Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-08
nL0W.nr.
Loss Of the Anchor Line steamer
Gold Dust.

left here Sunday forenoon. exploded
her boilers and burned to the waters
edge last evening. a short distance
above Hickman, KY, and about 200
miles above this city, when less than
thirty-six hours out from this port.
This vessel was originally built for
the ST. Louis aud Missouri river
trade by Captain 4. w. Gould, but
proving too large for that stream she
was run in the st. Louis and New
Orleans trade for a season. About
four years ago the boat was transferred
to the Anchor Line, and since then
has formed a part of the fleet engaged
in the Vicksburg and St. Louis trade.
She has been a regular visitor at this
port every Sunday for several years
past, passing on her down trip every
two weeks and on the up trip the
same. The boat arrived here last
Saturday, lay over until Sunday at 10
o'clock, adding several passengers,an and
cleaning out boilers while at this port,
then proceeding on her voyage to ST.
Louis.
There was but little freight ON the
boat, as at this season Of the year the
river traffic in freight is exceedingly
light until the boats pass
Cairo. The Gold Dust, it
was expected, would add a liberal
quantity of wheat from the river
shores above Cairo, as the movement
of that cereal is just now especially
heIvy.
A feature of the Anchor Line boats
is the fact that they are carefully
managed, and the crews are selected
from the very best men to be had,
from captain to deckhands. They are
also under the most rigid discipline,
and at all times, both while
under way and lying in port, the
officers and all hands are required to
be on duty, without deviation. An
other rule is hal the boilers of each
boat shall be cleaned out while the
boat lays here on the up trip. 1t is
stated that this service was performed
in accordance with the order while
the Gold Dust lay here last Saturday
uight. 1t IS a precautionary measure
,gainst explosions, and the Anchor
Line of boats, under this rule, has
been singulatly free from accidents
by steam. In fact, it is believed this
is the first explosion to occur upon
any Anchor Line boat. None Of the
Anchor Line vessels are insured, the
owners carrying their own risks, and
this action is regarded by those ia.
miliar with boat management as one
Of the strongest proofs possible, Of the
faith the boat owners have in the
stanchness and excellence of their
vessels, as we'll as the confidence re.
posed in their management.
The Gold Dust was considered one
ofthe best boats on the river, her hull
being strong and we'll constructed and
her machinery being as zeal perfection
as possible, hence the explosion is the
more mysterious.
Among the passengers who left this
city on the Gold Dust were Mr.. A. B
Henly, a merchant of Morrilton, on
the Little Rock aud Fort Smith rail
road, fifty miles above Little Rock,
and formerly Of Somerville, this State.
Mr.. james Coffee aud his sister, Miss
A. Coffee, Of St. Louis, we're also pas
sengers, going from the Clarendon
Hotel, while Mr.. Henly went from
the Peabody. Mr.. Ben Bridges, Of
Speed & Graves, was also a passenger
going North to recuperate. A private
telegram from him, received this
morning, reported him safe, with
his hands slightly scalded, but expect
ed to proceed North, and would not
return here until his vacation season
ended. The Others doubtless escaped
injury.
The morning dispatches reI ort Cap
tain McCord slightly Injured, and say
seventeen were killed outright, while
forty-seven were injured.
William Ingram, the third clerk,
was scalded to death. He was a
brother of Pilot Ingram, who lost his
life by the explosion Of the Sultana,
five miles above this city, in the
spring Of 1865, when 1900 national
soldiers we're also destroyed.
The accident appears to have oc
Cured a short distance above Hick-
man. The boat driited against the
shore and was made fast just above
town, when cabin passengers, officers
part Of the crew and deck passengers
we're taken of, after which the wreck
burned to the waters edge. Ingram
and II. P. Coleman, a deck passenger,
also John Noy, a rouster, and Pat
Daniels, the cabin Waterman, died
after being carried ashore.