Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-01
The City or Memphis Blown Up.
100 Persons Killed & Wounded.
The Boat Consumed by Fire.

Last evening about six o'clock the
steamer St. Patrick arrived at our land
ing, bringing the intelligence that another
of the Atlantic and Mississippi Compa-
ny's steamers had exploded-the City Of
Memphis-about thiity-fve miles below
this city, and nearly opposite the village
of Commerce, The engineer states that
at the time Of the explosion-about 8
clock yesterday morning-the boat was
running with one hundred and fifteen
pounds of steam, although allowed to
carry one hundred and seventy-fve
pounds, and he can give no cause for
the explosion. The City Of Memphis
had on board at the time of the casualty
about forty cabin passengers, one hun
dred on deck, and crew of about eighty
making II total of two hundred and
twenty souls, of whom fully sixty have
lost their lives aud forty been more or
less scalded or injured, some of them
past nope OF recovery.
1t is supposed that it was the larboard
boiler that exploded, but in a case of this
kind it is hard to tell as the explosion
was sudden and most terrific, tearing
away and scattering into fragments one
half the cabin. The texas and pilot
house were blown into the river. The
forward and aflerpart of the boat were
all that escaped destruction. The flames
Immediately burst forth and it became
impossible to pass from one end Of the
boat to the other. The widest confu-
sion prevailed on board, especially in the
ladies' cabin, but the officers of the boat
who had not been injured by the explo-
sion soon recovered their presence of
mind, and, aided by several gentlemen
on board, done all they could to save the
YES Of the passengers. The boats on
board were lowered and manned, the
stage planks, etc, were thrown over
board and were soon covered with living
freight. Boats also put of from the
shore and gave considerable assistance,
and saved many lives by picking up the
scalded and MANNED that were still float
ing on the surface of the river. The
boats landed their cargoes at Commerce
and returned and picked up all that could
be found. Captain Thompson, the mate
and two clerks of the Inflated steamer
were the last to leave the boat, the clerks
swimming to shore. The citizens of
Commerce done all in their power for
the sufferers, and their kindness will not
be forgotten as long as any of the re-
eipients live.
The steamer St Patrick arrived at the
scene about two hours after the explo-
sion, and took all they could find on
board, where they received all the atten-
ton in the power Of the officers and crew
of that boat TO bestow. DIR. Blackman,
of Laconis, a passenger on the St Pat
rick, dressed the wounds Of the sufferers
and was interchangeable in his exertions
On tie arrival of the s.. Patrick, many of
tie wounded were taken to the city hos
pital, and several to the WOrsham House
The Luminary took up several this morn
ing whose homes were in ST. Louis.
While the steamer St Patrick was on
her way up to the city, three of the
wounded passengers died. One was a
middle-aged man, apparently about for
ty-6ve years Of age He had inhaled the
steam and suffered the most acute pain
until death came to bis relief The name
Of the poor unfortunate could not be as
certained. Two negroes. both in the
uniform Of the United States, also died
They also had inhaled steam The other
sufferers on the boat were as follows
Hamilton Smith, Sd engineer, slightly