The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-19
DISASTER.
An Ohio River Packet Blown Up-FIfteen Per-
sons Killed Complete Wreck Of the Boat md
Total Loss of the Cargo.

sons hiued-COmplete wreck of the Boat and
Total Loss of the Cargo.
From the Cincinnati Times Of Aug. II.
The Evansville and Cairo packet Cumberland
exploded her larboard boiler at Shawneetown
Bar at o'clock on Saturday morning. Full
particulars of the terrible disaster have been fur
nished to the Evansville Journal of yesterday
by persons who were on board, from which we
condense:-
The boat was on her downward trip and at
Shawneetown bar the pilot had just rung for
heaving the lead when her larboard boiler eX-
ploded with terrible crash leaving the boat
complete wreck and killing and woundng
large number of her deck-crew, few passen-
gers, and the mai-agent as Is supposed. Engi-
neer Redman. who was on watch, hearing the
call for the lead at once tried the water in her
boilers and finding it satisfactory returned to
the engine to be ready to answer the ''sow bell"
which he expected, and had just taken his posi-
ton by the engine when the boiler exploded. 1t
is the opinion of her engineers that only the lar
board boiler exploded; but all the boilers three
in number, were blown overheard. Only small
piece of the exploded boiler and two small pieces
of the tlues attached to the boiler-head were
found Jim Matheny, who was mt the wheel,
was blown overheard, US was also Bruce Hunter,
second clerk, who was on watch when the eX-
plosion occurred. Matheny was but little
stunned, and was not only able to save himself
but also aided Hunter, whom he found helpless
on the water, by clnging to portions of the
wreck till rescued by slitt.
David Pearson. the mate, was blown up in the
air, and fell into the hold beneath the furnaces,
among the Goals of fire. After having worked
his way out of the hold he discovered that the
boat was on fire, and though badly stunned,
bruised, and bleeding, he rallied such of the
crew as he could find able for duty, and with
their aid succeeded in eXtinguishng the fire,
which broke out in another place, but by the
timely efforts of the mate and crew, assisted by
Alex. Howell Captain Lowth, and others, 1t was
again eXtngushed, and the wreck, and no doubt
| many lives, saved. In the meantime the anchor
was cast out, and the j. l.. Graham came up and
tOwed the wreck to ShawneetOwn when it sunk
gradually, her butts" having been started by the
explosion.
When the explosion took place Captain Lowth
| and jim Damron were buried in the wreck of
the Texas. and had to burst their way out, which
| with much effort they succeeded in doing, and
Joined the mate and crew in their efforts to save
the boat and assist the wounded. Captain
| LOwth was especially active and efficient in
| securing the comfort of the wounded, and was
| nobly seconded in his efforts by Captain Howell
| and Mr.. Daniel Jacobs, of Shawneetown, and
| the people of Shawneetown were earnest in
| their efforts to render assistance and relieve the
| suffering.
| Marion Wright the first clerk, was slightly
| burned in his efforts to save Bruce Hunt
ers little boy, who was asleep in the office,
| in which he was successful though the
| boats safe, in the same room, was blown over
| board.
George Birch the steward, had his right hand
badly smashed and slightly burned, but will soon
| be all right.
Samuel Copeland, the mail agent, it is sup
| posed. was making up his mail for Shawnee
| town, and was not seen afterwards. The Off
| GERS of the Lorena, which passed up last night,
| reported that six dead bodies had been re-
| covered, including the body of the mail agent,
and one of the coored porters. Copeland leaves
| young wife at Metropolis, Illinois. Weare told
| that he had only II few days since taken out n
| life policy for $1,000.
young man who lived between Shawnee
| town and Equality, Illinois, a passenger, was
| terribly mangled and instantly killed. His
name was not ascertained.
Nine of the negro deck crew were ut Shaw
neetown wounded, three or four seriously. Four
able to assist in saving the wreck. There were
twenty deck-hands and four fremen on the boat,
| of whom not more than fourteen or fifteen are
| accounted for, and it is supposed that four or
| five passengers were killed, but as the books
lost in the confusion attending the disaster,
| the exact number, or the names could not be
ascertained. There was but one lady passenger,
| and she escaped without injury. The officers of
the boat are highly commended for their efforts
to save the passengers and crew.
The Cumberland was built at Millersport, on
the Upper Ohio by Captain Bill Knight, if we
mistake not, in 1862 and was called the Rachel
Miller. She sold to the Government after
having made two or three trips, and converted
into gunbOat, and ut the close of the war was
remodeed and named the Cumberland. Her
boilers had been giving much trouble for some
time past, and it is said her officers and crew
had determined to lay her up when they reached
Cairo. We are told that the boat was insured
for $4,000, and there was $1,000 or $4,000 nsu-
rance on her cargo.