite shore, hope WAS expressed
that among them were the acting captain,
VIM. l.. Jackson, aud Mr.. John Clark. assis-
tant clerk; but the arrival of the Empress,
Capt Leyden, on yesterday afternoon. made
il too certain that they were among the lost.
The Empress brought down some twenty
persons. among whom were six or eight
wounded iiremen, oil colorod bat one. A
white man, whose name we could not ascer-
tanned. died on the passage. The Natchez
took large number OF p7rsons back to the
points from which they embarked. aud also a
number OF wounded were carried to Baton
Rouge.