The Republican journal., 1872-04-18
Explosion Of a Steamboat Boiler.


ST. LOUIS, April H.
The steamboat Oceanus, from Red Riv-
or for St Louis when near Brooks Point.
20 miles above Carlo. at 4 o'clock this
morning exploded her boiler, tearing the
boat fore and aft and making her a com
plete wreck. All the officers are report
ed killed. and many of the passengers
sealded to death or drowned No names
have vet been received. There were 65
passengers on board. and it is reported
but four or FIVE We're saved.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
CAIRO. H., April 1T.
At 4 O'Clock this morning. steamer
| Oceanus. from Red River TO St. Louis.
when thirty miles ABOVE Cairo, exploded
her boiler, blowing her upper works AZ
| most entirely away, immediately after
which the wreck took fire and burned t.
the waters edge. Thompson. a pilot of
the steamer John Lumsdrn. which was
lying Il lew miles below, on seeing the
| light from the burning wreck manned a
yawl and proceeded up the river to ascer-
tain the cause. He found small party
OF survivors on Head Island. but passed
on to relieve those on the wreck Ten or
| twelve We're clinging to the wheel. but
the wheel dropped before he reached
them. aud all but four were lost. He
found deck passenger name unknown.
near the shore badly scalded, and who
died before their arrival at Cairo The
steamer Belle of ST Louis, bound up took
nearly all of the survivors, Thompson
rescued pilot Halves, who suhseduentlv
wen. 70 st. Louis on the Marble City.
Mr.. Halves states that Virgins, their Red
River pilot was drowned.
Harry Trip. the pilot, who was on the
watch, and Capt. Reader, were buried in
the debris, and were heard calling des-
perately for help, but the fire had gained
such Roadway they could not be reached.
and were burned Fisher, the carpenter
on the Inflated steamer. who reached here
on the Shreve. was not burt The second
engineer Alexander Kennedy, was terri
bly, scalded, so that he was helpless and
blind. Fisher put him on stage plank
with others, but the stage soon capsized
aud drowned several, including Kennedy
Geo. hethlev, the first engineer, is SUP
posed to be lost. Henry NJ Warsham.
the first clerk, has not been seen since the
explosion
Charles WOrsham, the second clerk.
jules Dempercoly the steward, and Chas
Murray the cabin boy, were found dead
floating in the river, all with life preserv-
ers on They were brought here bv the
steamer Shreve. 1t is supposed thew
We're chilled to death. There were FIVE
lady passengers. all of whom are supposed
to be lost. The bodies OF tour ladies were
seen floating past Watson's Landing to-
day, but were not recovered. Fisher
thinks that pilot HAYES and himself were
the only employees OF the boat saved,
though the Belle of St. Louis NAV have
picked up some. The officers Of the
shreve state that there were about 80
cabin and 50 deck passengers, making
with the crew 100 souls, about 50 Of
whom are supposed to have been lost
The greater portion of the survivors be
ing on the Belle Of ST. Louis. no names
OF passengers nor any reliable estimate Of
the number lost can be obtained, EXCEPT
from her
Fisher describes the effect of the explo-
sion as terrific beyond conception, the
whole upper works being lifted bodily
and falling on the boat and into the wa
ter, completely SCATTERING her. He saved
himself 10y securing plank and floating
till rescued by the vawI from the JOHN
Lumsden. He was in bed at the time,
and although covered with debris was
slightly bruised
The steamer Grand Tower, Just arrived
reports that the first engineer aud mate
and thirty other persons are on the Belle
OF St. Louis. The second engineer was
saved, but he died Of his injuries
LITER
ST. LOUIS, -
A despatch from Cairo relative to the
explosion Of steamer Oceanus, says that
Fisher, the carpenter, describes the scene
as terrible and heartrending. The river
around the wreck was covered with de-
brs, baggage, bed clothing, beds. &c,
much OF it burning. The cabins and
about halt the deck floated off and We're
burning. The captain was in the midst
OF the fire screaming tor help, and men
and women in the water throwing up
their hands and sinking. Six OF eight
persons were on the forecaotle and Fl ,licl
got out the stage plank. All except him
self got upon 1t, but as soon as it struck
the water the plank careened and all up
on it persisted. Steamer John Lumdens
saved John Meeker, Chas. Teasder and
Jno. Martin Virgins, the Red River Pr |
lot, and Trip are both dead. Capt. |
Monsham, The first clerk, Capt. Reeder,
the commander, the steward, c. F. Hobb, |
q passenger of Covngton, and many
others, are missing. 1t is thought that
from 90 to 10 persons are lost
VICTIMS OF THE OCEANUs.
The steamer Belle of ST. Louis. arrived
this morning, with twenty-eght survivors
of the Oceanus disaster, and the bodies of
seven who died on the way. The books |
and papers OF the steamer were lost, and
q complete list of the passengers and |
crew cannot therefore be given.
The Bangor Wing says large quantity of
kiln-wood is awaiting transportation down |
river to the lme-kilns of Rockland Thomaston |
and Camden.
At the last pay day, Mr.. G. p Kimbsll paid |
$500 to 1913 operatives.
Nilsson is stated to have made 800 900 from
ner Two years sojourn in the United States.
Belfast Police Court.
BEFORE JUDGE JOHNSON.
james McColley, wllful trespass, fined 81
md