Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-23
PARTICULARS OF THE Catastrophe.
From the Memphis Avalanche, Nav 81


We are again called upon to record one Of those
Terrible accidents which occur only upon cur ves-
tern waters. and which, from their frequency and
the terrible loss Of life invariably attendant upon
them, freeze the soul. The popular and generally
considered safe Memphis and Vicksburg racket
Kentucky, bound for this city, on Sunday morning
last between four and FIVE o'clock, exploded her
drum7bead, or land-deceiser, BY which twelve per.
sous we're instantly killed. and about thirty wound
ed. Fhe bost was in the act Of backing out from
Columbia, Ark, some distance below Helena
Nearly everybody on the boat was sleeping in fan
cied security in their berths-even Capt Lfe had
left his place, and was in the act of retirin when
the explosion took place. The drum-hesd, We are
informed, was rent in twain upon the upper side.
The fierce of the explosion was such that the sbin-
foor, from the gsngwsy amidships forward was
Torn up By the steam, water, and brick around the
boilers. Under the circumstances, it is wonderful
that more we're not instantly killed. boiler ex-
plosion could ecsrcely have heeu more terrible.
The interior of the boat vas literally wrecked and
The occupants Of the ststsrooms in the forward part
Of the boat almost instantly killed
The steamer Prince of Wales Capt Press LODI
wick, reached the of the disaster about nine
O'Clock the same morning. Every attention was
paid TO the sufferers, and when they cached Helena
ample medical attendance was procured, but too
late for several who had inhaled the deadly steam
The resident physician of Columbia, whose name
q
passenger, who was severely SCALED the feet and
the surviving officers and passengers Of the boat
contributed every thing in their power alleviate
the suerings of the wounded, and have their heart
felt thanks Mr.. E. Richardson, of Ala, to whom
we are indebted for many OF the foregoing partic-
uiars, also furnishes with the follwing
LIST OF THE KILLED.
L. Storm, of Lake Bolivar, Miss, died on the
Prince of Wales.
W. b. Lamb, of Cloverport. Ky, died on the
Prince of Wales.
Thos s. Redd, Skipwith's Landing.
NJ Leaning registered vieksburg to Napoleon
Charlie Evans Jackson, Miss.
James Petty, first clerk Memphis.
BiTon n. Quinn, second clerk Memphis
Henry WeIlage, bar-keeper, Memphis.
Eugene Brogman, f. IN. c., cabin boy.
John Smith, T. m c., cabin boy.
James Lee. negro boy belonging to Capt. Lee.
One other person, name unknown, was also
killed.
LIST OF THE WOUNDED.
Ben Littell, Shelbyvile, Tenn, fatally.
Montgomery Littell, brother to the above
fatally.
L. G. Eddings, Fayetteville, Tenn.
Mrs. Lavine. chambermaid, badly scalded.
scalded.
W. H. Rice, 0lias James Ray, Jackson, Miss.
badly scalded.
Patrick Mcguire. Bolivar county, Miss, badly
scalded.
Thomas Fitzgerald, Memphis, badly scalded
James Able, Eggs Point. Miss. badly scalded.
N. Daley, Greenville, Miss, slightly sealded.
Dr. Talbot, Gfeenvil g, Miss slightly scslded.
J. B sandusky, Bridgeport, Va, slightly
sca'ded.
Capt James Lee, Memphis. slightly scalded.
VIM. Watson, m. c., cabin boy. slightly scalded.
Sol, !. N. c., porter, slightly scslded.
The second engineer, whose name we could not
ascertain, and who must have been on watch ct the
time. was badly scslded. Many others were more
or less injured but the sboTe includes al whose
wounds are severe.
Mr. Richardson, in bis account, says, the expls-
sion was upward. and The cabin floor over the boil
FRS was ripped Up by the force Of the steam and
water. which hurled the fire bricks into tie cabin
The boat was rounding out from Columbia. Capt.
Lee, who was 10 his at the time of the explo-
ion, having just retired, was soon on deck. and
inhaled soue steam, in consequence Of which he
complained considerably. He is not, however,
considered Dangerously injured The third clerk
Mr.. Rice, and the msil agent, FIR. 4. II. S oddsrd,
being up st the time, we're the forward deok and
escaped unhurt.
DR.. Talbot, of GreenVille, Miss, whose name is
mentioned above as having been sssiduous in hi
attentions to the IT, ured, although himself wound
Ell, secured hsy-bost that Landed alop gside the
Kentucky, and placing the Msssrs Liitell, L. G..
ldings, Thos. Redd NJ. Daley and James Absl
in it they were conveyed to Greenvile. where they
will receive every attention at his hands, and those
f the oitiZens of that place
The Prince Of Wales arrived subsequently. and
without charge, brought a portion OF the dead
wounded and surviving passengers to this city.
Me- L. Storm, merchant of Lake Bolivar, ex-
PRED from the effects Of his pures before the boats
arrival at that point and his body carried
ashore amid the general and loud expressions of
grief upon the part of the inhsbitauts The body
Of Capt. lamb, who also died on the Prince 0:
Wales, was left at Eunice. Capt Lee remsined at
Columbia with the dead aud wounded, who will be
removed here as soon as circumstances will per-
nit.
THE DEPARTED.
Among those who were the victims, were Mr.
James Petty, the first, and Byron Q1im, the second
clerk Of the boat. Both gentlemen we're well-known
IN this community, and in every relation of life
we're esteemed as high-toned gentlemen. Their
the entire community. We we're uuscquainted with
'scrifced.
THE KENTUCKY
Is only about three years DID, ard formerly ran be-
ween Louisville ard Memphis. She was purchased
oy the Viczsburg Packet Company about yrar
SINCE, and under the command Of Can't James Lee
careful aud efficient officer has become very pop
uar in the trade she blew cut drumhesd some
little time since, by which accident one life was
lost. The necessary repairs we're made under the
personal supervision OF Inspector McCord, who pro-
Iounoed ii more safe thar ever We Understand that
he portion of the 6rumhead exploded was only
about one-sixteen'h Of an inch thick, which, ifrue
he builder should alone be held responsible for the
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