The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06
A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.

CHARbEsroN, s. c., April 90.
Full particulars are received here to-day OF
the terrible explosion of the steamer Marion
yesterday, on the wateree River, with an ex-
oursion party Of ladies and gentlemen on board
at III timo. Tho Marion was employed by the
Government in removing ebstructions fl,om
the river, and for soma tune past had bcen
running up and down the stream, and the Off.
GERS and crew had become wen acquainted and
popular with the people liking upon the river
bank. .fr .fft nraFfta~ .t. ........ ....
During the past week a number OF young
ladies and Gentlemen living in the upper end
of Rchand County decided t. orcaniz, an cx.
curslou party for a trip down tho river, and
sent a committee to tho Captain of the Marion
with the request that he would grant them
the use of the steamer, with which request he
courteously complied The party took the
steamer yesterday morning at nine o'clock.
there being twenty-thrce ladies and twelve
gentlemen, and they started off with glad an.
ticipations of the pleasure of the day. BE.
sides the excursion party, the crew numbered
ten persons, making the steamers load of liv-
ing freight forty-hve.
Ateleven o'clock, when the steamer was in
midstream, the boiler exploded with a fearful
noise. AT the time the entire excursion party
was on the deck, ana all Of them in the immc-
diate vicinity Of the cngine-room. The scene,
was fearful, and beggared description. For
one moment the dense cloud of escaped
steam hung over the debris, and men and
women were senseless ond bleeding upon
the torn deck. Others had been thrown in
to the hold, and others still were buried
under broken planks. The steamer was ut
first almost thrown over on her side, but
she righted herself Such of the male passen-
gers and crew as had not been disabled went
ms nfi1ll To Tho ls1 nd
helpless women. The steamer was headed for
shore, and, before she could sink, was run into
shallow water. The force of the explosion
blew Off the entire upper deck Many of the
passengers were thrown into the water, but
many more fell back on the deck, some being
seriously hurt ana others only slightly
bruised. The Captain and crew did brave
work in saving the lives of tine unfortunates,
and but for their prompt action the victims of
the disaster would have been trebled. ....
| The saddest feature of the explosion was the
absolute determination of whole family the
misses Henry, TOUR sisters, who were among
the most loved and popular young ladies iu
! Richland County. They had been standing on
the deck directly over the boiler and the cX
! plosion spent ITS full force upon them The
| youngest, Miss Alice, was killed instantly.
Miss Minnie, the oldest, was thrown great
! distance into the air, and fell into the water
| she was one of the first picked up, and died in
/ fifteen minutes. The third, Miss Jane, was
| picked up in the end of the hold. nearly every
! bone in her body broken; She lived long
| enough TO murInur "Thanks - to the young
/ gentleman who lifted her mangled body. The
! fourth, lovely brunette of eighteen, was SC
| scalded as to be almost unrecognizable. Mr..
! Arnold stiles, q midde-aged gentleman, one of
| the organizers of the excursion, was killed, his
| arms being torn from the body. John Jacobs
| and Hiram Tiller, two colored boat hands
! standing in the rear part of the steamer, were
killed, it, is supposed, by falling timbers,
/ Colonel James Dushelles and Mr.. Lawrence
| Adamson who were standing near the Misses
! Henry, were also killed. Three other
! young ladies were also lost. One of them
was to have been married next Friday.
The number of persons killed or fatally
wounded will reach twelve. The extent of the
! injuries of many others cannot be definitely
/ fixed yet The town of Columbus was the
nearest point at which succor could be- gotten.
and the presence there of one of the crew
created the Widest excitement, and relief
expedition was at once organized
The Coroners jury this evening rendered
verdict of accidental death, and exempted the
officers OF the boat from blame.