Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-26
The Story of the Engineer.
The steamer Sinks i'm Mid River in
Three Minutes.

Three hlnHtcSs
MEMPHIS. March 25.-From the survi-
vors of the Crescent City, who arrived here
this morning on the steamer Phil Allen,
the following additional particulars of the
disaster are obtained: VIM. Biggs, first en-
gineer, who was on watch at the time of
the explosion, states that he was aft WELD
ing fire hook when he was suddenly
knocked down by the conclusion, though
he heard no unusual noise. On springing
to his feet he started forward, but was stop
ped by the steam and a moment afterwards
found he was standing in water, and, real
iZing his danger, ran up stairs, closely fol-
lowed by the water. Within three minutes
of the explosion, the boat sunk, leaving
only the afterpart of the roof above water,
on which the survivors were huddled, until
relieved by the Phil Aliens timely arrival.
The engineer states that at the time OF the
explosion the boat was carrying 40 pounds
of steam, and five minutes before, he had
tried the water and found it flush. He
can give no theory as 10 the cause OF the
explosion.
The boat had five barges in tow, contain
ing 500 tons of coal, 600 tons of sugar,
and about 200 tons of queensware, all OF
which was lost.
IlSI Oh LOST ana SANCG-
In addition to the list casualties reported
last night are Frank Celley, of St. Louis,
day watchman; VIM. Dunn, second cook.
of Wheeling, died on the Phil Allen; Clar-
ence Adsit, of Cairo, cabin boy, and the
following colored firemen John Davis and
Hi Adkins, of Cincinnati, Ben. johnson, of
EliZabethtOwn, Pa, were lost. The fol-
lowing were wounded: Jas. Brewster,
= I IL -. l.
Arthur Welsh, of st. Louis, cut in head;
Thos. NJ. Mcqueen, rOuster, of Memphis,
shoulder badly bruised; Lizzie Ross, cham
bermaid, of Cairo, skull fractured; Geo.
and Albert Hall, sons of the proprietor of
the trading boat, of Davenport, Iowa, con-
siderably bruised; their father also was
badly scalded about the chest. The follow
ing are unhurt: James OConner, of Pitts
burgh, Frank Miller, of Peoria, ILL.,, Gus
Sauer. Jake Sychti, Joe. Hitler, Morris
ID. Henner, Henry Earlsteen, ChaS. Harri-
son. Henry Murphy, Allen Cooper, Geo.
Telley, of st. Louis, Attress Ross, of Cairo,
Mrs. Hall and four children, of Davenport,
and the following colored firemen Jas.
Hughes, of Moundsville, Va, Jerry
Thomas, of Brownsville, Pa, James Rob-
inson, Dave AcIer, Dick Harris and Alfred
Jones, of st. Louis. All the wounded
together with those unhuTt except Geo.
Van Hanlon, pilot, whose left leg is dis
located, left for St. Louis on the City Of
Vicksburg. The survivors speak in the
highest terms of the treatment received
from the officers of the Phil Allen. None
Of the bodies ofthe killed were recovered.
The Ledger says the entire loss by the
explosion of the Crescent City will foot up
nearly three hundred thousand. A portion
of the remains of man supposed to be
Jno. Strauder, the pilot, were taken up on
the steamer Vicksburg.
Youthful Murderers.
Mike Kelley, newsbOy, recently from St.
Louis, was fatally shot by some of his COM
panions in Happy Hollow last night. Three
Of them have been arrested and committed.