New-York daily tribune., 1865-10-31
THE NGsROEK CALAMITY.
A Stcam-sus Riewn Up In she Harbo~-
Every Person On Beard is Kiiled-Rn.
scnsc Gloom aad 4 xcisenaent An tho CAsy
-FulI Pasticul3rs.
(From Tho Norfolk Va, Post, Oct. 20.


(From Tho Norfolk VAL Post Oct. g.
Yesterday afternoon, about o'clock, our city
was startled by cmost terrific explosion. which shook
1t like earhq laks and caused all the Torld to rush
TO tho doors and windows The ooncussica was too So.
be caused by tho discharge Of even the leavios
ordnance and everybody felt that some terrible dsas
Ter had happened We soon learned the. the small tug
BOAT CoiDjock engaged in tho business OF towing mu-
ont into the stream to damp the MID dug by tho
dredging machines from the dock in front OF Kimberly
wharf had exploded her boiler who in the middle OF
the river go yards from the landing, blowing te
boat TO atoms ard killing all on board. We reached
our window in time to see the fragments OF
the boat IN the air. enve0ped in volume OF steam
doubtless the mutilaed bodies Of the victims were also
lying IN space at the time. 1t was grand but
terrible spectacle Soon hundreds Of people were rush
ing toward the wharf, Gnd the remnant OF the wreck
ie ~ the water was TO careen and sink to the rot
tom, leaving the mndscow nnharmed with two colOred
aborers upon surrounded by the floating timbers and
er5ris or the pOded boat. In lees than five minutes
,he scene OF the wreck was swar,nns with the small
boats from he men.ofwar lying in the vicinity Of the
explosion, filed with sailors and their officers in search
OF the explosion the bodies the un.or
were some relatives OF those known to be
aboard. was assembled on Kimherlys wharf,
awaiting impatently the report Of those who
amog the floating fragments for soue fifteen minutes
when one of them approached tho wharf dragging in
tow body; Tho multitude crowded TO the landing
inc tarntd ~ was the mTtllnted remains William
Pten Jr an old aad much esteemed citizen Of }alti.
more but resident Of this city, and agent OF the Bos
ton steamship line Ee did belong to the boat but
unOf' aiatry had gone aboard merely from curiosity.
TO witness the operation Of ounpng the mud from the
sc0w. The officer in command os the boats crew
which lad found this body floating in the vicinity Of toe
wreck searched the pockets Of the deceased and nd
iuc his weied pocket book the key of his SAFE and
other articles oil value, handed them over 10 hi;
son. who was on the. whaEf awaiting witt
fearful eyes the arrival OF his fathers body
he q 4
horrible and CHASTITY spectacle; of the legs wal
blown from the body. the bowels protruded and tn
head and face mashed N such manner as TO rem
der it dIcut to recognize the features All Efforts q
iud tho bodies OF the other persons known 10 De OF
board failed; they lad either been blown to pieces o.
sunk 10 tde bottom and as the fragments foaed OH IN
scGrcieTs gave up tie rEess task and the boats lci
the scene of the disas.er. The quiet waters Of th
river again flowed gently the spot, and nothin:
bet portion OF the wrecked upper works Of the Coin
lock marked the place Of death and disaster
! ' THEE persons beside Mr. Pattrn were known Il
be board the ting at the time Of the disaster. Capt
Patrick McCarrck. jr.. in command OF the boat; vii
liam Foster the engineer. anu co0red hreinGl, name
unknown Capt. McCsrrlck Is sou ~ Capt. Patrick
HcCarrck. the well.known coniplnder Of the Eoils
Ite young man OF much p;Snse, and was greatly
irtspecled in this community He Was formerly in the
te C0pjock on Thursdly morning. It s thonGht that
he had prescutmcnt Of coming misfortune to himself
in The morning for he insisted upon going to carly
under ordinary circums.ances might have induced him
to ec bIs religious duties Iio was but 81 years Of
age, and his reletSes AID numerous friends deeply
sIet h.s sgddou aid untmely death.
| Mr. Foster the engineer. was young man. VINO had
been iIr time in the city, was Trustworthy per-
son. and respected by all who know him. Nothing fur'
| ther IL known IN connection with his Darne.
| The negro trcnan. who was the fourth victim wcs
ony known by the name OF Jack, but probably be has
Gsnc further history. which viii appear in the future
| investigation OF the distaser.
Tie vessel was built at Pudding Creek, in this city,
for towing purposes the Abenarlo aud Chesapeake
canhl was launched about three months ard belonged
to Milton Courtw,igbt Co. II was consequently
quite new. ard themacLlncry was or ought to have
been. in good condition.
TIE mu.ilaied remains Of Mr.. Patten were taken to
the warcbouae hniberleys wharf where an Inquest
was Summoned. After viewing the body tho Coroner
gaze certificate. and was gwen into TIE aeepiDg o
ms relatives who viii nt convey it 10 Baltimore
for bnriaL The necstie OF the deceased picked up
iuaiag on tho water uubucked haying been thus
stra1gey blown from his Eecs by freak u the exo-
| sion.
Parties were engaged all tho evening dragging for
| the bodies OF Capt McCNrick aud Mr. Foster. The
force of the explosion great that fire spnters
frpm tho wreck scattered nil over the wharf
tho neighhorhood Of Kmberys, distance OF some 20
wards from tho place OF tire occurrence The excite
nent in the community very great. and thc wharf
was visited by hundreds during the evening" who HD.
gercd around the spot fascinated by the horrors o!
te tragedy and the affair has cast deep gloom over
the entire CITY.