The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-30
THE EXPLOSION AND BURNING OF THE
- crmI PEN LEWIS

T From, me 81 Lozis Democrat of Tuesday, 26thl
We are compelled to record another steamboat
d;saster-a disaster which takes rank among the
narrowing of those fatal events for which the broad
Mississippi is too celebrated. We must be content
with very disconnected and incomplete statements
of the facts and rumors, given by men who were
actors in the fearful and appalling scene. What
ever occurs at such time, if at all, is seen
as if the unreal appariton of dream, but alas!
how real.
PASSENGERS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Ii. II. Harrison, of Lexington, Missouri, took
passage on the Ben Lewis at Memphis for st. Louis.
He says:
About one o'clock on Monday morning, shortly
after backing out from Cairo and sailing around p
sand bar, had stepped out on the boiler deck,
and had gone upon the steps leading to the lower
deck, when suddenly was brought to pause by
loud report as it a cannon had been fired off nigh
and under me, the dead silence and the darkness of
the surrounding scene making the thing far more
startling. But had no time to think nor ability
to act, Tor felt myself whrled helplessy up into
the air, and then knew the boat had exploded her
boiler or her boilers. fell near to where had
been standing, and l saw that all the boat seemed
to be a broken and tumbng mass, for a part of
the woodwork of the cabin, the chimneys, and the
heavy bell came in confused mass, falling right
over me, but luckily beams or sticks Law right
athwart me, Keeping me from being killed. How
ever as 1T was, got pressed that could hardly
| draw a breath. After little while | worked nv
self OFT, and heard continued cries of ooh God p
"oh, God!' uttered in such agonizing tone
tons thought that these cries were from the
| hremen. When | got out and could look about
what was once the cabin seemed to be now down to
the level of the boilers. In a few moments a bod
| OF flame rolled over the larboard side, extended
and enwrapped the wheehouse, and then that fell
| in. Some deck-hands then came and helped me to
| thrust three stage planks over the side, and we
tied the ends of them to the guard of the boat
saw nobody but the first clerk of the boat. Mr.
Marshall coming out of the cabin; be was scalded
and in bad plight. He jumped overheard to es-
cape the heat, got hold of one of the stages and
held on until taken off by skiff. The skiff PLAYED
around cautiously for some time, and then came IN
| and took off Marshall, myself. and several deck
hands. was told, but don't know how true il is
that this gentleman had two daughters on board
| who were lost. MY partner told me he saw them
standing on the boat frantically screaming, ioir
hands, and jump overheard. My partners name is
Martin, and he was saved. He jumped overheard
and would have been drowned but for rope
which he caught when nearly exhausted and help
less.
A BOYS STATEMENT.
Frank Neville, boy of fifteen years. live il
Napoleon, Arkansas, and took passage on the Ber
Lewis at Memphis, as l wanted to 90 up to m,
| friends in Iowa. was in state-room % near thu
wheel, and was asleep when awoke l heard thu
roof splitting and falling, and there was a strang
din all around; got up pretty fast and looked GU
to the end of the cabin, and saw that things ap
peared very odd; tried to get out, but couldn't
as the planks were in the way; ran back to tn
wheel and into my room, and awoke the man il
the upper berth; he got up, and | did not see hin
| again; went back then to the ladies' cabin; saw
flight of stairs, jumped down. and landed on lowe
deck; saw there some men cutting yawl loose
jumped into the yawl, seven eight others did tn
same, and by this means were saved; locke
back and saw about twenty ladies and genteme
jumping overheard; fur men took the skff bac
to the boat, which was now all burning, and save
some people. The towboat Lake Erie and tn
steamer Sunnysde along and saved some
and perhaps all who had jumped into the river
The first mate heaved over great number
llfe-preservers to the people in the water. !
boy jumped overheard, and the mate saved him b
taking him on his back. The boys mother save
herself by putting on a life-preserver and jumpin
into the water.
The loss of life is variously stated by differer
persons, some of them placing it at quite hig
figure, but the latest accounts from Cairo state it
twenty killed and missing, and about as man
more wounded, some of whom cannot survive
Amongst the lost is Captain Holmes Manson, VIII
was in command of the unfortunate steamer. Son
fifty or sixty we're saved.
The Hon. Jere. Clemens retires from the ed
toria association of the Memphis (Tennessee) E
9utrer, and the paper is under the sole cor
troll of Hon. Scion Borland, formerly Senator
Congress from Arkansas. The paper is an advt
cate of the Bell and Everett ticket.
Between the hours of and II P. NJ. of Wedne
day, there were seven fires in New FORK city-or