The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-02
TIE RIVER HORROR,

Further r'Fs%%S e ihe ATiSaS TnSlS''oH of the
A despatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer says;--
At an early hour this morning a startling rum0r
was circulated through the city to the effect
that the steamer w. X. Arthur, Captain Harry
w. Bolaski commanding, which left this port
last evening for Louisville blew up near Island
No. 40 The rumor proved, unfortunately, too
true, and the facts obtained by the sur
Viyors Of the fearful disaster make mp
a tale of hideous Eorror-a tale of death by
fire and water almost unequalled in history.
This morning cotton aud pieces of the
wreck were rcd floating past the landing.
The Iews brought by Mr.. J. s. Carter for
merly river reporter of the Times, of st. Louis,
who foated down the river in yawl and i'm
parted the information, when tue ferry-boat
Excelsior and tug boat started for the scene
of the disaster, picking up on their way many
unfortunate beings, who were discovered float
ing down the river on boards, cotton bales, and
doors and arriving at the Arthur found her on
bar near the foot of the island. The eXplo-
sion occurred at o'clock this morning, while
all were asleep save those on duty. The entire
front part forward OF the wheel-house
was blown away, including the texas
and pilothouse, and Immediately afCer-
wards fire broke out among the cotton,
of which she had taken 1900 bales here,
and which was piled up nearly even with the
hurricane roof on the forecastle. The fire was,
however subdued by the passengers and crew,
but Only to break out again and again, causing
intense excitement among the passengers.
The boat finally foated down the river mile
or more, when it grounded on a bar in the
middle of the stream aud sunk to the cabin floor,
the remaining passengers being crowded on
the hurricane roof aft the wheel-house. Mr..
Alfred Church, of st. Louis, who also came in
the skiff with Mr.. Carter, makes the following
statement:-I was sitting by the stove in the
back part of the boat, on the lower deck, when
/ heard n noise and sound as though house
was falling. The boiler flew backwards
towards the stern of the steamer.
l recovered my feet in few minutes
tIn orIg sLn,, ,l;, i
up to the hurricane deck. Here found a num-
Der of passengers, men, women, and children
all excited and in their night clothes. They
were screaming for help, and some were pray
ing and appealing to each otter for protection
and safety. The forward part of the boat ap-
peared to be perfect wreck. In few minutes
fire sprang up and blazed furiously. The en-.
tire front part of the boat forward of the wheel.
house was blown away, and nothing could be
of texas, pilothouse, chimney. The
fire and excitement increasing, lett the boat
on a cotton bale and floated down the river for
several miles until picked up. l believe there
were about fifty cabin passengers, including
fifteen or twenty ladies' and thirty deck pas
sengers on board. The crew numbered about
twenty men. When the boat blew up and took
fire she floated down the river about q mile and
grounded on q sandbar. 1t seemed as if the
boat was cut in two. The forward part was de-
stroyed by fire. while the portion aft of the
wheel-house remained intact. When last saw
the boat the water was up to her cabin floor
deck. Several people were trying to put the
fire out with buckets of water. / saw the porter,
bar-keeper, and the watchman on cotton bales,
and heard a number of people out in the river
crying for help, but we could not go near them
because we had no oars in the boat.
The books and papers of the boat were all
lost, so that there is no means of obtaining
correct list of those lost. The body of Martin
Graney, second steward, of Evansville, was also
found. Graney. Miller, Harper. and Allen, all
belonging to the cabin crew, occupied one room
in the texas. Graney and Miller who slept in
forward berths, were lost, while Harper and
Allen, in after berths, escaped without scratch.
Mr.. Dillon, second mate went up the river
from the wreck on board the steamer Lock wood.
From the appearance of the wreck two of the
midship boilers must have exploded simulta-
neously, one going straight up from its foun-
dation, and the other being thrown aft, being
found on the afterguard. Miss Mary E. McClary,
young girl from Chicago, on her way home,
was drowned. After the explosion she made
her way to the guards of the ladies' cabin, and
was seen by the pantryman seemingly stupefed
by fear, and as the boat sunk, and the water
came nearly up to where she was she plunged
into the water and sank.