Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-18
The Late Casualfy- Farther Partfe-


The Late Casualfy-Farther Partie-
uInrs.
We have further particulars this eve
ming Of the recent explosion Of the Cairo
and Evansville packet, Phantom, Of
which we gave q short account yester-
day This is the second explosion oc.
curing within the last few days at
almost the same place. The history OF
steamboat explosions reveals singular
fact, which has been often noted by the
most learned and scientific men. IT
seems as if steamboats,, and especially
those on Western rivers running nearly
on parallels of longitude, like the human
family, are, at frequent periods of their
existence, afflicted as if with the scourge
of an epidemic. For term of years no
accident Of the kind occurs, and travel
ers on steamboats, feel as safe as if in their
homes. All at once we hear Of an explo-
sion, which is Immediately followed
by another, and often many others in
rapid succession. As matter OF course,
frightful sacrifice of human life is the
result, and we stand APPALLED, at what
probably we too hastily pronounce Grim
inal NEGLIGENCE on the part Of the officers
in command of the unfortunate boat.
There may be deeper causes for these ap-
parent periodic explosions than we i'm
agine, and science. may yet give us in
dubitable proofs that the world has so far
but little understood the causes of these
terrible explosions. The Cairo Bulletin
says:
The Phantom was filling the place of
the steamer Quickstep. 1t was known
that her boilers we're old and dangerous,
but with reckless disregard of conse-
quences deserving of the keenest repro
baton, she was still kept in the trade.
She had not made landing after leav-
ing Golconda, and was under way in the
middle of the river, short distance
above New Liberty, when her boilers
exploded, giving out q report not unlike
that of sharp clap of thunder. The
forward upperworks were badly wrecked;
and the hull was 80 injured that it sunk
almost Immediately. Fortunately the
water was shallow, covering the main
deck amidships to the depth of only q
few inches, leaving the forecastle and
engine room dry. Her boilers, ex-
cept small fragment, were blown
overheard The wreck caught on fire,
but, by the prompt and we'll directed eff
forts of Mr.. David Pierson, the mate, was
extinguished. 1t will be recollected that
Mr.. Piers g was mate on the illfated
Cumberland, and, although considerably
bruised and wounded, saved the wreck of
that boat from burning. There was but
little freight on the Phantom at the time
of the explosion, but what there was is
total loss.
1t is known that four persons we're
killed outright, and two are missing,
probably blown overheard. Among the
killed is the first clerk, George Nicholson.
His body was found in the debris, not
mutilated and torn, but with wound
under the eye, which it is believed ex.
tended to the brain. He was also bruised
on the chest and abdomen.
Six of the negro deck hands were
wounded, two or three of them quite Sc
riously. Mr.. VIM. drammer, the bar
keeper, was badly hurt; Steele, the
Stewart, had his leg broken at the ankle;
and VIM. Barry, the second mate, had
his thigh broken. The express agent
George McTadden, is seriously wounded
| in the leg, and the second cook ia also
badly wounded. Mr.. Hart, mschinist,
en- route for Paducah, was shockingly cut
in the face, the bone in some places being
laid bare.
The wounded, and such of the dead as
could be recovered, we're taken to Psdu-
cab on the Clara Scott, where they re.
ceived all the attention the good people
of that CITY could bestow