The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-17

1 desire TO present, for your considera-
ton, the following facts concerning the
explosion OF the Phantom:
Left Evansville for Cairo at 8 80 Pm.
Tuesday evening, September l4th, 1859,
with machinery, sc, in good order. The
boat was running in the trade under char
ter by me, and that charter provided that
Capt. Sleeth, on the part OF the owners,
should have command, and his engineers
have charge OF the machinery.
was on the boat only in the interest OF
the trade not as master. i laid down that
night at Dixon's Landing, KY, where we
took a coal fat in tow. Was called up at
Walkers Bar, where We were aground ten
or fifteen minutes, and after setting three
spars got of AFTER daylight. While
down, and was two miles ahead of US
when we started. Just then ! went down
in the engine room and found the second
engineer on watch. He told me the 81 dog
tor was not working, having sand In IL.
[ suggested lifting tile cap OF one OF the
valves and letting the sand run out. This
water poured out for four or five minutes.
Then the "doctor commenced Jumping,
through being out OF order, and L sent Mr..
PIersOn, the mate, TO call the head engt-
ueer. as the second engineer could not
since we were coming to the head OF Hur-
Ticane Island, where we would ind shOal
water. This waH done Without delay.
then went up stairs to breakfast, and
the head engineer shortly afterward took
a seat next to mine at the table reporting
" doctor" In good condition. Told MIN TO
u -
few landings, and consequently, could get
ahead OF the Scott without any difficulty.
Passed the Scott as she was landing at
'GOlcondR, and soon afte1 sent Captain
SIeeth to tell the engineers that they could
clean out at the Sisters IL they wished.
as the water was shoali and we required
little steam. In the meantime, the boat
was making no landings, and about three
miles above the scene OF explosion, one
and one-fourth miles Les s a99ge Cnmber-
Island, 1 went on hurricane roof,
aud remained until thu bell tapped for the
lead, and while passing the word to the
pilot. as we were approaching the reef, /
felt s Jar and heard report like blasting
rock. Beyond this as was looking for
until I turned around and saw the frag-
uaeuts in the all, combating OF boilers. oabin
pIlot-hOuse, boxes, and everything that
came in range OF the Work OF destruction.
The boat as far back as art OF the pilot
hsuse was literally blown to pieces except
a small portion OF the roof about six feet
wide, upon which stood, and that almost
Immediately sank under me. / first saw
Mr.. PIerson, the mate, Oh the wreck, who
although stunned, asked a. sistance for
some one who, buried IN the Gwreck,
stantIy the boat settled in four and
a half feet water, and then caught on IRE,
then gave orders TO extinguish it, which
were prom pity ODeyed. every one acting
with great GOODNESS and presehce of mind.
Mr.. PieTsOn, the mate, although buried
in the wreck, by herculean efforts extrf-
Gated himself, and rendering assistance
every mere acJeu Win the greatest hero
ism, as he had previously done in the same
position at the explosion or the Cumber-
land.
The pilots, Henry Matheney ana Chas.
Garner, and Captain VIM. Bentley, were
in the pilot-house at the time OF the dis
aster, and received some slight injuries.
They, Eugene Rudd, second clerk Jesse
Heron, cook Tom Kelly, deekhand; John
jenkins, the colored ported, and officers
and crew. one and all, exerted themselves
to the fulle It extent. Captain Sleeth and
the engineers also did everything IN
their power, and Mr.. J. A. Shearer, OF New
Liberty, as well. Captain Duncan and the
crew OF the Clara Scott, which came to our
rescue, acted nobly and with untirfng en-
ergy, and, upon their recovery. took the
bodies OF the lamented George Nicholson
and the boy, Jimmy Atkinson, TO Padu-
cab. Although diligent search has been
made, the body Of Mr.. VIM. Grammer has
not been found. The Umpire performed