Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-05-19
The SnIians Explosion. - Disir,,.--
scenes and Incidents.

The SuI,ans Explosion. - Di.tr,..--
scenes and Incidents.
Inc scene following the cz7la-; 81.
: heart-r,nding and terrible IN the EXTERN
Hundreds 81 people We're blown 10 tse.--
and descending into the water some ss4t
some with broken limbs. some scaled. ,r.-.
borne under hv the re-Istle>- CURRENT ID .-.
great river. never 90 ri-e again Ir. 49,.
v1rs represent the screams t. s-.ulz--- be-.
yond precedent some ciuus Q. .-sr. r.-...
~ the wreck, a. drowning men e..r- -.
-trsw-. and sustained thrmsel,s- Tr. ...r
moments, but finally became exfsu.-.4 .-.
sunk
Only the best Swimmers. aided t7 g..
ments ~ the wreck. We're enabled I. --
the woods, and there take refuge. lat -.-
cued by boats sent from the landing 4. .-
assistance. There were about fifteen
and children aboard. and as tar a. cal
certainei, not more than two ~ t.-.
been found at the hour when this
was written. Some OF the wretchei .--.
were borne by the current a. far down 81. .-.
leyee ct Memphis. and this was the hr.- -..
nation the officers OF the boats received
the terrible disaster
\ vawl wa : immediately sent out from --e
Marble City, and IN few minutes seven.
persons we're picked out OF the water and
brought ashore. Two were afIerwari found
c!Inging 10 tie wheel. and thew were al.
saved. Upon being brought o. q realization
Of the calamity the officers OF the boats Do
port, under notification Of Captain senior
OF the River Guard, steamed ~. and II
short time were az the hu~ni-p Sion
where hundred Of people were picked o.
and brought % this landing. arriving ar i-g-
light. They were met hy number NJ CHE
zens and ladies, who supplied them WITT
abundance Oh dry clothing from the Q-s--,--
master : department and from vdrI3u- ,,.--
Mr.. Rawberry. the first mate, Wa- DO ;--
watch, and standing IN the pilot h0u-, VIE
Capt George CaytOn. who vac 40 the v --
al the time Of the explosion. He 0r.r p
members the shock. that he was blown
the air. and was afierwari taken .r1- ,s
water. He saw the lower deck m flame. .-.
knows nD more. He can give no idea C.. .-
cause % the accident, and saw the -..- vac
going at ordinary speed, and all scene we
up % the moment the explosion occ.-ra
that the second engineer. sober. rein
man, named Clemens, was 40 the eng.--
and that nothing more than common was
progress.
Capt. Caytna vas also hurled into O.
wreck among the broken boilers ana rubdis-
sustaining slight injuries fie immediate.
jumped overheard with a door. bv which h.
was enabled 70 reach the Arkansas shors
three miles below, where. striking a sailing.
be seized and chung 10 Il until saved. Gle
mems the Engineer, was badly burned a1l
scalded, and can hardly recover. Nr John
POLICEMAN, residing on the Arkansas side. c-
being aroused by the noise and seeing The
burning steamer. hastily constructed a ruis
raft, and In this way was the means Of sae-
Ins about one hundred lives.
In the woods. among the drift OF t.s
wreck. the officers Of the Rose Hamh.et-
found family Bible. containin: the record.
OF family named Spike. Of Assumutll1
Parish. La. The names recorded are Sam-L
d Spike and Elethia Spike, married Octlte-
Slst. 1851. The record shows that the.
We're twelve in the family Il was .1i.--
quently learned that the father. m5;-e-.
three daughters, two brothers, and a MES.
were lot. Several OF the bodies were ree1s-
cred. This family had seventeen rhllS--
dollars N gold, all of which was lost.
At the time of the explosion Capt Nls-
had retired from watch. and was in bed i-
was aiterward seen throwing shutter. ard
doors % the assistance OF people IN the Wsts-.
and here all traces Of him vanished Cls-ss
Gamble and Stratlon are also missing
Among the soldiers on board were t--T
commissioned officers. The troops ws-
various regiments. and nearly all e1,58--s-
prisoners. They belonged princi-a-7 O.
W estern regiments.
4 dense mass, estimated at about ~ bur-
ired, took refuge on the bow Of tire bat.
while the flames were driven aft bv the VIZ.
A few moments afterwards the wheel house.
OOsened by the cOncussIOn and flames, e-
ID outward, and the boat turned stern U
stream, reversing the flames. The large
part Of this number must then have perishe-.
Is they had no material az hand 20 throT
,ver 10 sustain themselves, except a tsT
lales Of hsv, which were Immediately seize
N the turning Of the boat The gang PLANK
we're thrown overheard, but sank a, once U
Ter their living freight, and rose too far or
u reach for must. The yawl boat ~
aunched, bottom up, from the hurri1,
ieck upon the heads Of those below. ar 81
orded a support for a few in that c0Dt
The whole time before the boat was s- %,
ire sheet OF fame could not have sIseoee
wenty minutes The prisoners rer-seen'el
lmost every State IN the Union, even le1as.
nd the calamity will be as widely isi IS
attic of no inconsiderable proportions.
Ii Is stated on the authority Of Mr. Oo'
de OF the War Committee that the rtgi-s-
d'capscity Of the Sultana was only Tor 5''
assengers. and yet she had nearly NV 20
GARD This occurred at time when I5els
Fere other good boats at Vicksburg. p
mich sumo of the paroled soldiers coui
ave been sent home as well as not, bu; ~
would not permit this.
The Sultana bad been in constant use ioi
lie last twelve years, and was Prooaois
orn out. At Vicksburg she was detsinel
early thirty hours BY the lraky eondltl0n
her BOILERS, but the officers seem u ha's
ken the chances of getting through safely
ID trusting their precious human freight
'e doubtful calculation Of the bvilers no'1
z out till they reached Cairo. The coD-e
lenee- were u the character ever likely
Il