Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-20
The Magnolia nisn-tcr

CINCINNATI, March 19.-The Magnolia
had three boilers, each twenty-four feet in
length, torty-six inches in diameter and five
iiues each, also two engines, twenty inches
in diameter and six feet stroke. She was
owned by David Gibson, J. H. Prather. her
commander, A. F. Shaw, first clerk. and
Mr.. B. Gardner, who was aboard at the
time of the disaster. When she left this
city she had over one hundred cabin pas
sengers, large number being ladies, and
all the freight she could carry. The scene
at the time of the explosion was terrible.
Some were blown high into the air, others
were thrown into the river, where they
struggled to keep from drowning, and many
lay scattered here and there on the wreck,
horribly mangled, scalded and burning to
death. After she had floated a mile and
half down the river, a large lot of loose
hay caught FIRE, which reached the maya
zine, blowing up three kegs of powder and
causing a second explosion to take place.
The boat Immediately caught FIRE, and
sunk in three minutes after the last explo-
sion.
The following is a list of those Of the
passengers and crew who are reported
killed and missing Capt. j. II. Prather,
James Stevens, second engineer, Perry Mil
Ter, second mate, VIM. Evans, bartender,
Mary Coffin, chamber-maid, lost; John
Rees, of Felicity, Ohio, was drowned; Miss
Bette French, of Mason county, KY, is
supposed to be drowned B. bradford. of
Ripley, Ohio, is also reported lost six
deck-hands, names unknowa, are reported
lost, which makes a total Of fifteen liyes
lnjured-Henry Clark, messenger Adams
Express Company, badly wounded; B..
GardneT, one of the owners &C ihe boat
badl- hurt; A. Common, pilot OF the boat
fell from the pilot house to the boiler room.
and was seriously burned and bruised !;
Jno. Jackson, steward, was blown some
distance in the air, yet fortunately escaped
any serious injuries although he Is slightly
wounded; VIM. Burton, bar tender, badly
bruised about the head and face; James
Mcfarland, Terre Haute, Ind, severely
injured w. d. Ross Higginsport, slight
"; Mrs. A. NJ Fenton, Miss Wild, Mrs
Wild and Mrs Martin, slightly; James
McMulIen, slightly; Mrs. Mirraska. col.
both thighs broken Mrs. Martin, slightly !;
Frank Breull, of this city, is badly shat
tered; IL. Abbott, scalded; Thos. Gurwin.
burned very severely A. t. Cox, slightly /;
C. ID. Armstrong, slightly III. Mays and
son, both slightly; q. III. Huston, badly
injured G.. w. Kerr, badly injured.
The Magnolia yawl was constantly maxi
ing trips between the wreck ard the shore.
and picked up all she could carry. There
were also skifis from California sent out,
which assisted in reseuing many from
GovraraI 1
in the skiffs being 80 badly burned and
scaldej, could not endure the pain, and
jumped into the river and were drowned.
The first engineer states that he tried the
boilers few minutes before the explosion
took place and found them to be full of
water. He walked around TO the fremen,
and was standing talking with them when
he was carried from off his feet
The tow boat Panther was busily en-
gagged at the wreck in attending TO the
wants of the sufferers, a great many of
whom she brought to this city, and then
Immediately returned to the scene of the
disaster. Part Of the wheelhouse hoated
past this city yesterday afternoon.
Another account says the explosion oc-
Cured Just rs the first dinner table had
been cleared and the second was being
prepared. Most of the male passengers
who had eaten 1.-THE first table, were stand
ing on the forward deck, and with them a
considerable number of ladies. All these,
with one or two exceptions, were lost.
Those on the after part of the boat who
we're not rescued by skifis, were either
drowned by jumping overheard or burned
to death.
LATER.-lI is now ascertained that fully
one hundred and forty persons were on the
Magnolia, eighty of whom were lost A
full list of the names of the lost cannot be
learned az the books and papers of the
boat we're DESTROYED.