The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-02-14
lFrom the Louisville Courier, 5th.
Explosion of tie Carter.
Another Steamboat Disaster,

B0GT nnO Largo Vatue1 al SX16,-
0OOs-The Eighth Steamboat Ex-
plOsiOn iu a Brief Periodicals
element Among BOatmen---
Boats Lying Up Tubular Boil
ers Condemned.
Early Saturday morning telegraphic
dispatches we're received in the city an
neuncing the explosion of the W. R. Car
ter, in the Mississippi, by which the lives
of several well-known citizens were sac
rifced. But few details of the disaster
were received until late in the evening,
when confirmation of the terrible calami-
ty was received. While under way, some
thirty five miles above Vicksburg, in the
lower Mississippi, Friday morning about
four o'clock, the explosion took place, by
which a large number of persons we're
killed, including many Of the crew and
passengers-involving the total loss of
the boat. Among those known to be lost
are j. W. Brannin, merchant, and j.
Fletcher Smith, passengers, both of this
city, who left here together with a large
drove of mules. The wife of DR.. 7. G.
Richardson, with three small children,
from this city, on her way to join her hus-
band in New Orleans,i is reported terribly
scalded, as well as her children. Another
dispatch states that very many lives were
lost, including the above; also, Mrs. Glib
bons. Mrs. Wolf and Mrs. Rice, Of Gin
c%innati; Mrs. Osterman, Of Texas; Mrs.
Moose and Mrs. Morris, Of Columbus
A Mrs. Rowland and others were saved
by the Evening Star, which was near by
at the time, and rescued a large number
of people and took them to Memphis.
The First Engineer, Reuben Townsend,
of New Albany, Ind, is reported killed,
as well as many other officers of the boat.
She left this port Friday week with a
moderate freight trip and asmall number
of passengers, but her deck full of live
stock, chiefly mules for the Vicksburg
and New Orleans markets. The freight
was insured in the local Offices in this
city, and agencies, to the extent of $751;
600, nearly two-thirds of which is in the
Union and Washington.
The w. R. Carter is the eighth steam
boat explosion we have had to record in
a short time on the Western Rivers. The
FIRST, and the most awful disaster ever
known On the Western waters, was the
Sultana, followed by three more of minor
importance-then the Miami, the Mis-.
souri,, the tow-boat Baltic, and the W. r,
Carter-the four latter occurring almost
simultaneously. These terrible disasters
all following so soon after each other
have created considerable excitement il
the community, and many inquiries as tc
their cause. We have a board of super
vising and local inspectors in every dis
trict, who make it their duty, or rather
practice, to investigate the causes aftel
the disasters occur, and it is supposed
they will report in time. The Sultan;
disaster, however, has not been decided
yet;
In the meantime, since the announce
Uncut of the explosions of the Miami ant
the Missouri, several prominent boat
owners determined to withdraw thei
boats, lay them up, and give the boilers
thorough over-hauling. The Wild Wag
oner, Of the Peoples Line, plying between
this City and Cincinnati, has been laid VI
several days, and her boilers, We believe
are to be removed, and new ones substi
tuted in their place. The St. Charles, o
the same line, is to lay up on her arriya
at Cincinnati to-day to change her boil
ers.
F The directors of the United State
mail line, plying between this port ant
Cincinnati, very promptly decided yester
day to suspend the trips of the United
States, though a nem boat, until she cal
have new boilers. She has what is known
as the tubular boilers, and some day
since ordered a new set of the old fash
Toned hue boilers, to be made by j. Mitch
ell & Son. of this city.
The belief has long been entertained
by all practical engineers and mechanic
that tubular boilers on our Western wa
tiers ere unsafe, and we have repeated.
called the attention of the public to il
but until very lately but little heed ha
been paid to the subject. Now, however
after so many fata! disasters have occurre'
in rapid succession, the public are arous
ed, as it appears that nearly all, if no
every one Of the late disasters were boat
with the tubular boilers. The W. R
Carriers boilers were made by the bes
practical boiler-maker in the West, and o
the best Juniata iron, one whose boilers
made in the regular way, with only tw,
or four return fues, were never known t,
explode in more than twenty years expe
%rience. The W. R. Carter's were mad
to order, were tubulars, and have explo
ded, causing the loss of probably on,
hundred lives, and a quarter of a million
of property.
The HOG Disease.