, 1863-08-19
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
Steamboat Explosion and Loss Of Life.

from the Muscatlnc Qowa) journal, 15th.1
Yesterday Sunday morning, between and
O'Clock, the most terrible calamity in the
loss Of life and limb that ever befell this CONF
munity, happened BY the explosion Of little
steamer about three miles belo r this city,
The boat Was the enc which ve noticed In our
last Issue as having just been finished, design
ed for fishing craft. 1t a few minutes BE-
fore s o'clock, It left the foot Of Sycamore
street T1tl party Of twelve men on hoard,
to 60 en- an excursion to New Boston. When
opposite the residence Of Samuel ". BarrowB,
on the Island. 1t landed to take him on board,
as he was one Of the builders, and it was de-
sired that he should witness It's first trip.
While moored to the shore, some repairs
WcEe being made to the pump, which did not
work satisfactorily, when tho explosion tooH
placc With terrible effect, usangling and scald-
ing eleven human beings In q horrible man
ncr, one Of whom Tas killed instantly. Aboy
has Eince died, and ut least five Of tbs remnIn-
der are in critical condition. !.
me names Of the victims arc as follows: .
Samuel ". Barrows, who had Just stepped
on board, Instantly killed. His body was
torn into three fragments and thrown
cons1cerable distance On ehore. Both legs
low the knee. His son, Charles Burrows, a
lad about ten years Of age, was alao blown
ashore, severely scalded and otherwise In
lured. He is considered dangerous, VIM. 8.
MannierTe, aged about Is, severely cut In the
fee M BY pieces Of the boiler, and also scalded.
home. a younger brother standing near the
boat on shore escaped un1pjurcd. VIM. D.
Ward, blacksmith, about forty years Of age,
lett leg broken below the knee, right foot
na5y ssusned End Sody eaSed Re-
Middleton, one Of the owners Of the boat,
left shoulder dislocated aud badly scalded on
breast and leg. May possibly recover. VIM. |
Middleton, son Of the above named, scalded. |
Supposed to be injured internally. Case
bolt, acalded severely on lie Tight side,
but probably not dangerous. frederick
KempfEer, butcher, about thirty years
Of age, eeTere1y sca1ded in the face aud on the |
left eide. Recovery doubtful. Geo. Terry,
blacksmith, severely cut in the Gce, arm and |
Miller, the engineer, badly injured. Maurice |
Waehburp, son Ct Enoch Washburn, aged |
about twelve, jaw broken. VIII probably re-
coTer.
Four men on the stern OF the boat escaped !
without injury, VIZ: 9. n: McKibbea, Wm.
Geisenhans Capt. Middleton had Just stepped |
into the wheel-house when the explosion oc- |
cur1ed. The top Of Mr. kibben's hat {struw) |
WIS torn nearly off BY portion Of the wreck |
which passed over his head. R. Musser, who |
had gone With the party that ,far, had Just
kkCtf+t A3A4H4E1 44AAIA41G55 Ll WALL QaCh kQ LIE
city. He was within thirty feet Of the boat
when the explosion took place, but received
no injury. -,
The explosion was distinctly heard in the
city, many persons supposing 1t discharge |
Of cannon In honor Of victory. As soon as
the news reached the city, several hundred
perEons went to the scene Of the accident to |
afford assistance to the sufferers. Drs Hershe
and Johnson we're the first phYsicians on the |
ground: The wounded were brought up in |
carriages and wagons, except those who liyed /
in the vicinity.
The boat was very small specimen, being |
only fifty feet in length, and seven in Width, /
md costing 81 200. The boiler was made to |
answer the purpose Of boiler md steam |
chest, within one she'll It was literally |
blown to atoms, and the fragments show TINT i
It was old and lacked cohesion. The boat t
was not injured materially, only a.portion Of !
the guards and dupper works being demolished.
It Is claimed By those On board that there . |