The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-05-12
THE MARION EXPLOSION.

CHARLESTON, 8. c., April q.
/, Full particulars are received here to-day OF
the terrible explosion of the steamer Marion
yesterday, on tho Wateree River. with an ex.
cursion party of ladies and gentlemen on board
at the time. The Marion was employed by the
Government in removing distractions from
the river, and for some time past had been
running up and down the stream. and the OFF,
GERS and crew had become well acquainted and
popular with the people living upon the river
bank.
During the past week q number Of young
ladies and gentlemen living in the upper end
of Richland County decided to organize an cx-
cursion party for a trip down the river. and
sent committee to the 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-three ladies and twelve
gentlemen. and they started OF 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 Hv.
ing freight forty-fve.
At eleven o'clock when the steamer was in
midstream, the boiler exploded with q fearful
noise. At the time the entire excursion party
was on the deck, and all Of them in the imme.
diate vicinity of the engine-room. The scene,
when the smoke of the explosion died away,
was fearful, and beggared description. For
one moment the dense cloud of escaped
steam hung over the debris, and men and
women were senseless end bleeding upon
the torn deck. Others had been thrown in
to the hold. and others still were buried
under broken planks. The steamer was at
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
manfully to work to save the wounded and
helpless women. The steamer was headed for
shore, and, before she could sink, was run into
shallow water. The force of the explosion
blew OF 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 and others only slightly
bruised. The Captain and crew did brave
work in saving the lives Of the unforrunates,
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 q whole family, the
Misses Henry, four sisters, who were among
the most loved and popular young ladies in
Richland County. They had been standing on
the deck directly over the boiler, and the ex.
plosion spent its full force upon them The
youngest, Miss Alice, was killed instantly.
Miss Minnie, the Oldest was thrown a 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 murmur "Thanks" to the young
gentleman who lifted her mangled body The
fourth, lovely brunette Of eighteen, was 80
scalded as to be almost unacceptable. Mr..
Arnold Stiles, a middle-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 tho steamer, were
killed, it il supposed, by falling tmbers.
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 tho
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
was at once organized.
The COrOner's Jury this evening rendered q
verdict of accidental death, and exempted tho
officers Of the boat from blame.