Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-02

THE ExPIosIeN- PARTIcU-
LARs.--The Atlantic and Mississippi
Steamship Company's boat, the City of
Memphis, was valued at $4,000, and
was built at Pittsburg in 1857, receiving
the boilers of the Crystal Palace, that
had been used for seven years previously,
consequently they were sixteen years
old, and were considered dangerous by
engineers The boat had been con-
demned two or three times, and there ls
grave criminality somewhere for allowing
her to run as passenger steamer and
lure the uniformed and trustful traveller
TO destruction. From DR.. James Smythe,
of Havana, formerly of Georgia. we
learn that the head engineer said he
knew the capacity of the boilers, and
would not, under any circumstances,
allow more than lis pounds of steam
"The boilers" said the engineer, "are
put up for 10 pounds, but under no
circumstances would | allow her TO carry
that amount, no matter how long II takes
her to ret to the end of the journey.
DR. Smythe said the fire on the boat could
easily have been extinguished had prompt
and proper steps been taken by both
passengers and crew, as it was hail
hour after the explosion occurred before
the fire got Roadway Mr.. j, Q. Short
says: The accident occurred just about
breakfast time. had eaten, and gone
out on the guards, and sat on the railing
opposite the gangway, on the iarboard
side Of the boat, near the scape-plpe l
had Just asked gentleman for pipe
and tobacco, and he went to his state
room to get them While he was gone, l
heard the engineer try one of the gauge
cocks; it did not blow as il there was
sufficient water in the boilers, butsounded
dry; and in just about time enough for
the engineer to touch the other cock the
explosion occurred | next found my
self bruised and scalded, and underneath
a lot of timbers Mr. John II. Baker,
night Waterman, says: had little pre-
vious to the explosion retired to my bunk
in the texas, which is the first bunk aft
of the hall on the starboard engines. l
was awakened by loud report and the
kissing of the steam The force of the
explosion parted the cabin and texas,
letting the roof Of the latter down on top
of me, but Ms the bunk gave way from
under me was enabled to crawl out i
then put my pants and boots on. When
kicked the door open next found my
self down on the lower deck, in the ell
CINE room, and how | got there | can
say. | found the carpenter, whom
helped get the yawl, which was filled W
with negro soldiers, whom he drove out
of the yawl, and made them stay on the
stern, in good dry place, where it wa:
perfectly safe, telling them to remain
there, and we would take them ashore
We then filled up the yawl with ladies'
along with the chief engineer, Mich
Burns, scalded, and the second mate
wounded. The flames on the boat did
not gain Roadway until fifteen minutes
after the explosion. do not think they
could have been put out by any means
The names of those who survived the
explosion are as follows Mrs Crane and
s Taylor, of St Louis; Mrs Julia GIFTS
and Charles GIFTS, of New Orleans; Mrs
Johanna Chrisenson (ankle sprainedl
and NADIA Chrisenson, of New Orleans
Belle Madison, Mrs. Louisa Leon, and
Mary Fry (colored chambermaid), S.
Louis; Miss NJ. c. James, Washington
La; Mr., Mrs. and David COppenhaver
Mt Union, Pa; o. Kalstead, Tyler
Smith county, Texas; Mrs. Kalstead ana
children, Peter and Mary Mr.. aud Mrs
Edward Sharp and children, Melvina anC
Amsden, Tyler, Smith county, Texas
Mrs. Mary A. Atkins, Laurenstown; DIT
James Smythe, Havana, formerly o
] Ct--4