Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-08
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT CATASTROPHE.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE-NAMES OF THE DEAD AMI
WOTTNDpD

We find in the New Orleans Delta, Of the % inst the
following particulars of the explosion Of the boiler Of the
steamer II. R. W. Hill:
The steamer VIM. L. Levy, Capt Pickett, hence for
Alexandra, when opposite College Point was hailed by
the steamer H. X w. Hill on Wednesday night at about
- o'clock The Levy ran alongside aud ascerained that
the Hill in distress having exploded the hird-boer
from tho arboard side The Levy returned last evening
having in tow the Hill when she landed her at the foot
Of Grod street.
At the time Of the explosion there head Of steam
on varying from 2O to 1875 pounds TO the square inch
the usual power-but owing the fact that below Aus
trails landing the boat had run a stump knocking
hole in her hull and no doubt thereby affecting the
boilers this explosion may be copectured. The engi-
neer however told US that the boerhead is made of
casron and bears the mark OF old crack on the rim
where il severed from he main boiler.
The explosion il of a curious character The boiler
head driven only from the upper part aud doub-
led in its centre, having the appearance of crcu-
lar book half closed. When the explosion took
place this boierhead only partly bent over conse-
quenty the steam and water escaped upwards in great
force and broke the floors Of the saloon and damaged
Of the saterooms. As the steam and gain.
cd egress the pressure against the boerhead caused
to fall already described and then the steam and
water took horizontal course dashing in the greatest
fury aft over the cotton bales where some foryfve per-
soma, aud all hands, all lrishmen, sleeping
From Mr.. johnson, passenger, we learn that on
wednesday night a. III O'Clock the after head of the
boiler above described blew out passing with its con-
tents, (seam and water) entirely through the engine
rooms killing the second engineer and the striker both
of whom were watch, and also killing some thirty or
forty deck-hands and passengers, and badly wounding
fifty sixty None of the cabin passengers were
injured except Mr. Lohman, he having his right hand
slightly wounded. The officers all escaped without in.
jury. The barber, G. W. scurry Of Nashville and
Charles Hagger Of Nashville, jumped overheard and
drowned
It is said that certain boat passed the Hill at the
time Of the accident and though the agonzng yes and
piercing shrieks of the dying and wounded could be
heard distance Of FIVE six miles, and the boat alud
ed to hailed still she refused all assistance as
will be seen by our river reports
Last night we visited the Charity hospital and found
that of the sufferers had breaIhed has last-ded in
excessive agony. The Others in the hospital of
whose names ascertained TO be John Maey Patrick
Parle, John Hacket doing well II is possible I'M
der their painful condition. STILL Of them may not
live during the night.
The damage to the Hill is triang compared with the
loss of life and beyond the boiler and the small damage
to the saloon floor, she is scarcely injured.
Mr.. Glidden Marks, Of New Albany instantly kill.
ed. Henry Foster, of Memphis considerably scald
ed, but not dangerously.
Mayor Monroe quickly, together with Lieut. Jacques
and body Of police in attendance on the Hill last
evening" in removing the wounded the hospital also
rendering all aid to those whose precarious situations
qured immediate astention. Nine wounded
sent 70 the Charity Hospital three Dr. Stones nirma
~; and two still on board the HILL badly scalded
II was melancholy spectacle, TO behold the whole
cabin Of the Hill strewn with the wounded dead and dy
ing and every person board endeavorug TO do his
utmost to relieve the suffering Of the unfortunate Not
female was hurt on board
The dead bodies make an exhibition beyond descrip
ton Each body stripped, placed on pallet and
laid out the saloon deck ard covered with sheets-
Some Of the bodies entirely skinned and present
horrible sight like highly colored Indians Others are
stripped OF skin in various parts presenting fearful APP
pearance.
AMONG AND WOUNDED ARE:
Gideon Meek striker ION wach) killed. James Hen
ming, second en5neer do badly scaded; Charley Hug
gins negro porter, missing George Curry second stew
ard (negro) missing; Thomas Sharkey fireman. scaded
Owen McGinns fireman, scalded; VIM Reve fireman.
scaded; Pat Delaney fireman, dead; John Cauldn, fire.
man; Pat Parel fireman, scalded; John Hackett fire.
man, scslded; John 0Neil fireman, dead John Quigey
scalded; Red. Chern, fireman. dead. Pat Dougberty
fireman, scalded Antony Coyne. fireman, dead; John
Keser, fireman. dead; Adam Lipsey fireman, dead; Pat
Connolly, fireman. Dead Edward Kelley, fireman, Dead
Pat Honenburg, fireman, dead; Robert DismoDds FIRE.
man, Dead Henry Hagan, fireman. scaded; Mike Wright
fireman. scalded; Pat Keron fireman, scalded James
Black, fireman. scalded Stephen Gray, fireman. scalded;
Owen Mccain, fireman, dead; Peter Halspen, fireman,
dead; Pat Coyne, fireman. dead; De Witt Welsch fire.
man, scaded; Barney Caulin fireman, dead; Pat Hig-
gins, fireman, dead; John Brown fireman. scalded Pat
OBrien, fireman, dead - Brady, deck sweep scald.
ed; Henry Foster barber slightly scalded