Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-08
THE EXPLOSION OF THE PRINCESS.
Particulars OF the Terrible Disaster---
SeVenty-Five 10 One Hundred Lives Lost
--.Incidents of the Explosion.

!
Particulars OF the Terrible DIsaster--
Seventy-five 10 One Hundred Lives Los
--.Incidents of the Explosion.
From the New Orleans Delta March l.
The first great calamity Of this season, which
up this event, had been for our community unusual
ly free from sfietiDg oecnrrances, was anuouneeC
yesterday to our population and produced univsr
sal thrill Of terror and grief II was the ex xploso,
Of one Of the boilers Of the splendid and favoritt
Mi sissippi steam packet Princess, usually censid
cred enc of the safest and best conducted of Oul
steamboats,.
II was not until yesterday afternoon, when tht
Kate Dale reached our wharf, that we could learn al
| the facts Of the disaster.
The Princess was on her way dowu the river from
! Vicksburg, having on board from one hundred and
fifty 10 two hundred passengers 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, including
eral members Of the Legislature.
| The Kate Dale passed. and was proceeding down
the river at some distance bat In sight Of the Prin-
cess when suddenly loud report Of the discharge
of whole battery of heavy artillery, was heard,
producing percePtibe SHOCK, and flling the air
with smoke and fragments. All rushed on deck,
and looking toward the Princess, saw that abe WAS
the victim of this terrific explosion thick smoke.
only broken by red flashes Of fire. completely snvel
oped the whole steamer. which q few seconds before
ha0 excited so much admiration by her grand pro
portions and graceful movements Expressions OF
horror and d:smly arose from the beholders of the
sad scene. Captain Smith Of the Kate Dale, imms-
diaely ordered his boat to round 10 and steer to-
wards the Princess.
As soon she neared the scene, the horrors Of the
disaster came in full view Language is utterly in
adequate to depict the heartrsndng features Of the
dismal tragedy. The force OF the explosion had
thrown the bow Of the Princess on the bank the
dlva Al
the approach to the bank and subjeelng to further
tortures the MANNED and helpless; the water vas
alive with the wounded and the unhurl some swim
ming, shers clinging to bales Of Gotten and other
AJatng objecs, aud all preferring its chances the
more relentless fury of the other elem.D
Some time-at least an hour, had elapsed before
the Kate Dale had reached he scene, aud oh what
an hour was Ihst The air Ess filled with pite
cries and groans cries for help and screams Of
agony; the shrll tones Of women mingling with the
hOarse voices of men. Prompt measures we're taken
by all on board the Kate Dale to afford every aid in
their power to the wounded and 10 rescue those in
the river. Fortunately, there we're two physicians
on board the Ka'e Dale, their names Bulger aad
BlafeD, whose serviJ,s most kindly and eff
GENTLY rendered 10 ihe wounded.
Seventy eighty persOus fro n ihs Princess vera
taken on board of the Kate Dale. The news Of the
disaster having reached Btoa Ronge, physicians
we're dispatched, who atrVedin in tiue to reader their
aid. Soon the McRea aud the Peerless arrived aud
united with e Kate Dale in reseuing he passen-
gers CT the Princess-each receiving q number Of
them, who were carried to Baton Rouge After
awhile the Natchez also came up and 8 nu nber Of
the passengers we're taken by bsr, among whom was
the first clerk, James Izod no was badly scalded,
and Mr.. Joseph Clark, second clerk, alse badly
scalded.
The Kate Dale had some thirty Of the passengers
and crew, who were uninjured, put on the steamer
Vixen and afer doing sll that was possible fer the
af Of h. t1nf SIa
proceeded on their way to the city and arrived here
about two o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The scene presented in the cabin Of the Kate Dale
beggaTs all description. On the floor, lay some If
teen persons badly wounded; five Of then taken on
board had already found relief in death. Some Of
the wounded rolled in agony uitering the most
siekeniDg groans, others lay motioness, helpless,
and apparently parslyzed, and all presented that
blsckened CHASTITY and horrible aspect Of the burnt
and scslded-the most revoltng aspect il which the
human form can be presented Every relief which
the case demanded, was extended to the unfortun
ates. Some were taken 10 the hospitals, others to
their own residences and the hotels.
Several of the passengers desire mentsn Of, and
o return Of their thanks to Wm Campbell, the frat
steward Of the Princess, for the noble herosm and
courage with which he acted in rescning several
persons, and the untiring exertons manifested to-
ward the sufferers. One gentleman, Mr.. Higgins,
in particular, says that exhibited more
daring spirit and greater coolness in danger united
with almost a Womans tenderness He deserves
aud is rendered the most heartfelt thanks Of the
rescued. --..-
The steamer Vixen also brought down number
of passengers who were transferred from the Kate
Dale,
AS number of persons were picked up while
clingng to bales Of cotton, and taken TO the oppo
site shore, hope was expressed that among them
were the acting captain VIM. L. jackson and Mr.
John Clark, sstsDt clerk; but the arrival Of tie
Empress, Capt Leydsn, ou yesterday afternoon,
made it too certain that they were among the lost.
The Empress brought down some twenty perasus.
among whom were six eight wounded iremen,
all colOred but one A white man. whose nams we
could not ascertain, died on the passage. The
Nstchez took large number Of persons back to the
points from which they embarked and also a nun
Der Of wounded we're carried 10 Baton Rouge.
The Princess was one of the most splendid boats
the river having been built at Cincinnati in 1856
and enjoyed reputation for safety never yet gains
ed by any steamer confidence which rendered
the shock greater. Her officers have always been
known as among the most careful men on the river,
and from the fact that only one boiler exploded 1t is
thought that there mus have been AaW impossible
for the most experienced eye to detect. She was
commanded by Capt Vim c. Wilson, who, fOriun-
ately for himself aud family, was detained in this
city and did net go up on her. During the past
summer che had been repaired at . cost Of $50 OOO,
over $500 were spent in repairing her TO lers.
Whcm was reported as lost; and we sincerely hope
that many more may yet be found uninjured
The whole number lost and killed nay ssfely be
set down az vi hin seventy Eve hundred, at the
outside, ard we have to hope and believe thar
the number may be less.
The New Orleans Commercial Bulletin says: "Mr
Coulter the mate Of the Princess, thinks there could
not have bcen more than one hundred and eighty OF
two hundred passengers on board the Princess g.
the time of the explosion. There were, 1t seems,
only ninety state-rooms and but tenor EslVe cots
on the floor. He thinks there not over forty five
or fifty lost though another officer of the Princess
puts the number at sixty FIVE or seventy. Among
the lost it is thought must be included some ten
or twelve ladies. The steWardess, who came down
on the Kate Dale says she missed twelve after the
explcsi There we're some sixty ladies on board.
The Princess was coming down the river, . ID sin
guar to relate sras under tcGy at tie tins of the ea-