The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-13
THE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION
Wore Particulars Of the Disaster.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April IA dispatch from
Cairo relative to the explosion of the steamer
Oceanus, says that Fisher, the carpenter. de-
scribes the scene as terrible and heart-rending.
The river around the wreck was covered with
the debris, baggage, bedclothing, beds, &c,
much of it burning. The cabin and about half
the deck fioated off burning The captain was
in the midst of the fire screaming for help, and
the men and women in the water throwing up
their hands and shrieking Six or eight per-
sons were on the point of perishing and Fisher
got the stage plank. All except himself got
upon 1T, and as soon as 1t struck the water the
plank careened and all upon it persisted. The
steamer John Lumond saved John Mecker,
Charles Teasder and John Martin Wiggins
the Red river pilot, and Trip are both dead.
Capt Worsham, the first clerk, Capt. Reeder
the commander, the steward, c. f. Hobbs, a
passenger of Covington, and many others are
missing. 1t is thought from sixty to seventy
persons are lost.
1t was the middle boiler that exploded. The
engineer said he went on watch but few min
utes before the explosion and tried five gauges,
In all of which he found plenty of water He
then walked back to get a cup of coffee and in
five minutes the explosion occurred Robert
Chew, one of the proprietors of the Atlantic u
Pacific Circus, saved himself by means of
plank He thinks George Constable and wife,
circus performers from California, Frank Slate
and Frank Williams, also circus men, were
drowned. George Kerthley, the LIST engineer,
who was on watch when the explosion occurred,
says the boat had just struck the bar, engines
had been stopped and he glanced at his watch
to note the time when the explosion occurred
with terrible force. One of the boilers was
blown back to the cylinders and the whole for
ward part of the boat including the pilot house
and the forward state rooms, were scattered
right and left. The boat took fire and startled
the half nude passengers who were not killed
and awoke then to a terrible reality.
The Last Of the Lowery Gang of Outlaws.
WILMINGTON, n. c., April 12.-The last of
that batch of the Lowery gang, who was ar
rested and successfully retained i'll custoday for
the murder of Sheriff King, had his trial dur
ing the present week at Smithville, in Bruins
wick county. Calvin Oxendne was acquitted
of toe murder of King by proving an alibi
John Dial states that the witness was held to
answer charge of larceny in Robson county,
prior to thr committal of the above crime.
| Dial described the circumstances of the muir
der, but insists Calvin was with the gang There
Is little doubt he swore falsely Dial bears a
bad reputation exclusive of this crime of muir
der, Witnesses sWore to the iFreproachable
Character of Oxendine, from boy up to this
charge of completely in the murder OF King.
Henderson Oxendine, Calyin's brother, was ex-
ecuted in March, 1871, for completely in this
murder.
Fatal ARRAY Between Sporting Men.
A Raleigh, n. c., despatch states that two
sporting men named WOodin and Bryan, set
tied dispute by shooting at each other on
Fayetville street, yesterday, Byron being fatal
ly shot in the abdomen. Woodin was arrested,
but discharged on the ground of justification.