The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-14
STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
Great Loss ofLi6

/ robbed after the accident, during the passage of
the boat to New York
We take from detailed account in the New
York Tribune the following particulars Of the
terrible disaster:
The accident was occasioned by the bursting
of the .starboard boiler, almost Immediately
above the fires, and about twenty-five feet for
ward of the wheelhouse. The aperture in the
boiler is about eight feet long and two and a
half feet in width, and is situated near the top
of the boiler, but inclning toward the interior
of the boat.
1t is the opinion of Engineer Hook and 9TH
ers that the accident was oecasioned by defect
in the boilers, the. material of which, they say,
was composed of what is called ''sand iron'-
an inferior, brittle kind of iron, which is some:
times used in the manufacture of boilers on ac-
count of its cheapness. A scene of ruin and
horror was presented which can only be imag-
ined by those who are familiar with battle Fields,
and which cannot be described with accuracy
There, in the centre Of the gorgeous saloon,
surrounded by gildeG walls, elaborate chande-
liers, and covered with velvet carpets of blue
and crimson arabasque, still warm from the
burning waves which flooded them but few
hours before, lay number of corpscs and writh-
ing forms, from one of which, at almost regular
intervals, issued those appalling blood -curdling
yels, from the poor baggagemaster.
1t was palatial charnal-a mansion gilded
for the dead and dying.
Here lay mother and her two little children
with only their cold dead faces visible
Next to this melancholy group, were the mo-
! tionless forms of another mother and her sweet
! child; the husband and father lay at the other
end of the saloon, suffering inexpressible tor
lures.
BY the head of another woman corpse, sat a
silent pallid man, who, but few hours before,
was happy husband of a living wife. Their
little child was also alive, and nov sat covering
at her fathers knees, hardly appreciating the
terrible loss which had bcfalen her.
The corpse of man also lay in this group
Nine had already gone to their long home, and
number of policemen and other persons were
busy carrying such wounded down stairs, that
could bear removal.
| Thrilling account by an Eye ,citness.
A gentleman who was on board the boat at
the time of the explosion gives the following
thrilling account:
think the accident occurred few minutes
before six in the morning. At least l remem-
ber that it was just twenty minutes before six
when | arose from my berth to dress myself, as
thought w- must be nearing the city, and /
wanted to be on shore as soon as possible My
state-room was situated in the forward part of
the cabin, On the port side looked out of
the window and saw that the western sky was
Just Frightening with the reflection Of daylight
| from the cast and then opening the door, step
ped out into the saloon, which was dimly lit,
only one or two burners of the main chandelier
being lighted.
had hardly reached the centre of the saloon,
on my way out to the open air, before heard
strange report which thrilled me with uuac-
countable apprehension. 1t was not SO loud as
it was deep and terrible. once heard some
gun cotton explode in close apartment, and
the present report rcsembled that nearer than
anything can compare it to. 1t was immedi-
atcly followed by terrible shock, which shook
every plank in the steamer, and before | could
make up my mind what it meant, saw the side
of the saloon, short distance in front Of the
wheel-housc smashed in as If by cannon shot,
with terrible crashing sound, accompanied by
one wild yell which rings in my cars at this
moment with terrible distinctncss.
A great crowd of steam rushed through the
aperture, speedily filling the entire saloon; but
first | saw shapeless nass flying across the
cabin. This proved to be the corpse of child,
who had been sleeping in stateroom No. 123, /
think, although | am not certain. / heard the
engine stop. A great light illuminated the sa-
loon through the drifting steam. | gave myself
up for lost and for a moment could rot stir.
The steam was almost Immediately followed by
vast bodies of hot water, which seemed to burst
into the saloon in perfect deluge. 1t covered
the floor so rapidly that | had just time enough
to spring and gain hold on the main chande
lier before it was seething under my feet.
In few seconds was securely perched
above the water but l witnessed a scene Of de-
struction and horror which will abide with me
to my dying day The water did not spout nor
gush into the saloon--it absolutely poured in.
Had it not had the appearance Of being boiling
hot should have thought that We were sink
ing, and that the broad river itself was cngulf-
ing us
Then there occurred terrible scene among
the passengers, most of them were asleep in
their berths at the time Of the explosion. The
impulse, which nearly all of them obeyed, upon
being ruGely awakened and terrified by the
shock, to spring to the floor, and their
screams and yells their feet went anEle-deep
into the scaiaipg food are literally indescrib-
able. Few of them had presence of mind
enough to climb again into their hunks, but in
few moments, or rather seconds, the saloon
was peopled with terror-stricken and agonized
forms, mostly in their Dight-clothes, splashiDG
wildly about in the boiling water.
i One man, in his agony, tried to pull me from
my perch, but, by repeated directions, 1 al
length induced him to get upon chair. saw
mother with child on either arm, dashDe
she would lift up her naked fest l could see
that they were boiled to crimson hue. Reach
ing down lifted one of the children to my side,
bus she let the other ore fall into the water