Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-12
A STEAMBOAT HORROR.
Total Destruction of the Oceanus.
Seventy Persons Killed or Drowned,
Narrowing Details.

Narrowing Details.
CAIRO, Ills, April 1.-THE steamer
Oceanus from Red River to St. Louis, wher
near Brooks Point, thirty miles above Cairo
at O'Clock A. NJ, exploded her boiler
blowing the upper works almost entirely
away, Immediately after which the wreck
took fire, burning to the waters edge. Pi-
lot Thompson, Of the steamer Lumsden, ly.
ing few miles below, on seeing the light
from the burning deck, manned yawl and
proceeding up the river to ascertain the
cause, found small party of survivors on
the island, but passed on to relieve those on
the wreck. Ten or twelve were clinging to
the wheel, but the wheel dropped before be
reached them, and all but four were lost.
He found deck passenger, name unknown,
near the shore, badly scalded, who died be-
fore his arrival at Caro-. The steamer Belle
st. Louis, bound up, took nearly all the
survivors.
Mr.. Thompson rescued pilot Harris, who
subsequently went to st. Louis on the
Marble City. The latter states that Wig
gins, their Red river pilot, was drowned.
Harry Trip the pilot on watch and also
Capt. Reeder were buried in the debris
and heard calling despairlngly for help but
the fire had gained such Roadway that they
could not be reached and were burned.
Fisher, the carpenter of the Inflated steam
er, reached here on the Shreve; he was not
seriously hurt. He states that Second En-
gineer Alex Kennedy was terribly scslded,
was helpless and blind. Fisher put him on
a stage plank with others. The stage soon
capsized drowning several including Ken
nedy. Geo. Keithley, first engineer, is
supposed to be lost. Henry Worsham,
first clerk was not seen after the
explosion. He expected to go through from
Cairo by rail, but was seen on the boat
after leaving here. Chas. Worsham, second
clerk, Jules Dempewolf, steward, and
Charley Murray, cabin boy, were found
dead, floating in the river, all with life pre-
servers on, and were brought here by the
steamer Shreye. 1t is supposed they chilled
to death. There were five lady passengers,
all supposed to be lost. The bodies of four
ladies were seen floating past Watson
landing to-day. but were not recovered.
Fisher thinks pilot Harris and himself are
the only employees of the boat saved though
the Belle st. Louis may have picked up
some. The officers of the Shreve state there
were about 80 cabin and 35 deck passen:.
gers, lldhllS Will N1Cn ACd1ly 1OO oOu1os
about 81 of whom are supposed to be lost.
The greatcr portion of the survivors being
on the Belle st. Louis, no names of pas
Sengers or reh.$ble estimate of the lost can
be obtained except from her. Mr.. Fisher
describes the effects of the explosion as
Terrific Beyond Conception.
The whole upper works being lifted bodily
and falling in the boat and water complete
" shattered. He saved himself by secur-
ing plank and floating until rescued BY
yawl of the Lumsden. He was IN bed at
the time, and though covered with debris,
was only slightly bruised.
Later.
The steamer Grand Tower just arrived
reports first engineer and mate saved, also
81 other persons on the Belle st. Louis.
Tbs second engineer was saved but died OF
his injuries.
ST. LOUIS, April 1.-THE steamer Gee
anus ran in the Carter Red River line; was
owned by Carter & Conn, Mrs. Rebecca
Reeder, Thos. Rea and Harry Dorhman;
cost, about a year ago, S38, 900; insured for
$24, O00-Cincinnati and Wheeling offices.
FrightfuI Scenes.
ST.. LOUIS, April 1.-THE Democrats
Cairo special relative to the explosion of
the steamer Oceanus, says Fisher, the car
penter, describes the scene as very terrible
and heartrending. The river around the
wreck was covered with debris of baggage,
bed clothing, beds, etc, much Of it burning.
The cabin and about half Of the deck had
foated off and was burning. The captain was
in the midst of the fire screaming for help.
Men and women in the water were throw
ing up their hands and sinking to rise no
more. Six or eight persons were on the
forecastle, and Fisher got out stage plank
and all except himself got upon it, but as
soon as it struck the water the plank
careened and all upon it persisted.
IAThe steamer Lumsden saved Jno. Meek
er, Chas. Teasdorf and John Martin. Wig
gins, the Red river pilot, and Trip were
both dead. Capt. Worsham, first clerk,
Capt. Reeder, commander, the steward. G.
F. Duff, a passenger of Covington, and
many other are missing. 1t is thought
that from go to 70 person were lost.