The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-05-04
AN EXPLOSION AT A PICNIC.
a Tragic Ending to a Joyou. Gathering
DiyutcA 10 N,eus and Cowir,.
COLUMBIA. S. c., April

tragic Ending 10 Joyous ShthefihS'
Ui,pntch 10 Ners and Cournr.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 20.
The terrible loss of life which followed
the explosion Of the boilers of the steam
or Marion yesterday has cast a pail of
sadness and gloom over this entire COM
munity. The circumstances are about as
follows:
At ii o'clock yesterday morning q pic.
nic party, numbering about thirty per
sons, embarked on the steamer Marion at
Red Bluff, $. c., landing on the planta-
ton Of SIr. Joseph Bates, near the juno
ton Of the Wateree and Congaree Rivers,
for days sport on the water.
After the boat had started down the
river it backed into a small creek to take
aboard number of persons who had
not arrived when the first start was made.
Seeing that the steamer was about to
strike n snag Capt. Rhodes pulled the
gong for the boat TO shove ahead again,
and with the first revolution of the
wheel the boiler exploded with fearful
effect. The picnic party were scattered
over the steamer, some of them in the
cabin and some on the deck On the
upper deck just over the boiler quite &
number of young ladies and their escorts
were gathered, gay and unsuspecting
group. When the explosion occurred
the boiler and the upper deck were
blown completely out, and those who
were standing on the upper deck were
nearly all killed or fatally injured.
The roof Of the cabin which formed
the deck of the steamer was tilted in by
the explosion, and fell among the parties
gathered below The captain and Mr..
Joseph Bates, who were standing near
the wheel-house talking, miraculously
escaped without injury. Of the party on
the upper deck Miss Minnie Henry was
instantly killed and fearfully mutilated,
Misses Matte aud Mamie Henry were
blown up and their bodies to day had
not been found Siiss Lizzie Henry suf-
fercd q compound fracture of the left
leg and was badly scalded. She was not
expected to live last night, and it is re-
ported that she died to day. j. c..
Eason received fracture of both bones
of the right leg and was terribly scaded
in the back, and suffered internal inju-
ries. from which he can hardly recover
William Trumble was badly scalded,
but had sufficiently rallied last night to
be carried to his home on a mattress in
spring wagon. Miss Minnie Bates
sustained q fracture of the right arm near
the shoulder, and both bones Of her right
forearm and the lower end of the tibia.
Her face, back and arms were also badly
scalded. She suffered severe shock,
from which she had rallied somewhat
lee: :ight, but it is rumored to. night that
she has since died John, negro boat
hand. was scalded in the face, back and
arms, and received fracture Of the right
wrist. A piece of his skin, four inches
square, was carried away from the under
part Of his left thigh and the muscles
we're laid bare and badly lacerated, and
his flesh was filled with cinders from the
engine. Mrs. Garner, widow of the late
Samuel Garner, and daughter Of Col.
II. t. Peake, former Superintendent of
the South Carolina Railroad, was blown
into the river and came near being
drowned. Hodge Lenoir, who had been
blown ashore, seeing her great danger,
and regardless of his own safety, plunged
into the river and attempted to cave the
struggling lady, catching hold of her.
He was clutched by her 30 tightly that
both parties would have sunk but for the
timely arrival of the captain in boat,
who pulled Mrs. Garner into the boat
just as she was sinking for the last time.
A moro gallant act than that of Mr..
Lenoir has rarely been performed.
The Misses Henry are daughters of
Capt. Samuel J. Henry, highly esteem
ed planter of this county, who was tax
collector before the war. Mrs. Henry,
the mother of the young ladies, is in
delicate health and was detained at home.
Miss Minnie Henry's body was taken
home last night. Capt Henry repaired
at once to the scene of the accident, and
no tongue can picture his grief at the
awful fate of his children Miss Bates
10 the daughter Of Mr.. Joseph Bates who
was recently tried in the United States
Court at Charleston. He was saved from
the wreck and did all he could to relieve
the agonies of tho wounded and dying.
No reason can be given for the explo-
sion. The boilers were oyerhauled re-
Gently, and were considered in safe con-
dition. The engineer stated last night
that he was allowed to carry one hundred
pounds Of steam, and at the time of the
explosion only carried pressure of
eighty pounds.
The jury Of inquest exonerated the
captain and officers Of the steamer from
all blame.