Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-26
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Explosion Of an American Steamer
at Japan.
Large Number Killed and Wounded,
HoRRIFYING DETAILS.

The Chicago Tribune, Of the 22d inst,
has letter from Yeddo, Japan, dated
August 10Th, giving details of the explo
sion of the boiler of the American
steamer Yeddo at the wharf Of the Amer
lean settlement in that city, instantly
killing five foreigners and thirteen
Japanese, and wounding six foreigners
and nearly one hundred Japanese
Among the killed are Rev. Mr.. Carnes
Mrs. Carnes, their child and servant girl.
The steamer belonged to Geo. Hoyt, an
American citizen, and was built at Yoko
homa expressly for carrying passengers
between Yeddo and Yokohcma. Except
when repairs were needed or other
delays occurred she made daily return
trips between the two cities, leaving
Yokohoma at 10 am. and Yeddo at
2:30 pm.
On the day of the explosion she was
delayed coming up by the low tide, SO
that she was not ready to leave the city
till near an hour after the usual depar-
ture. Twelve foreigners and about one
hundred and fifty japanese we're on
board when the disaster occurred. Every
thing was ready for starting. The cables
had been hauled in and the captain had
given orders to the engineers to get ready
to move out from the wharf, when, with
terrific crash, the boiler exploded, car
rying away the engine-house, all the
front deck, and about half of the aft
deck. Part of the boiler and pieces OF
the engine we're thrown several rods from
the vessel The remainder of the boiler
was lifted entirely out of its place and
thrown some twenty-five feet forward to
the front deck, where it crossed down
through the bottom, making large hole,
by which water entered The water,
however, is only few feet deep at the
wharf, so that the wreck only sunk up to
where her deck had been The scene
was truly heart-sckening. The dead
bodies were terribly mangled and were
lying among or beneath the rubbish. The
wounded, most of whom were scalded,
we're either lying unable to move or en-
deavoring to get ashore. Their groans
were sufficient to call forth the sympa-
thy of the hardest hearts.
All the foreign citizens of the settle
ment, some twenty in number, were soon
at the wreck, and making every effort to
rescue the wounded and dead from the
scene of destruction. The same energy
was not manifested by the japanese.
For some time they seemed to be able to
do nothing but stand and look. Only a
Few japanese were at work. The crowd
we're kept away by soldiers taking charge
of the gate of the paling fence which
separates the wharf from the city For
eigners-official and friends of the dead
and wounded-alone were allowed to
enter. The whole of the adjacent part
of the city was crowded with excited
people. After two hours of hard labor
the dead and wounded were got on shore.
The dead and wounded foreigners and
most all the japanese were taken to a
large foreign building and the japanese
hotel close by. The doctor of the Eng
lish Legation was the only foreign doctor
in the city at the time. He was soon on
the ground, laboring most earnestly in
dressing the wounded. In the meantime
telegrams had been sent to Yokohoma,
and two other English and one Ameri-
can surgeons, together with Mr.. Hoyt,
arrived there early in the night.
After the wounded we're dressed at the
hotel, Hoyt with two surgeons and some
other gentlemen, drove through the city,
to find those wounded Japanese who had
been carried home by their relatives.
These gentlemen labored the whole night
in passing through the city, dressing the
wounded. But for a majority of the
wounded there seemed to be no remedy.
Many we're literally scalded from head
to foot. Such had not long to suffer.
Death soon relieved their pain. The
death of many was hastehed, if not
brought on, by the japanese doctors.