The Ohio Democrat

TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER -- EXPLOSION OF THE LUCY WALKER -- 80 KILLED AND WOUNDED.

The Louisville Courier of the 31st ult., brings the following particulars of the most dreadful steamboat explosion that has occurred for many months past. Fifty or sixty persons were killed or missing, and fifteen or twenty wounded.

TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER.

It is with feelings the most acute and painful, that we record the following fearful disaster, and the loss of so many valuable lives. The Steamboat Lucy Walker, Capt. Vaan, left this place for New Orleans yesterday crowded with passengers. When about four or five miles below New Albany, and just before sunset, some part of the machinery got out of order, and the engine was stopped in order to repair it. While engaged in making the necessary repairs, the water in the boilers got too low; and about five minutes after the engine ceased working, her three boilers exploded with tremendous violence, and horrible and terrific effect. The explosion was upwards and that part of the boat above the boilers was blown into thousands of pieces. The U. S. snagboat Gopher, Capt. L. B. Dunham was about two hundred yards distant at the time of the explosion on the spot, rescuing those in the water, and with his crew rendered all the aid in his power.

To him we are indebted for most of our particulars. He informs us that the Lucy Walker was in the middle of the river, and such was the force of the explosion that parts of the boilers and boat were thrown on shore. Just after the explosion the air was filled with human beings and fragments of human beings. One man was blown up fifty yards, and fell with such force as to go entirely through the deck of the boat. Another was cut in two by a piece of the boiler. We have heard of many such heart rending and sickening incidents.

Before Capt. Dunham reached the place where the L. Walker was, he saw a number of persons who had been thrown into the river, drowned. He however saved the lives of a large number of persons by throwing them boards and ropes, and pulling them on his boat with hooks. Immediately after the explosion, the ladies cabin took fire; and before it had been consumed, she sunk in twelve or fifteen feet water. Thus is presented the remarkable circumstance of a boat exploding, burning and sinking, all in the space of a few minutes. The screams and exclamations of the females, and those who were not killed, are represented as having been distressing and awful. We believe none of the females on board were injured by the explosion -- some, however, may have been drowned. The books of the boat were destroyed; and of course it will be impossible ever to ascertain the names of those killed or their number. -- There were at least fifty or sixty persons killed and missing, and fifteen or twenty wounded -- some seriously.

Capt. Dunham left the wounded at New Albany, all of whom were kindly and well cared for by the hospitable and humane citizens of that town. Captain Dunham deserves the thanks of the community for his humane and vigorous exertions to save the lives of, and his kindness and attention to the sufferers. He stripped his boat of every blanket, sheet, and everything else necessary for their own comfort.

LATER. -- The Louisville Courier of Monday last, contains some further particulars of this terrible disaster. It says:

"The number of persons killed by steamboat accidents is generally very much exaggerated in first accounts. We regret to say such is not the case with the Lucy Walker. Our first impression was that some 50 or 60 persons were killed. We are now satisfied that there were not less than 80 persons killed and drowned and more than probable the number will reach nearly, if not quite 100. Had not the snag-boat Gopher been so near as to give such prompt attendance, not more than had probably not as many as a half dozen out of the large number of souls on board, would have been left to tell the sad tale."