Richmond Palladium

Explosion of the Steamer Louisiana—Full Particulars.

Baton Rouge, Nov. 20, 1849.

The boilers of the steamer Louisiana, Captain J. W. Cannon, exploded on the 15th inst., at 5 P. M., nearly opposite Gravier street, spreading death and destruction in every direction.

At this time it is impossible to ascertain the number of lives lost. The reports range from 80 to 130, though we hope this will prove to be exaggerated. One of the officers of the boat stated to us that there were about fifty cabin passengers on board, but as all the cabin aft of the wheelhouse was uninjured we hope many were saved. One gentleman informs us that he assisted some ten or twelve, mostly ladies, from the wreck.

Accounts differ as to the number of persons on the boiler deck and forecastle at the time of the explosion.

The boat was about to start for St. Louis, and had rung her last bell but was to haul alongside an emigrant vessel to take on board two hundred deck passengers, but for which they would also have been involved in the dreadful calamity.

The Bostona had her upper works greatly shattered, and Capt. Dustan, her commander, it is feared will not recover.

The steamer Storm was lying on the lower side, and was injured more than the Bostona, and several persons were killed on board of her. She had not made her lines fast when the explosion occurred. Fortunately she had no passengers on board.

The force of the explosion was most appalling. The glass was shattered on the front Levee at a distance of one thousand feet from the boat, and the shock was felt at the farthest extremity of the city.

The forecastle of the Louisiana sank in the mud, but the stern being in deep water sunk down gradually and caused the boat to slide off with it. The persons who escaped and were engaged relieving the sufferers, had to desist in order to save themselves; and there were twenty or thirty who were obliged to swim for their lives, when the whole wreck slipped into the deep water and disappeared.

The following is a List of the Wounded

From Kentucky: J. W. Buchanan, Marcus Milnor, Samuel Smith, Wilbur Stare, Thomas Merriweather, and Samuel Conley; Joseph S. Migerot Indiana; Isaac Miller of Ohio, and Wm. Wolf of Memphis.

From Mississippi: W. Tucker, J. Tucker, John E. Barber, Thomas Hamster, J. J. Reid, Captain Hopkins of steamer Storm, Capt. Dustan and Robert Price of Bostona, and John Wason.

The following Ladies have been found: Mrs. Knox, Andy Bell, Levi Prescott, all of Memphis; Bensaler Buckner of Memphis; Mrs. Moody, wife of the clerk of the steamer Storm, and R. McMeek.

Missing: George W. King of St. Louis; Mr. Elliott and J. W. King of Cincinnati.

Many other names of killed and wounded are given, but most of them belong to New Orleans and foreign countries.

More of the Explosion at N. Orleans

New Orleans, Nov. 16—It is supposed that altogether 100 lives are lost, and a very great number wounded.

Already 50 dead bodies have been recovered, and the levee is strewn with the dead and dying.

Hundreds of citizens are assembled around the melancholy scene endeavoring to recover and recognize the bodies of the victims.

Arms, legs and heads are scattered in every direction, making a most sickening spectacle.

It is impossible to ascertain the names or the number of those lost.

Nov. 17—Capt. Kennon, of the steamer Louisiana, has been arrested and held to bail in the sum of $8,000. The explosion of the boiler is attributed to carelessness, and a searching investigation of the matter is to be had.

Many more dead bodies have been found, and it is thought that the number of killed will not be less than two hundred, besides a great many wounded.

The flags of the shipping in the harbor are all flying half mast, in consequence of this calamity.