, 1866-06-06
THE STEAMBOAT DISASTER.
Detnils of the Destruction OF the City
Of senlpAss-Statemento Of Captain.
Correspondence C1nci4 natl CommercIaL]

Details Of the Destruction OF the City
Of NsenaplAss-statement Of Captain.
Correspondence C1nci4 natl CommercIaL]
MEMPHIS. June |.
The City Of Memphis was valued at So, 900,
and was insured In Cincinnati Offices to the
burgh by Captain ]. P. Cooks, In
1851, and her boilers from the wreck
OF the steamer Crystal Palace, which
was built seven years previous at the same
place; consequently the boilers Of the City
OF Memphis we're sixteen years old ut the time
of the explosion. She had been condemned
several times, VIC understand, but Why she
was bought again and again VIC are unable to
SUI. Al the time Of the explosion she had
thirty:two cabin passngcrs and about sixty
deck passengers, and with the officers and
crew on the boat there must have been eco
souls on board. All the proof goes to show
vary plainly that she was carrying but lis
pounds Of steam. Those who witnessed the
explosion, say it did not have US much force
as to make as loud report rs might be ex-
pected from boat having such large boilers.
The name Of Mrs. Mary Taylor, published
Yesterday as being drowned WIS erroneous.
The following are the statements Of persons
on board ut the time Of the Occurrence.
Statement by Dr.. Joseph smythc: Heard d
head engineer knew the capacity OF these
boilers, md they would not stand under any
circumstance any more than hundred and
fifteen pounds. These boilers, said the en-
gineer. were put up for hundred and seventy
pounds, but under tho circumstances would
not allow her to carry that amount.
!. no matter how long 1t takes
Smythe said that the fire on the boat could
have been entirely extingnlshed it prompt
steps had been taken by both passengers and
crew, as It was q half an hour after the c1p1o
sion occurred before the sirc got under way
There were ten kegs OF powder on board
which Capt. Thompson had the deck hands
throw overheard.
The packing blew ont the day previous to
the explosion and made,a very loud report.
frightening almost all the passengers on the
boat.
]. c. Shorts statement: "The accident
occurred about breakfast time. had eaten
and went on the guards and sat on the rail-
ing opposite the gnngway.
1'0n the larboard side Of the boat, near tue
cscape-p1pe, had Just asked n gentlemen for
pipe, and be went to bis state room and got
It, md when he WAS gone heard the engi-
necr try one of the guages. It did not blow
as If there was sufficient water in the boiler,
hut sounded dry, just about enough for the
engineer to turn On the other cock before the
explosion occurred.
CAPTAIN 1uo1rsos's srArExrSr.
We left New Orleans Friday evening the 26th, at
O'Clock, with large fright, forty c.btn pasaen-
Ceft and stx,y deck passengers. We PIT od and
nnmber It the time Of iRs exposion. I ' No.sns % par
ticular occurred during the trip up excepting
that IL We We passed aafely shreash ons storm.
worked we'll. ahd there was no signs OF a leak
IN any one Of The boilers. The day before the
explosion, he 11st engineer came to me and aald
The boat going GLOW. told them was Captain
q the boat, and would order faster speed WHEN I
.honEht !! neees.ag: kn9w that The airat .enei-
boilers, Mr: Bruno the difst engineer, came TO
me Whtle IN New Orleans, and taid be would have
TO put The boat to rome expense By having
did not believe they had been opened ior n1e
yeal.. ltoId him he was right, and 10 80 ahead.
which be old, and had them opened.
The clerks office; the force Of the explosion lore
the shirt had on, In ehreds, and split my ycsl
clear up the back, besides smashing ms watch a.
IN the toreeastlo hn7teoly, where had the ataSe
n!nnks lashet together. and put overheard. taw
he wouneed ve1e ca1eiully npt On she planks. and
into the water, tuslructtug Them not to Get On the
staging, but 10 semau The water. 1then telected
Trustworthy negro 10 take charge OF them and
ehorts 10 70 10 the shore, but 10 wait
Tor come boat to pics them up, and they were the
.s o1, tnIsirG,s picked lp ey The Sa9t patssk
dthe beat 10 be On FIRE In the hold, aud the for.
wsfd pumps were working at the TING, but the
Watef could not penetrate; The styfkeTu vera both
fastened in tho ruins, whert Wa pnled them out,
heard a number Of men beneath the DEBRIS oj
wooo. Ion. &C.. groaniue mo.t p1.ifuty and p1ay-
ing for sorno WY Of escape ftom being burned 10
death. but A. there was no possibility whatever
Of getting At them. they bad 10 be left to burn Ia
death, while We e1erted o1raeIves in saving those
We could. The males and myeelf 1cu1atucd on The
foreca<te, doing all We contd. until every person
WAS OF the forward part Of the boat, when the
penter and ~a1chman came NTH yaWl mud took
n o. 4 negro woman played tr1ck On me- which
shall punish her for JET saw the resin box lying
on the forcca.1e. and alter knocking tho lid
oil slld II into The river, when this negro. with
her ealpet tack IN band. jumped Into 1t, ahoved
ont, and got 10 shore without wet.ing even the
eolcs Of her shoes. Alter leaving the forecastle,
veIt az IN ihe yaw' to help The lsdes, and rt:cued
Abs Belle Addison, Of st Louis. when she was 20
weak that she was unable 10 hold out her b Ind to
be saved. Afler getting all we could Into thu boat
there WIZ number OF men IN the water With their
life preselvers or them. told them 10 keep cool,
and permit themselves to float quietly until res
cued. ! made no effort to save nuy OF my personal
effects, and upon arriving At Memphis had nothing
ease the clothes o1 me. / do not thlnk the total
uumotr OF 1yes lost wtll amount to oyer etxty,