The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-17
Terrible Scenes at Tho Explosion Of tie
Mississippi River Steamer Oceant.S--
A Chaos OF Flame, Wafer, and Seasd.


A Cila0S OF Flame, water, anu S@asu.
ing Steam.
The steamer Belle of St. Louis having on
board the survivors of the explosion OF the
steamboat Oceanlls, together with number
of the victims of that calamity, arrived at
St. Louis on the morning Of the 18th instant.
The leyec for squares was alive with an
almost frantic mass of humanity, all eager to
know who had been lost and who saved.
As the Belle touched the wharf-boat she
was boarded by throng, over which the otfi-
GERS of the boat could exercise no possible
control. On the deck under the staircase to
the cabin sight was suddenly presented to
their eyes from which they shlank i'll dismay,
and which shocked them into silence almost
like the death before them. Laid out upon
hatch, covered with few old blankets, their
laws bound up. and their pailid, agonized
faces turned toward the sky, lay seven of the
victims. In the cabin above were several OF
the manned and scalded, wearing peculiar
eypression in their eyes, us if some shock had
dazcd them. From them the minute particu-
lars were CLEANED, and they told the history
of the Oceantls's last voyage in plain, I'LL
vanished style, homely in expression but ter
rible in detail.
The steamer left Shreveport OH the Sd of
April, at II O'Clock NJ. She carried about
twenty-five cabin and - deck passengers.
Her trip to Cairo was pleasant one, and she
reached that city early Thursday morning.
Taking on board horse and buggy and
some other freight, she cast of and proceeded
on her way up the river. Everything was
in perfect working order, and no foreslladoW-
ing of her fate was cast. At about 1880
O'Clock she had reached Brooks's Landing,
near Dog-TOoth Bend, and about thirty miles
above Cairo. Her engineer tested her gauges,
and was satisfied from their appearance that
her boilers were in proper condition, and
steDpcd back into the cook-room for some re-
freshmcnts. The next moment the Occanus
was wreck, her starboard boiler had eX-
ploded, the escaping steam had permeatcd
every part of her, and her human freight
were fighting tor their lives, either in the
burning steam or the cold waters of the
river.
ROBERT cnEw's STATEMENT.
reside in Junction City, Kansas left
Shreveport on the Oceanus April Sd, en- route
for home; we reached Brooks's landing at
about twenty minutes OF 5 Thursday morn
ing, should judge; was asleep at the time
in my state-room, No. 6, which was situated
in about the middle of the cabin, Oh the port
side, and almost directly over the boiler; the
first ntimation had of the disaster was being
hurled from my berth and hearing the roaring
of steam in the cabin; Frank Sleight, who had
under his charge seven lions belonging to Rob-
inson's circus, was my roommate; got into
the cabin in some way, and slid backwards
down tue floor, which stood at an angle OF
about forty-fve degrees, till struck q piece
of timber well aft, which stopped Inc; l saw
Il CLEAN of daylight, and discovered that it
came through the door Of state-room en-
tering the room, found relief from the suf-
locating steam In the breath of fresh air that
came from the outside door of the room; I
called for Sleight, but received no answer;
fearful for him. returned to the cabin, and
made my way back to the room where had
left him; I fell several times while making
nv way, and cut my hands and feet severely.
| finally reached the state-room and found
Sleight standing just outside the door with a
man named Frank Williams. Sleight eX-
claimed, "My Godl the boat is on fire ;
what shall l do?" I'supposc he was trou-
bled about his lions, and l reckon Williams
thought so too, for he replied, "GiYe me
the keys and will let the lions cut" l
passed into the rnun'. tirt sIed myself, and
put on pair of slippers. ,Ehen left the
room Sleight Wis Cons: he. s!d lsa.'fti
up couple of coats, and rut on ! tic
preserver. Up to this timeI had seen none
OF the other passengers, nor had seen any
Of the officers or crew. looked aror11,l ior