The New York herald., 1863-08-28

V10OxUUS e.4..s H...8
--~~o~->---~-o~~,--~~>>s ..sa as.ssi
THE CADsE OF THE DISASTER
Gs., .ks-, -. 81
!. Mr.. DsB. RandoiPh Ksssa's ,DeSpassA.
.fR4 vicKssusa, Mics. August IT. 1885,
Tho sInsss u shis beautiful evening was, but few
moments SINCE broken BY OF tho most appalling aad
stunning exposicss over recorded among benumsvous
and various disasters that hAve besaiss while 10
pursuit carefully, Of dsogcrous but necessary duty.
Men who had calmly surveyed the carnage OF hoy
contested bstto Ged, witnessed tho paroxysms q suffer
ting In which the mangled forms OF tneir comrades
were wrthing cheerfuly obeyed tho "chsrge," and
amid the fierce horrors Of tho onslaught marched unterr
Hcd amid sloet Of death straight forward the breach
tho cannons mouth quaied before hoSrsssos
the swfs which burst upon them. The usexpecod
occurrence we'll a. It's completeness It's palising
feature Had tho accident been forsssen oven fore
shadowcd stoutcst would rushed
Of reach OF tho terrible agency but quick, pierre
ing roddened flash, report, a. II all tho batteries
Of heaven belchng forth their wild notes Of thun
cor, and a Destruction, pain and death lay
round In OF mangled, sioged and blackcned
bodies shattered tmbsrs and the debris Of buildings,
vehicles and vessels The water sureed and l.shed rs
aQisatsd waves like angry high upon the land
The earth trcmblsd moved by the force Of mighty
earthquake, aud, closing scene ovcrshadowins the
spot hung lowering cloud, lcaden pail OF smoke II
70 wrap In oblivion TO cover up in obscury spectacle
too agonizng for tho gaze Of human oyes.
Thus briefly outline tho OF the cstastro
pho have teen noticed, its panoramic effect In
set forth Let turn the particulars Of the accident
Lot whether gross neglect OF duty.
OF those fortutous unavoidable mssteps which thus
iskS team h,0h xot
souls Into eternity, or TO lifelong dcsormity and suffer
ing.
took place large side wheel steamer little above
the tonnaas q river crafts Externally she was
and s,aunch Her interior arrangements were Somewhat
different fru the river boats generally. A. she added 10
~ M large cascs1 @ Il reS a
well devised arrangcmsnes nor receiving and dschArgng
During the times Of industry and psace which proceeded
tho avaging contention OF brotOer against brother
this vesse In the g. Louis and New Orleans trade
Her commander then well % 81 the time of the dsas
tor. gentleman possessing AL tho anability and
shrewdn-ss or Western river captain, named w. j. Col
ns He has remained with tho boss during most Of the
time she employed by tho government, and mott
probably of the unfortunate victims Of It's de-
structioo.
corps wsrs transported from Memphis Lake Provi
dencs. the city Of Madison Wa made the commissary
Of the Seventh divson, General hcAthur and
placed In charge Of Captain William vogcson the hosplt
sLle and efficient commsssry oncer Of sstsn
followed 10 The fest bearing the troops OF ihs Seventh
A. Lake Providence Ill are aware ths operations OF
Of the sss rains and mpaaSe condition Of
the roads However, may b sstd these dcultiss had
s *. s Is
b conducted another part Of tho countsy and
sa'' thu: 10: -: roo
ssvsnssso,h oaIs ay ss lake novsdsncs uns ,ne mid
q April 81. being The e.:: ss cry o. ss1.so
the aadnG and carried % 70 the troops 10 camp some
Dussss he movement sesos As peainsulav and along
Ne B Black, this hoss lay st youngs Point Upon the
esab'hnens Of base Of supplies up the yazoo. q.
resumed her sccustosnd rArt-tns supply seventh
division shortly afss~ ibis she became the chief com
nssasy boat q The seveoeen.h soSp tnousn ,t under
On July FOURTH that glorious and time honcred dsv Of
our national birth, and associated aso with the
nstatcment OF national authority over two sroughods
OF treason the successui banning several powerful
hss anchorage and steamed for The wharf Of tho fallen
city Of vicksbure Here shs remained In the same ca
pacity until srrahsemen cond % made on shore % &C
I board. = y
and tho boat relieved after this osr services
we're called into requstion for the irsnsportaou Of
wedpssdsy last, August TO- was the day Of which We
nov pariicuisry speak vas ordered that The city q
Madison should take aboard . certain quantity nxed
and unfxcdt ammunition, together with an additional
The boat was lying al the wharf Immediately IN front
q the city resdy 70 receive tho 10 order sxpc
diee the oadiug heavy detail Of soldiers numbering
hundred and SIXTY, was msds AZ noon from Of tho
regiments In the city. the members Of which owing 70
the confusion raging AID the speedy departure
boat 10 bar this have 20, ysl bscn Able 10 learn As
az spgTcusstc9 x this Humber about twenty negroes
were also engaged 10 the work; t.-.,<,.
Turing the entire Afternoon the WORK went on With u
| sbating vieor. one continuous train a men could bs
seen like many industrious ants, moving 70 and from
The post laden or rcprplpg unsden then happened
II early 10 the evening ooe hundred and nfiy ,ous
| Of the terrific but surnbcrine agent were already
Dsc ,b.r .ss .ra rs,nrn - se ssn sna 70 en-
| bortous avocations OF camp.
In order 70 hasten tho work, tne party divided
INTO two bodies ono cf which carried the ammunition
the hatch, and the other the bold, deposited 10
proper phoe A. The time Of tho fatal slip negro
standing 10 the hatch 10 foceIve the ammunition pas
70 one below, the weight being too mneh man.
shei being passed The soldier had given IL into
Of many others preceding him, Who were ye.arnns 70
bring rsh bad tns sssse time pressing along Tho
ihsir nsAs io,o The hands Of .nose below.
10 tho bold she men we're no lsss active, and quicky
disposed Of the crovdns and accumulation q business 10
store Tor them Unfortunately the segro standny below
failed v properly secure 10 his hands the shell handed
bim from the one 10 tho hatch shove. IL slipped, be
| struck.
Ths shoeh sustained BY the fan isn,,.d IN. inessuss
the repost In an nstaat, - the hsu merely
rremooous Of the great 70 succeed, tho very
,s,,,sis io,cs q The eossas.os With ssssnns cram
the river boiled vioenty and spas1sd,csy and ia very
bottom was pooshsd ~ By the innscse rush Of the ss
mcul
Now followed al the hcvrcvs wntA ever mu,ased ,hs
human form and wound " 10 the writings Of NEST pain.
fu ana shocking srturs. 1ns boat the exploscu had
parted the ball fortunately forced immediately 10
the 6c,tc cf ihs river, so,ss down bow ns
what ie~snIng The immsnsy of pywss involved IN the
large quantity = smmuntoa on board, for the rushing
10 o. The water 10 measure checked The vio,enos q
greater explosan which otherwise would have followed
A. ths hull u the boat went down the cabin teras,
pios house, chimn,es md everything above the deeE
shot into The hundred fest one oossson
q umesr furniture, machinery and bodes fell
| ibs surking hasing ruisS Sesov, With . crasA tbai
stop tbs pusstons Of the heart frsese the blood ~
NE 70 chain inmovaby 10 The earth ono Wild ard
rcs'ns conncs the lear strhso, covering fscal,es q
| The human frame
rnscopcossons and rsverbsrasoas he'd aimos, oeased