The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-05-26
Explosion OF the Steamer Pat
CleDurne.

The steamer Pat Cleburne, an Ev-
ansville and Cairo packet, exploded her
boilers al ii o'clock Wednesday night
six miles below Shawnetown, while
landing alongside Of the Arkansas Belle.
The Belle was tied to the bank and dis
abled by n line of coal fats fouled TO her
starboard wheel, aud could render no
assistance. The CleDuine ioatsd down
about mile and burned.
About 15 or 20 persons were killed by
the accident, including the Captain =
Dick Fowler, well known and popular
all along the river, and a large number
on both tlie Cleburne and Belle wound
ed and scalded.
Probably the most thrilling experience
Of the dreadful disaster was that OF
James LaRne, the first mate Of the Gle
lburne. Fs had gone TO bed in his state
room in The texas, immediately TO the
rear of Captain Fowlcr's room lie
says he did not hear the explosion. aud
" hen he awokc was falling through The
timber aud everything crashing around
him. lie felt the fire against his feet,
and drawing them up found that he was
Slightly wcdgcd in between the timbers.
lie then tried to loosen the planks, bul
unfortunately could not find hole
Through which he could even get his
head Giving up al. FOR lost, he turned
over ard resolved TO inhale the flames
and perish Gt once, rather than die by
degrees and be roasted in the flames,
which were fast and furicusly cracking
land roaring around him. just then he
heard the voice OF his gallant but help
less Captain calling out: Lalsue, pull
me out
AN BURNING TO DEATH.
With almost superhuman strength he
broke down the partition and caught
Captain Fowler by his clothes, but found
il impossible 10 get him through. BY
this time the mattress Oh which Mr.. La
Rue lay had caught fire, and placing his
left hand beneath him found that he was
living on top Of the heater. Another
desperate struggle for freedom and the
planks gave way and he crawled eut
Through the darkness and debris. BY
this time Captain Fowlers piteous voice
had ceased and perhaps his spirit had
taken its flight forever. As he vas
scrambling up through the dark LaRue
came upon Alex. Porter, the second
clerk. sitting just above the steam drum,
his feet literally cooked. Selling him
with his disabled hand. with the other
he worked his way upward and finally
reached the hurricane roof and carried
Porter aft and down the stairway TO the
yawl As he passed down the aft stair
way he heard the screams Of the lady
passengers. and rushing back 10 state
room he seized a quill, and wrapped il
about his body, and gathering the fright
ened women in his strong. brawny, he
roic arms. helped five OF them i three
lady passengers and the two chamber
maids--,lowu the nursery into the yawl.
MYSTERY oF THE DISASTER.
The cause OF the explosion must for
ever remain one of the unexplained
mysteries. The first engineer. Walter
+. McElhinnY. who was on duty at the
time of tie accident. was one OF the best.
most careful and thoroughly reliable
engineers in the profession. lie came
10 Evansville with Captain Dexter on
The Charley Bowen In November. 1853,
and learned his profession under the
imncdiate care and supervision of bis
cousin. Mr.. B. W. Mcl,eynolds, the
present engineer OF the Idlewild. lie
has been almost constant v employed as
engineer on the various packets since
1853 Last summer he quit the Arkan-
sas Belle, of which boat he had been en-
gineer for more than four years, and en-
gagged in the grocery business in lnde-
pendence. Last March he again went
on The Cleburne at the earnest solicita-
lion of Captain Grammar, who selected
him TO fill what was regarded a. diff
cult position. on account of his well
known efficiency and perfectly cxem-
pary habits. Everything goes 10 prove
that there was sufficient water in the
boilers and low steam at the time OF the
accident. An evidence o. Tho suficiencv
Of water is The great number Of scalded
persons. aud the great quantity ofwatcr
THAT was thrown on the Belle. Mr. Nc
( lhinny was about thirty seven wears of
lage, and leaves wife and three chill
ldrcn. lie owns his present home in
Independence, and was possessed Of u
life policy of $1,000; also a member Of
the knights Of Pythas. In converse
ton with Captain Grammer just before
the boat started, everything was in
perfect order, and working like a charm.
Santa Eiaus didn't find Suear II