Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-11-08
Fom the Norfolk Va Post. Oct p.
A STEAMER BLOWN TO ATOMS.
Tcrriae Explosion in Norfolk ~sEarsor--.
All on Beard Killed.

Yesterday afternoon our city was
startled by q most terrific explosion,
which shOOki IL Like an earthquake, and
caused all the world to rush to the doors
and windows. The conclusion was too
severe to be caused by the discharge Of
even the heaviest ordnance, and cveTV-
body felt that some terrific disaster had
happened. We 500 learned that the
small tugboat C0injock, engaged in the
business of towing mud-scOws nj into
the stream, to dump the mud dug by the
dredging machines from the dock in front
Of Eimberly's wharf, had exploded her
boiler, while in the middle of the river,
some two hundred yards from the land
ing, blowing the boat TO toms aud
killing all on board. WereaChed our VIM
dow in timo TO see the fragment Of the
boat in the air. euvpl1na5 I'm GvUiuule of
steam and, doubtless, the mulu2tcd
bodies Of the victims were also flying jon
space at tNC same time. I'll was "a grand
but terrible spectacle. soon hundreds OF
people were rushing toward tie wharf,
and the remnant oi the WrCeE igit uthe
water was seen To caieen and sink 10 the
bottom, leaving the mud-scow un-
harmed, with the two eolored lahorecs
upon III, surrounded by the floating tim
bers and dehris OF the exploded boat,
In less than five minutes the scene Of
the wreck was swaTming with the small
boats from the men-Of-war lying in the
vicinity Of the explosion, filled with SAIL
Ors and their officers, in search Of survi-
vors of the explosion, or the bodies Of
the unfortunate Victims. An anxious
crowd, among whom were s0merelative-
Of those known u be aboard, was ASSEM-
bled on Kimberly's wharf, awaiting i'm
patiently the report of those who had
rushed TO the rescue. The boats beat
around among tue nying fragments for
some fifteen minutes, when one Of them
approached the wharf, dragging In tow
a body. Tho multitude crowded to the
landing and learned il was the mutt
lated remains Of William Patten, IT., an
old and much esteemed citizen Of Bati-
more, but q resident OF this city, and
agent nj the Boston Steamship Line, He
did not belong 70 the boat, but unfOTJu-
nately had gone aboard merely GoTn Gu
ri0sity, to witness the operation OF DUMP
ing the mud nom the scow.
The oIheer n command Of the boats
e9T5w which had found this body floating
in the vicinity of the wreck, searched
the pockets OF the deceased, and finding
his well-illed pOeket-hook, the KEY of his
safe, and other articles of value, handed
them over 70 his son, who was on the
wharf, awaiting with fearful ewes, the
arrival of his fathers body. Theremains
Of Mr.. Patten presented q horrible and
ghaSdy spectacle one OF the legs was
blown from the body, the bowels protru-
ded, and the head and face were mashed
in such a manner as to render it difficult
to recognize the features. All efforts TO
find the bodies Of the other persons known
to be on board failed they had either
been blown to pieces or sunk 20 the bot
tom, and as tie fragments fioated of, the
searchsrs gave up the fruitless task, and
the boats left the scent Of the disaster.
Three persons beside Dir. Patteu, were
known TO be on the rug al the time OF
the disaster: Capt. Patrick McCarrack,
IT., In command Of the boat, VIM. Foster,
the engineer, and a colOred fireman,
name unknown, Capt. McCarrack is q
son Of Capt, Patrick McCarrack, the well
known commander of the Eolus. He
was formerly IN the Confederate service,
/ and had only taken command of the
/ Coipjock on Thursday morning II is
| thought he had a presentiment of coming
misfortune to himself in the morning, for
he insisted upon going Dearly mass, not
| w~ithstanding other pressing matters that,
under ordinary circumstances, might
have induced him to neglect his religious
duties.
The mutilated remains of Mr.. PatteI
were taken to the warehouse on Kim
berIy's wharf, where an inquest wa,
summoned. After viewing the body
the coroner gave a certificate, and il wa
given into the keeping Of his relatives
who will at once convey it to Baltimore
for burial. The necktie of the deceased
was picked up floating on the water
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. been thus STRANGELY
blown from his neck by q freak Of tn
explosion,
Parties were engaged all the evening
dragging for the hGdies of Capt. McCar
Track and Mr.. Foster. The force of tn
explosion was SO great that tine splinter
from the wreck were scattered all owe
Che wharf at kimberly's, u distance Q
some two hundred yards from the plae
OF the occurrence. The excitement i
the community was very great, and III
wharfwas visited by hundreds during Oh
evening, who fingered around the spot Q
if fascinatedbythe horrors OF the tragedy
and the aflair has cast q deep gloom owe
the entire city.