Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-26
IENTII, pEATH Us Do OPART.


The remains of Mr.. Ostrander were |
subsequently found in portion of the /
wreck which had lodged against the
shore. They presented an unshapely
mass of torn flesh and crushed bones
sickening to the gaze: They were
wrapped in q carpet and placed on the !
lower deck of the City of Vicksburg to /
be carried to Carondelet for interment.
BURIED UNDER THE WAVES.
When the forepart of the upper works
were blown out, part of the pilothouse
and cabin fell into the water beyond the
barges. The remainder fell upon the
deck, burying, in its ruins, Mr.
Ostrander, Capt. Dawson, Mrs. Ostrander,
and another member of the crew. Even
had these four persons escaped unhurti
they could not have been rescued. Only
the moan of anguish and the wall OF
despair, the frantic screams and pierre
ing cries for help could be heard as the
shattered hulk quickly settled under the
waters, In short while the wreck had
sunk from sight, and the waves closed
over the lifeless bodies of the unfortun-
ate beings.
THE ACCIDENT
occurred about nine o'clock, and accord
ing to the statements Of George Z. Tolle
and other members of the crew, the boat
was moving at its usual speed. She had
in tow five loaded barges of the Missis-
sippi Valley transportation company, to
which the steamer belonged--a trading
boat and q fuel-boat. The wind was
blowing very hard against the boat,
which moved but slowly up the stream.
The bow of the boat sunk first, and the
IoA MnntnznF11o hRr 40
far as could be known, there was suffi-
cient water in the boilers at the time of
the accident.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The first engineer, Mr.. Briggs, states
that about half an hour before the ex-
plosion he had changed watch with Mr..
Bacon, second engineer. A few hours
before the accident the boilers had been
cleaned out, and at the time of the ex-
plosion they did not have on full head
of steam. The only cause of the accl-
dent, be thinks, was the sediment in the
boilers. The sediment usually accumu-
lated from the foam and mud usually in
the water at this season and its present
high stage.
NATURE OF THE EXPLOSION.
The explosion was one of the most
terrific that ever occurred on the Mis-
sissippi river All of the six boilers,
simultaneously and so far as can be as
certained exploding at both ends. The
upper portion of the boat, as well as the
forecastle itself, were shivered to
pieces, the chimneys being torn and
thrown high into the air. The fire from
the fire-beds was scattered in every di-
rection, and the flames soon enveloped
I drfF tod f4oyxyfa fl1ar.
4 One of the barges, still blazing, was seen
| eight miles below the scene of disaster.
! There is something mysterious connect
! ed with the explosion, which will doubt
! less remain unsolved like many others
! characteristic of such accidents. The
steamer lies on the Montezuma bar, and
when the river falls the wreck will be
out of water. 1t is also reported that the
vessel sunk before taking fire.
! THE ILL-FATED STEAMER
was built at Cincinnati in 1871, costing
| sixty-five thousand dollars. She was
built expressly for tow.bOat, and was
/ considered especially adapted to such
purposes. Her boilers were constructed
30 as to have only q comparatively
slight pressure of steam, as this was
thought to be a precautiOn against eX-
plosiOn. She has powerful machinery,
y fully adequate for the size of the vessel
and the purposes of towing, the eylin-
ders being twenty-six inches in dame
ter, with stroke of eight feet. Since
her completion the Crescent City has
been constantly employed in the busi-
ness of the Mississippi Valley transpor-
tation company, to which she belonged,
and had always given satisfaction. She
has been carefully officered by cautious
and experienced river men, who stood
in high repute among their acquaint-
ances.
THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN DAWSON
has been one in which the energies oi
the man have been tried by the severest
efforts and industry. He was former
ly a Watchman, but his fidelity, intelli-
gence, and unfiinching perseverance
enabled him to reach the position o.
commander. He has been employed by
the Mississippi Valley transportation
company for eight years, during which
time be has given entire satisfaction
He was a well developed man of pre-
possessing appearance, and had, within
the last year, married. in st. Louis. A
the time of his death, he was but thirty
years old. #EsH sa
ANOTHER GOOD OFFICER
is VIM. Briggs, the first engineer, wh'
is fifty years of age, and has devoted hi;
life to his present avocation. He is sait
to be a good engineer and is very eau
tious in managing machinery. Pat. Ba
con, who was bruised, also enjoys th'
reputation of being good engineer.
TOTAL LOSS.
The barges Nos. 2I, AZ, A and a new
one belonging to the Mississippi Vale.
Transportation company, and were load
ed principally with sugar. The tota
cargo destroyed amounted to nearl.
thirteen hundred tons, and with tn
barges and vessel will prove a to
tai loss, amounting to two hun
dred and seventy-five or three hun
! dred thousand dollars. None of thi
was covered by insurance, as companie
never take risks against explosions
, One barge might have been saved by tn
Phil Allin, bus Captain Jim Lee, wit
a commendable disregard for the float
: ing property, FASTENED to
THE RESCUE OF FELLOW BEINGS,
= the life of any one of whom was ia
more valuable than the entire propert
lost. Upon arriving at the scene OF Ia
disaster, Captain Lee took on board thos
4 who had found safety on the shore, q
: well as the wounded VINO had bee
i picked up. The survivors speak wit
: unfeigned gratitude of Captain Lee
f generous kindness and treatment, an
testify also to the valuable services reT
s dered by Drs. Pease and Cooper, VIII
r were diligent and unremitting in the
Q endeavors to ease the suffsrings OF To
I wounded.
b The wounded were removed at tn
a place yesterday to the City. of Vicki
Q burg, which steamer left for st. Louis
& the afternoon. The bodyof VIM. Dunn
who, as above stated, died on the Ph
n Allin while en- route for this city, an
|. the remains of Mr.. Ostrander were ais
e taken to ST. Louis by the City of Wick
q burg.
Il A HEROINE.
+ Mrs. Hall, wife of Captain Hall,
]. Davenport, Iowa, devoted herself to II
y nursing of the wounded, and receive
/, the warmest praise for her kind attel
r tions.