The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-23
MANY PEOPLE KILLED.
A Steamer Blown Up In the
Mississippi River.
The Survivors Rescued by the
Grew of the st. Louis.

Another terrible disaster is added to the
long list of steamboat tragedies on the Missis
sippi River. The steamer Corona, at about
ten o'clock in the morning, when opposite
False River, about one hundred and fifty
miles above New Orleans, exploded her boil
ers with frightful effect, killing forty-sI of
the passengers and crew and completely
wrecking the boat, which sank almost imme-
diately.
The loss Of life would have been much
greater had not the steamer City OF st. Louis,
commanded by Capt. James O'Neal, been in
the immediate neighborhood of the Corona
at the time Of the diaster and saved all on
board or who were thrown into the water
and not killed by the explosion.
L. T. Mason, Secretary OF State Tor Louis
lana, who, with his wife, was passenger on
tho Corona, having got aboard at Baton
Rogue, fourteen miles from the scene Of the
accident, states that he was in the cabin
talking with Mrs. E. W. Robertson, widow OF
CONGRESSMAN Robertson, at the time the explo-
sion occurred. he Immediately secured life
preservers and succeeded in saving Mrs. Rob
ertson and another lady. There was very
little time for preparation, as the boat went
down like lead few minutes after the explo-
sion. The steamer City Of st. Louis was
coming down the river and was hailed. She
rounded to and took on board the passengers
and crew who were not lost in the river, and
kindly cared fd' both the injured and the
saved.
Mrs. E. W. Robertson says she was wedged
in the ladies' cabin as a result Of the explo-
sion, some of the debris lying across her
lower limbs, but was suddenly released and
found herself floating in the river. She sank
twice, but was luckily picked up escaping
with few painful bruises.
L. G.. Rawlins, the pilot of the Corona, was
asleep in the Texas at the time Of the explo-
sion. He says he does not know how it oc-
Cured and was awakened by the noise it
made. He was painfully burned on both
hands.
Captain Blanks, of the Corona, was in
stantly killed and his body was not reeov.
cred. He lived in New Orleans and leaves
q wife and family. The body Of one Of the
barkeepers was recovered and taken to
Baton Rouge. None Of the passengers or
crew of the Corona could account for the
disaster. Captain Blank was in immediate
command of the boat at the time, and every
thing was working smoothly when the boiler
suddenly collapsed.
The Corona left New Orleans for the
Ouachita River with cargo Of general mer-
chandise, the value of which is unestimated.
The boat had recently been put In thorough
repair for the winter trade and was valued
at's9Q,OO0.
Many of the crew were on the steamer
John II. Hanna, which was destroyed by fire
at Plaauemine, La, last Christmas morn
ing, with loss Of forty-five Of the passen-
gers and crew.
Captain T G. Sweeny, one Of the owners
of the line, who assumed command on the
death Of Captain Blank, says the explosion
was not due to too high pressure OF steam.
He had Just had occasion to examine the
gauge and Is positive there was not pressure
Of more than one hundred and thirty-fve
pounds. The boat had moderate cargo.
She was in midstream, just below the land
ing at Arbroth, and had just whistled to pass
the City Of st. Louis, fortunately coming
down at the time. The explosion had down.
ward tendency and blew out the bottom of
the boat, causing her to sink Immediately.
The cabin was torn in two, the rear por-
ton floating down stream and bearing a
number of the saved. Captain Sweeny hap
pened to be forward, and started at once to
but out the flames which began to burn at
Several places. He says the boat would IN
doubtedly have burned had she not gone
down Immediately. None Of the books, pa
The City Of st. Louis, which was about
500 wards above, at once put out her boats,
and She did noble work in saving lives. The
Anchor liner stayed there several hours, rem
dering all the assistance possible and taking
on board the rescued passengers and crew.
When nothing more could be done she went
to Baton Rouge, where physicians were
summoned and everything possible done for
tha in iurad