The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-09-10
EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER WAsHoE.-

EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER WAsHoE.-
The we'll known but ilf fated opposition
steamboat Washoe, met with terrible acct
dent at the mouth Of the slough" about
IL O'Clock on Monday night, while on her
up trip TO Sacramento, by the explosion Of
boiler. or tho bursting Of connection
pipe, which caused sorrowful destruction
of life to her passengers.
The crew and passengers aboard numbered
be' ween rs and 200, and so far as is known
the persons saved, and those that we're killed
81 hn>e s,nce died, amount to l23-leaving
as still unaccounted for between SO and Is,
WHO are believed to have been thrown over
board or sunk with the vessel.
The catastrophe created the most intense
anxiety throughout the State, to learn who
were the victims and who were saved.
The people of Sacramento were prompt
to render every assistance, and are entitled
to all thanks for their humanity to the atilict.
ed and dying sufferers who were brought to
their city.
A number Of citizens OF Placer county
were on the boat, and we regret to say
several have lost their lives. Among them
are James II. Clark, the proprietor Of the
Auburn and Michigan Bluff stage line; w.
N. Haskell, of bonner Lake; - Bennett,
Spring Garden; Justin Hoag, Spring Garden;
and E. Jacobs, Dutch Flat. Those badly
injured are Bartholomew Gillespie, Rock
Creek; E. Jackson. Dutch Flat; w. r. viii
llams, Forest Hil'; Conrad Grants, Dead
wood. Mr. J. NJ. Bardwell, Of Deadwood,
escaped without injury.
The Washoe although badly wrecked in
her upper works, is believed to be sound
in the hull, and it is the intention of Captain
Kidd to raise her Immediately, and repair
her for service.
There is much surmise as to the cause Of
the explosion, but as the machinery is yet
under water, no satisfactory conclusion can
be arrived at Anderson, chief engineer,
who died from his injuries, says the cause
was "roten iron in the boilers" An anonv-
nous writer says an examination will show
that "the texture of the iron has been des
,royed by the application Of chemical
fluid to the boilers" If either of these as
sertons are true, il looks as if the Washoe,
and the unfortunates who are now sleeping
in their graves, have been the victims of a
helish conspiracy.
The Washoe was new boat throughout,
and had been but few months in service,
vet from some untoward circumst ances she
was compelled frequently to haul off for
epars-and on two occasions to repair exi
tensive damages inflicted upon her by the
Yosemite of the old line. The boilers need
ed frequent repairing and although they
passed inspection, the Bay papers broadly
insinuated that they were dishonesty made
by the Sacramento workmen.
The community cannot but feel that
great wrong has been perpetrated but by
whom is the question. Did the owners Of
| the Washoe know her boilers were unsafe,
and with criminal indifference continued to
use them to the jeopardy of life and limb.
or were their defects hidden under dishonest
and deceplous Workmanship? Let an inves
LEGATION be had. and Justice done though
the heavens fall"
EASTERN NEws-Lieut. Gen. Grant seems
to have subsi ded for the present, as little
news comes from his quarter. 1t seems,
however, that Ben. Butler has about COM
peted his canal for cutting off a bend in the
James river; but military men doubt that
the canal will CIT of Ike rebels.