, 1866-03-10
THR LATEST RIVER HORROR.
Full Particulars or tho Lorkxvoos1 Dts,
aAter-Scenes and Incidents OF the
Cn1amfty-A LeakJ Boiler aud m Tn.
lucky Captain.

| Full Particulars or tho Lockwood Dis.
aateF-Scenes and Incidents OF The
Cn1amIsy-A LeakJ Boiler and nm I'm.
lucky Captain.
from the Memphis Appeal, 6lh.1
From one Of the officers, We have full par.
tfc4iaEa ot the appalling disaster to the steam.
er R. ]. Lockwood, Capt. Ben. Howard. t1
ron!e from New orleans to St. Louis, walch
exploded her boilers on the night Of The 4th
at the foot OF Presidents Island. seYcarl riIes
below this city. and In short time was hurn-
ed to the waters edge, with loss Of about
fifteen souls, as near as can be asccrtaiued. tho
register being lost. It is estimated that there
were about forty passengers On board.
We have already given the List OF posscu-
gers In our despatches-J
Immediately after the explosion, the boat
cooler, md throwing ITS contents upon the
tire put 1t out for time It however soon
broke out in another place. The Mepham,
which VAS passing down at the time, within
q short distance Of the Lockwood, rounded
to. md coming up astern. took all the living
and wounded OF remaining On that part OF
of about the same time with the yawl,
manned by Capt. Howard in person. The
Mepham was loaded with hay and ran great
risk in going rs she did up to the bufnfng
wreck. A desire on tho part Of Capt. Wood,
Of the Mepham, however, induced him ut ali
hazard to attempt the relief Of his fellow b.
ings.
IN this noble effort, be It said to his praise.
be succeeded. and no doubt relieved this sad
disaster Of what must have otherwise been a
still more melancholy result.
We understand that one Of The boilers.
which had passed inspection at New Orleans
Just before starting out, was discovered to be
lsak,ng e,,a en- their way nP Just below He'eua.
sultation with tho engineer, who thought 1t
unnecessary to land at Helena for tho purpose
Of repairs. expressing the belief that there
Was no danger, and suggested that on reach
Ing Memphis whatever repairs were necessary
could be made IN proper manner. This be-
Ing agreed to, the Captains Instructions were
to work along with the pressure Of steam be-
low one hundred pounds. Thus things stood
until reaching the head Of Cat Island. about
8 O'Clock Sunday night. Captains ffoward
and Willard were sitting by the forward stove
talking about the boilers at the time OF the
explosion.
Everything apparently gave way, and Cap
thin Howard was thrown up some distance.
and fell back amid the wreck, but managed to
scramble over the rubbish and reach the cabin
again, without receiving more than a sltpht
bruise Oh the left side Of his head. On reach
Ing the cabin he made for the yaw1, which be
took from number Of men, having to threat
en- them severely before he obtained it. Gain
Ing possession, be took the women and chill
drcn, all Of whom be saved, and then went to
the relief OF those who were on the boat, the
Mephnm having come up to the stern In the
meantime, to the relief of all who remained
there. This exhibition Of cooluess and self
possession isnsthing more than all who knew
him would have expected OF Captain Howard
"A self possession which, taken In connection
With the resolute purpose Of the officers Of the
MCpham, no doubt saved at least fifty lives.
The Mepham remained near the burning
wreck until everything had been done that
could be effected, and until every survivor
was taken oil, when she passed On down until
she met the steamer victory ascending the |
desired to come up, and could be M moved. @ |
were brought 10 Memphis, every attention |
possible being shown them while on board. !
The Victory remained In port until the |
wounds Of all the sufferers were dressed.
Captain ]. Y. Lewis and Robert Gibson, of |
tho A. 4 n: 8. 8. Cos wharf boat, and Cap
tain John E: Ford, Of the tug Mettie Jones',
on discovering the light, took the tug In
charge Of Captain Ford, and went down uu.
tfl they met the Victory, and after learning
the facts returned with all possible speed to
Memphis, to make preparations for the recep-
(ton OF the wounded, which wns done, iuso-
much that when the Victory arrived the
sufferers were met by corps Of ply.
nents, one Of the most agreeable that
sould possibly be effected. Captain Sam.
sheck, on learning the news BY the returned
.ug, made ali possible haste to have
ohysicians on tie wharf boat. Among
sthe1s he made his appearance wit6 !
Dr.. II. e. Stever. from whom he had obtained
proper supply of medicines and also, Dr..
sdmonds, both Of whom 1abored assiduously
Or the relief Of the sufferers, Capt, Shock
akiDg two of them to his own residence. and
many others following his example. 10 be
'ries, every forethought seems 10 have been
aiken and acted upon from the beginning to
be end Of this disaster, which w.s no donbt,
n great measure. relieved 1t Of what might
otherwise prove the chief terrier.
Capt. Ben. Howard, Of the Inflated r. ],
lockwood, has. within this and last year,
though esteemed good, careful and expert
need boatman.) had the misfortune to have
he Brilliant burned up near New Madrid
be Imperial sunk by coming in contact with
he bridge piers at Nashville the II. S. Mcph-
nj sunk between here and ST. Louis, last hlI,
Which was subsequently raised without much
oss, and now the explosion of the Lockwood,