Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-02
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
Full Particulars OF the Accident.
List of the KtIIsd and Injured

stsameF Eclipse when she blew up at
J0hnsoBVille, Tennessee river, on the
morning Of the 9th, arrived in the city
yesterday, and furnishes Us the following
particulars of the terrible accident
Col Craven estimates that there we're
6s priValas and non-eommissioued Off.
GERS OF the 9th Battery on board, and
commissioned officers, Is Of The former
Of whom were killed or missing, those
missing supposed to be drowned, and 43
wounded. The Eclipse left Eastport,
Mississippi, on the 10Th, having on board
the 9th Battery, detachment Of Mis-
souri, troops, and number OF other of.
GERS and priystes 90 leave Of absence
aud furlough The BOAT arrived at
Jshnsouville, which is about is miles
above Pa laesh, at o. clock on the 26th,
where she laid up AT night We copy a
statement made out by Col. Craven
In the morning | was suddeaIy
aroused from slamber BY crashing
noiss and stroke By some kiad Of pro
jectilo on my head, the breaking down
Of my berth, &c. Mr. FIRST impression
was that = rebel battery had opened up
on as, aud that q shot or she'll bad
passed through mr. stateFoom, but 10 =
moment some one in shirt and drawers
rushed into my room, aud exclaimed,
The boiler has bursted and the boat is
slaking, lei Us zet over into ahe other
boat, or We will all be drowned st the
same time be made an slffurs 20 open the
door aud get out on the deck. but, from
excitement OF some other cause, he
failed requested him 10 LET me at the
door, he did so; opened il; we went
out on the deck, but the steam, smoke,
ashes, and SCOT llled Ehs air, and OBJ
seuFed all sight for time, day having
only dawned at the time But in q few
moments We we're enabled 70 discern the
Lady Franklia lying alongside, and we
were enabled 20 pass over Raahing to
the door in shirt aud drawers, entered
The cabin aad inquired if The boat was
injured. not that we know of, vas
The reply. Fastening back to a point
on deck, opposite nay room, crossed
back 10 the Eclipse, entered my room,
fels in the lover berth occupied BY Capt
f. Williams, but did not fBd him I
gathered his valisa, mr. ewn, all Of oar
clothing thet ! could find, and such
other articles Of value as eoald lay my
hands on, handing them across or throw
ing them on the deck Of the Lady Frank
lin. In the midst Of this hustle and con.
fusion, some one rushing along the deck
exclaimed, THE boat is sinking Get
off or you will be drowned Having
nothing there that valued as much a.
my life, took hin at his word The
cracking and crashing Of timbers abon.
/ the boat, in connection with the cries
and shFieks Of despair, was truly eaIeu-
lated to alarm one.
/ Scarcely had | got of the boat TIL
Capt Williams came to the door Of oul
room, and on his way to the LadJ
Franklin. informed me that he had nj
coat and blouse. he got of immedi
ately, and the Eclipse, being cut loose
floated down stream
| entered the cabin and found i
covered with the unfortunate victims o
the terrible explosion of the Eclipse.
Then followed the mozt heart-renaing
scene Of my hfc. Stout men that hal
seen face death on more than one vel
contested battlefield, without m1rmnr
nobly doing their duty IN the midst Of
terrible artillery FIRE, we're shrieking ani
crying from the exeruciating pain d
their scalded bodies aud limbs, tn
scalded skin coming of their hands an
, hanging to Che points Of their fingers
their hide following aud clinging to thei
garments as they we're stripped fror
, their hodies; the suffering victims walk
; ing to and fro, some moaning as if il
r the agonies of death, others shriekin
4 al the top Of their voices. and quite
} lrnumber OF them begging to be killes
. thai they might get relief from their ter
: ,rible anguish. Passing on board th
: upper deck / found tuo dead bodis
+ lying there, others were thrown on shori
aud l~o we're thrown on the Madison
Captain George w. Brown and Lisntsi
+ ant Calfes, Of the battery, we're uniI
q iuged, also the Orderly Sergeant, aud .
t deserve much credit for their eoolnel
T in the midst Of all the excitement, ar
s for their promptness IN administering
q the wants OF the afflicted. From Il
0 best information I can get Of the kill'
/ and missing in The battery, they nuubI
y fiftsen-the missing are Supposed
d have been instantly killed or drowned
"a and forty three wounded, and the who
number Of killed and missing in d
4 battery, detachment, &c, is thirty ssye
D. and ssxtY-eixht wounded. Samoel Ia
sr rison, private in company /, S9sh Int
sr ana Volunteers, is among the nissin
,r and his carpet-sack is IN the possessi,
ID of Capt E. Williams, of PendIeto
- Indiana, who will be pleased 10 forwal
"a ii TO his friends whenever informs
is where to send il.
te The wounded receivsd shs sttenti
Nv Of DR.. ]. 5. Mills, Of the United Stat
III steamer Silver Lake, M f. Mixer, St
to eeon United States steamer Lex;ngtc
We and ]. s. Wyckof, Of the Christi
sk Commission, who deserve much cred
e. in connection with the officers and
id few enlisted men of the battery, "
. we're fortunate enough to get Of Wi
h cut serious injury, administered TO
II. wants Of the afflicted, giving mediein
1t, and covering the raw wounds with 10
he which application seemed to have
of immediate salutary effect. | viii b
nd mention that the 9th Indiana batts
Sc had Just finished their three years te
.ts and we're en- roEte for Psdueah, Z
in where they had been ordered to rep
IRE and have the non-veterans mustered 0
Of The two officers and sixty-eight euiis
he men were all on board, having left
W, bind Them, Oh temporary duty, ab
ng twenty-five Of their number bat of
sixty-sight enlisted men 6fy-eight
sur killed, wounded, or missing. Alas,