The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-19
THE LESSEE TAYLOR.
she BLOWS UP AT THE WHARF,
KILLING ONE FIREMAN AND
INJURING SEVERAL PERSONS.

frequent the levee, and which liz composed Of all
classes, both sexes and all ages, were yesterday,
ut twenty minutes past O'Clock, so shocked by
some unseen power that each and every one of
them stood for the moment az il they we're
statues. Az they stood there, each fearing even
to draw d breath, they saw pieces OF timber,
doors, window shutters and various other things
whrling In the air, and upon realizing the situa-
ton and looking towards the river they saw that
what was once the palaAal steamer was now q
mass of ruins.
They then understood that terrible eKplo-
sion had taken place, and the result was before
them.
Not satisfied with scanning the destruction Of
a distance bat wishing TO make closer inspec.
ticD, the crowd rushed forward, but upon q
rumor getting afoat thatsin the hold of the boat
there was
A LARGE AMOUNT OF POWDER,
10 had the effect Of causing the anxious and the
curious to beat hasty retreat.
This rumor, however, was without foundation,
yet it had the effect OF keeping the mob from
forcing their way on board, which would proba-
bly, have sunk what remained OF the ill-fated
steamboat had they ell gone aboard.
After Sergeant Rourke and his men drove the
crowd away from around and about the boat, the |
tug Charlie Woed and a steam engine arrived on
the scene and pumped water upon the heated |
furnaces.
An Investigation was then had, and il was dis |
covered that the Lessie Taylor had been blown |
mp by the explosion OF her doctor or niger en-.
gine. which had been been put in operation as |
the United States inspector for this station j. A. |
Mofitt, was inspecting the boats boilers.
Fortunately there were but few persons aboard |
at the time, and the casualties comparatively are
small, 20 far as known there being only one man |
killed outright, one mortaly wounded and eight |
or ten severely, though not dangerously injured. |
The damage to the boat 10 almost beyond de-
scription.. To look at her one would be led to
suppose that
had swept through her cabin, causing destruc-
fion ON every side.
Her smokestacks were disconnected from the
boilers and left inolining on each other, the
boiler and hurricane decks were completely de-
stroyed, nothing remaining but pile of broken
timber, the office and social hall being complete
" carried away.
At the time or the occurrence, 30 far az could
be ascertalned, the following parties we're on
board:
"A. Mofitt United States Inspector: Robert
Watson, first engineer; John Henderson, second
engineer; d. J. MoOann, q foundry man; Chas.
Lyons, the Texas tender; Chas. Smith, greaser;
8. Jones, assistant porter; James Dungey, stew
ard; James WilloZ, assistant bartender; three
or four ronstabouts and two fremen, who are :;
missing, and are supposed to have been killed in
Sb9ubiy duu DuEle0 uUu6f tu6 WT6Ck,
Inspector Moffitt, together with the first and v
second engineers, Messrs. Watson and Hender. /,
eon, were standing ia
FRONT OF THE BOILERS,
And escaped being injured by miracle. When
the explosion occurred they crouohed down, u
which was natural, and were saved from hor- q
rible death. Mr.. Mofitt WAS struck on the head n
and on different portions OF the body; his wounds
are comparatively slight. How he was not
killed 10 an unexplained mystery - bis coat and .
pants were literally torn into shreds. n
The first engineer was struck on the head, y
arms and body; his wounds are painful, though Q
not dangerous.
injuries being only slightly bruised about the :
b. J. McCann happened to be aboard attend 9
Ing 70 some business, and received slight blow .
on the top Oh the head.
Ohas Smith, who had just been employed to 9
grease portions Of the engine. WAS standing near
the engine, and was struck on the right side OF g
the face and slightly wounded He was taken to Q
the hospital and attended by Drs. Pratt and Z
Miles. 1
W. II. Cook was out on The hand. q
js%,: Panssy had his clothes torn but
James Willoz happened to be in the bar at the
lime Of the explosion; he reoeiveds
LARGE CASH ON THE RIGHT SIDE
Of the face, was scslded on the head. and re-
ceived slight wound on the left hip. N
u |
is said, and only one Of them was seen to reach II
shore. He stated to the steward Of the boat that
he did not Jump overheard, but that something O
knocked him overheard, and that he did not ri
realize the situation until he found himself in the
water. e.
On repairing to the hurricane roof was found t.
bhe poor unfortunate texas tender, Ohas. Lyons
He Was wedged in among the lumber alive and 81
fully conscious and as the crowd gathered around OF
him he begged them, for Gods sake, either to | y
kill him or do something, for his agony was be- j.
POND endurance. b
Lyons' injuries appeared to be painful in the q
extreme, and as each piece Of timber was re- s
moved from off OF him, his means proved the
orture he was going through. The victim was k
finally gotten out and sent to the hospital, where
Drs. Miles and Pratt attended him and found a
hat his Il
SKULL WAS FRACTURED, M
70 was also his right fore arm and right thigh, "
besides being internally injured The physicians
ny that death in his case is certain.
The most horrible and heart-rending sight of
m was the body of Jack Doufour, the fireman.
vhen IL was pulled from beneath the ruins. -.
This unfortunate creature was killed instantly. u
The top OF his head had been taken completely Il
If his abdomen was torn open, and his breast
rushed 20 that the heart and lungs fell on the j
loor AZ he lay on bis side. The bones of each
rn were broken in three places, and as for his
egs and feet, one would be unable to say that
hey were anything but mass OF flesh and bones
After the Coroner viewed the body Of the de-
eased, it was taken to his late residence on :.
3ienville street.
DEMOCRAT reporter visited ell the parties l
rho were aboard the boat at the time Of the ex- d
losion, and the following are their statements "
INSPECTOR j. A. MoFF1TT,
aid that he had been called upon to inspect the
oilers of the Lessie Taylor as is usual. He
sd had the hydrostatic pressure upon the main 81
oilers as desired, obtaining it from the doctor.
+ niger boiler, as it is commonly called, which
,as run by steam.
Myself and the engineers, Messrs. Watson and a.
we're looking in the fues through the es
re doors, when the doctor boiler exploded with b.
tremendous crash. myself, though badly ii
ruised, escaped without serious injury; the en- tt
ineers injuries were more serious, but none of OF
hem were dangerously injured :.
There was about eighty pounds of steam upon y,
be doctor when it exploded. y
CHARLES LYONS oil
colored), one Of the victims, said: ST was at Il
sndipg to my work in the texas when all Of . +,