Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-09
THE suLrANA EXPLOSION.
A Mystery Of the War Claimed TO be
Solved.

dispatch from st. Louis processes 10
solye the mystery OF the terrible explosion
~ the steamer sultana near Memphis, Tenn.,
during the war, by which nearly twelve hum
dred Union soldiers lost their lives. Tue
Survivors OF the disaster have recently pup
lIshed statements 81 the affair, but by Tar the
most sensational story that has come out was
told on Sunday by Willllm Z. streeter, a
nainteY and decorator OF 81. Louis, IN Dusi-
ness at ga Locust street. HIS story nxes
the fearful catastrophe as the result OF no
accident. but OF a fendish design, ana ne
locates the boss dynamitard aud murderer Of
the age. &C.,
eyes, I know something about the sui
taua disaster" said Mr.. Streeter IN reply 10
an inquiry. al can give the Cause OF the
explosion. A torpedo inclosed IN lump Oh
coal was carried aboard the steamer al MeTI.
phis and deposited I'm the coal pile In 'front.' OF
the boilers for the express purpose OF
causing her destruction. The man VINO
placed the torpedo on the boat is my
authority. for / had the statement
from his own lips. He was noto-
rjous Confederate maicarrier and block
ade.runuer, was captured FIVE or SIX times
and once at least was sentenced TO death Oy
a military commission In this city. Toward
the close OF the war, ii viii be remembered,
President Lincoln issued an order that no
one should be executed under military avs
until the sentence had been confirmed oy
the President. 10 was while awaiting con-
Grmation Of the sentence that he escaped
from the military prison In THIS Guy anu
made bis way South, where he REMAINED
until after the close Of the war. IDS Irlcnus
Obtained pardon for him from president
johnson, and armed with that ne returheu
10 his home IN ST. Louis.
alt was after his return home that be toid
me The story OF how he smuggled the tor
nedo on board the Sultans. His real name
was Robert Lowdeu. but he was always
known in this city by bis alias, Charlie
Dale. He was painter by trade, ana
worked in the same shop with me for " II
liam II. Gray, some three years after the
close OF the war. Dale WAS AZ that time q
Young. vigorous daredevil. lie possessed
bravery OF a certain kind. think, equal TO
that Of any man who ever lived. lie was
cool and calculating IN his disposition. lie
told me that he had fred no less than halI 4
dozen STEAMBOATS, on the Mississippi. L
asked him In an OF hand way what be knew
about the Sultaua explosion. Then be tolu
me the story OF the torpepo in The coal, AND.
using his own expression, 1t bad got 70 De
TOO - ticklish a Job 10 set boat aGre and
get away from her,"
"Out OF hundred other OF Dale's daring
exploits during the war one in particular
impressed me fOrcibly as showing the charac'
ter OF this remarkable man. twas accom-
plished while the Federal feet was lying be.
tween Memphis and Nieksburg. Dale had
escaped from prison in this city and was on
his way South. lie was In Quandary for
several days as to how be WAS going to gel
through tie Federal lines. Finally he bill
upon plan, aid u was successful. He got
a colin at Memphis, caulked 1t up viii
white lead, ana launched it on The
Mississippi. Then he laid himself out