Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-05-04
The Terrible Explosion.


the Sutana and the great loss of life which
was the consequence oft, arc given at length
in the Memphis BUllctin from which VIC
extract the following
The steamer Sultana, Captain Mason, ar
rived from New Orleans last night, the 10Th,
with about 2,200 people on board, ,964 of
whom were EXCHANGED Federal prisoners
from Nickshurg, the balance being refugees
and regular passengers from various points
along the river, proceeding towards St.
Louis. She left the coal pile about | o clock
this morning, and had made some eight or
ten miles, when an explosion of one of her
boilers occurred. The boat, with its mass
Of living freight, took fire in the vicinity of
the engines, and in short time she was
burned to the water, and now lies on a sand
bar near Fogleman's Landing, nothing visi-
bic but her charrcd remains and jackstaff
standing erect
The scene following the explosion was
terrible and hcart-rending in the extreme
Hundreds of people were blown into the air,
and descending into the water, some dead,
some with broked limbs, some scalded, were
borne under by the relentless current of the
great river, never to rise again. The sur
vivOrs represent the screams as agonizing
pieces Of the wreck as drowning men cling
to straws, and sustained themselves for a few
moments, but finally became exhausted and
sunk. Only the best of swimmers, aided by
! fragments of the wreck, were enabled to
reach the woods, and there take refuge, un-
til rescued by boats sent from the landing
here to their assistance.
There were about fifteen women and
children aboard, and as near as can he ascer
tanned, not more than two or three had beer
found at the hour when this account was
written.
Some of the wretched people were borne
| by the current as far down as the levee AT
this city, and this was the first intimation
the officers Of the boats in port received Of
the terrible disaster. A yawl was immedi.
ately sent out from the Marble City, and in
few minutes several persons were picked
out of the water and brought ashore. Two
were atterward found clinging to the wheel
and they were also saved. Upon being
brought to realization of the calamity, tho
. officers of the boats in port, under notfica
ton of Captain Senior, ofthe River Guard
i steamed up, and in short time were at tn,
, burning steamer, where hundreds of peopl,
, were picked up and brought to this landing
arriving about daylight. They were met b,
a number of citizens and ladies, who sup
piled them with abundance of dry clothing
, from the Quartermaster Department AM
g from various stores.
watch, and standing in the pilot house will
, Captain George Cayton, who was at tn
y wheel at the time of the explosion. He on
y ly remembers the shock, that he was blow
u in the air, and was afterwards taken frou
the water lie saw the lower deck in flames
, and knows no more He can give no ide
of the cause of the accident, and says tn
boat was going at ordinary speed, and al
; seemed well up to the moment the eXplosio
- occurred that the ID Engineer, asobcr, re
II liable man named Clemens, was at the en-
c gihes, and that nothing more than commo
J. was in progress. Captain Cayton was ais
hurled into the wreck among the broke
n boilers aud drubbish, sustaining slightinj
i He Immediately jumped overheard with
!, door, by which he was enabled to reach tn
b Arkansas shore, three miles below, where
r striking a sapling he seized and clung to
g until saved. Clemens, the engineer, wa
:, badly burned and scalded, and can 'hardl
r recover. Mr. John Fogleman, residing o
e the Arkansas side, on being aroused by tn
n noise, and seeing the burning steamer has
a lily constructed rude raft and in this wa
u was tue means OF saving about one hundre
y lives.
IS Among those drihed down and picked u
J. at Fort Pickering were the following men
IL bcrs of Ohio regiments
Lieut. j. n. Setter, l75th Sergt Wn
t. NJ Duke, 42d III. Van Vleet, 18th (; A
Dipure, 4th; Il. Matthias, 64th j. Tatchel
10th r j. Haley, lO2d; ID. lIites, lO2d II
b. Wallace, l2lth; q. II. Ilodgcr, 9t
$ Cavalry; l.. Cook, 2Sth; r. Carr, It
}. Cavalry S. Il. Whittier, jjth; j. Wcsco
d McClothcrs, Ohio Cavalry; J. Moore, l75tl
IS G. Post, do; J. Newland, 4th Cavalry
/. Lieut. j. f. Elliott, l25th; Lieut.. McCar,
If 9th Lieut.. I.arkin; Lieut.. Squire, lois
n Capt Taggart, do; Lieut.. Davis list
If Major Carlin, do; Captain Fooser, 5Stl
Capt. llakc, 10Th.
u Out of the 1900 persons on board, it
II reliably stated that not to exceed $50 we
70 saved. This is the greatest loss of life ev
a, caused by any disaster of the kind on Il
10 Western waters, and what adds immense
~ to the horror caused by it, the most of tho
I'd who were thus swept from among the liyiI
as by the bosom of destruction, were soldie
Il, returning to their homes!