Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-01
STEAMBOAT DISASTER.
The Silver Spray Exploded and
Burned Thirty Miles from
Memphis.
A Fearful Loss of Life.
Human beings
Launched into Eetrnity.
Arrival of Survivors in Our City.

spread that another terrible disaster had
happened on the river, near the city.
On repairing to the st. Louis whari-boat
one of our reporters found the worst
rumor fully verified. The facts OF the
case and in connection are, we believe,
fully set forth in the following account;
The boat lost was the Silver Spray, a
large stern-wheel steamer in the Cincin-
natl and New Orleans trade. She was
built at Pittsburg seven years ago, car
ried seven hundred and fifty tons, was
valued at $4,000, and owned entirely by
her commander, Capt. John 5. Patter-
son. of Cincinnati. On her last trip up
Capt. Patterson returned to Cincinnati
from New Orleans by rail, and is there
still The boat was placed in command
of Capt. A. NJ. Jordan, one Of the pilots.
The boilers of the Silver Spray are said
to have been defective, and it is stated
by one of the survivors that the second
mate and the crew desired to leave at
our wharf last night but failed to do so.
The doomed steamer passed up last
night about dark. She had barge IN
tow and carried one hundred and sixty
seven crates of queensware, divided be-
tween the deck and the barge. She had
three cabin passengers on board and ten
deck passengers.
At twelve o'clock last night, just as
the watch was changing, the boilers OF
the Silver Spray exploded, opposite
Charley Morris Pacific Place, thirty
miles above Memphis. The loss of life
must have been considerable, as all three
Of the boilers are believed to have ex-
ploded at once, but this may never be
ascertained, as the boat and barge at
once took fire, and the survivors had to
iump into the treacherous depths of the
Mississippi to escape certain death by
fire. All who escaped at all swan to
the shore, distance of not less than
three hundred yards. The burning wreck
loated on two miles, shedding its fierce
light on the scene of death from shore
to shore, and finally lodged against a
sandbar and burned to the waters edge.
Two hours later the steamer City OF
Cairo came on the scene from below, and
picked up all the survivors that could be
found. She turned back and arrived at
our wharf with them early this morning,
and most of the sufferers were sent to
the city hospital The following is list
of the lost, missing, ETC., as near as could
be ascertained from those brought down:
LOST.
Capt A. NJ. Jordan, Cincinnati; Thad-
deus Worthling. first clerk, Newport,
Ky; Asa Taylor, second mate, Long
Reach, Ohio; Chas Jordan Cincinnati
steersman, died as he arrived at Mem
phis; Boyd Smith (colored), berth-maker,
New Richmond, Ohio; VIM. Bottle (col-
ored), second steward, Cincinnati; Aft.
Carnes (colored), second cook, Pitts
burg; and a colored chambermaid from
Cincinnati, name unknown--frst trip.
FATALLY INJURED.
Ed. Long, barkeeper, from Cincin'
natl. ~
Dick Cage (colored), cook, from New
Richmond, Ohio.
The porter (colored), name unknown
from Cincinnati.
Geo. Williams (colored), deck-hand.
NOT MORTALITY.
A. R. Singleton, Newport, KY, Sc
yerely.
Ed. Patterson, pilot, slightly.
Jas. Corcoran, Cincinnati, first mate
severely. /,
Richard Nichol, Louisville, deck-hand
severely.
N. s. Haynes, Louisville, Ky, slightly
T. W. Gill, Louisville, deck-hand, Sc
verely in both hands.
William Fay, deck-hand, Cincinnati
slightly.
Eph Marshall (colored), deek-nand
Cincinnati, severely.
SAVED.
Henry Shelby, pantry-man (colored)
from Detroit.
Geo. Sanderlin (colored), texas-tender
Joseph Legley, Cincinnati.
John Clay, steersman, Cincinnati.
III. Ashford, first engineer, Newport,
KY.
Wash. Meredith, second engineer
Pittsburg. :,
John Parker (colored), deOkhand; New
| Orleans.
Benjamin Writ (colored), deckhand
New Orleans.
Charley Smith (colored), deckhand
Louisville.
DECK PASSENGERS SAVED.
John Plywasser, Cincinnati
Heinrich Meyer, New Orleans.
John Pohl, Cincinnati.
A Swede and his wife; name unknown
The badly injured who arrived thi
morning presented shocking appear
anoe. Mayor Johnson, when notified
promptly sent down the city ambulance
to Convey the sufferers to the hospital
where they received all possible atten
ton. Others are missing whose name
are not reported. Not less than twenty
six liyes we're lost.
The officers Of the City Of Cairo
Capt. Lnker, first clerk Hough, secon'
clerk WIN. Blake, and pilots shiyely ani