Steamboat Magnolia
Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, 17 March
1868, page 1
One of the most terrible steamboat
disasters that has occurred in this vicinity since the blowing up of the Moselle,
took place yesterday, a short distance below California, at the mouth of
Crawfish, and about seven miles up the river. (Old Coney Station, now Brent Ky)
The ill fated boat was the Magnolia, one of the regular Cincinnati and Maysville
packets, and the most popular boat upon the list. She left her dock at the usual
hour, 12 M., with, as is estimated, fully one hundred passengers on board, and
in about an hour afterwards the explosion took place.
Mr. Gus Miller, who resides opposite where the catastrophe occurred, and on the
Kentucky shore, was at work in his garden, and immediately, with Mr. Abel, who
was formerly connected with the National Theater, put off in a skiff to the
rescue of the unfortunates on board. They state that after the explosion the
boat went some distance ahead, and he pulled a mile before the flames burst
forth, so that he estimates the interval at nearly ten minutes. When he arrived
near the wreck, a most fearful sight presented itself. Beneath the guards a
dozen men were clinging, and shrieking for help, the while the flames were
seething their heads, hands and faces.
The heat was so intense that it was impossible for the skiffs to approach near
enough for their rescue, and one by one they dropped into the water. One man who
still remained on the boat, with a little girl in his arms shouted to the men in
the skiff, "for God's sake save the child." While the fire was scorching behind,
until the heat becoming intolerable, he dropped the little girl into the water,
and then jumped overboard himself. We understand that both were saved.
In the meantime other skiffs had put out from the Ohio shore, and by desperate
exertion many persons, principally ladies, were rescued from the burning wreck.
Two, however, were swept beneath the guards, and every effort to rescue them was
in vain. One man was seen hanging to the hog-chain, his beard and the hair of
his head burning. Mr. Miller shouted to him to let go, and he dropped into the
water and was saved, although terribly injured by the flames. Another, badly
burned, was taken off the rudder, but the raging element was so rapid in its
progress, that but short time was vouchsafed either to the victims or those who
came to their aid.
In the meantime the steam tug Falcon came up,
and took some twenty four of the injured on board. The steamer Panther, too was
headed as rapidly as possible to the scene of the disaster, and brought a great
number of the unfortunate people to the city. The scene upon these boats was of
the most harrowing description. Many of the poor creatures, half charred, were
moaning piteously, while others lay in a state of stupor, happily, for the time
being, oblivious to their terrible condition. During the progress to the city
every attention was devoted that kindness could suggest, and nothing was left
undone that could in any wise alleviate their suffering.
Several were rescued and taken to the shore at California. The following is, as
near as we can ascertain, a list of their names, and their condition: L. E.
Relman, N. D. Ridenhour, Colonel Chas. Marshall, Mrs. Wiles and daughter, Rufus
Martin and lady, Mrs Albert N. Fulton, Wm. D. Ross, slightly injured; T. Cox,
editor Flemingsburg Democrat, C. D. Armstrong, same place, G. H. Huston, Berlin,
Ky., slightly hurt; T. F. Jones, G.W. Kerr, Bridgeton, Ind., badly, Elliot,
second clerk.
SAVED FROM THE WRECK
Mr. Levi, Mrs. Baker, of Ripley, Ohio; Mr. Prather, brother of the Captain (James H. Prather) Mr. Evans; Jackson, the steward, saved, but badly injured; J. Stewart, First Engineer, and B. Gardner, badly injured. Henry Clark, messenger Adams Express company, one leg broken below the knee; Lew Mills, first mate and porter or the boat, G. L. Gillis, unhurt; William Burton, barkeeper, slightly injured; Thomas Curran, of Daver, Ky., slightly injured; J. M. Gillimand , of Ripley, two ribs broken, James Miller, badly scalded; J. R. Hawes, Minerva, Ky., shoulder broken and otherwise injured; Charles Lewis, of Iona, frightful hole in the skull; J. P. Luwill, of Aberdeen, scalded badly; George Wilder, of Higginsport, badly scalded.
THE DEAD AND LOST
The books were all destroyed, so that it is
impossible, at this time, to ascertain how many passengers there were on board,
and how many perished. And this suggests not only the expediency, but the
necessary precaution which should be adopted by all passenger steamers before
quitting port, of leaving a duplicate register. In the present case it will be
impossible to ascertain how many have been lost by this terrible disaster. The
following list is, at present all that we have obtained.
Captain Prather of Covington; William Edwards, second barkeeper, John Reese, of
Felicity, Ohio; chambermaid, Mrs. Lapan (?); Mr. Stephens, second engineer; P.
Miller; Miss Retta French, Mason County, Kentucky, supposed to be drowned. Ben.
Fradford, of Ripley, supposed to be killed, the chief mate of the boat, and the
cook who perished by the flames. Stephen Shorter, a colored man, and the tow
ladies heretofore mentioned, who were swept beneath the guards, manes unknown.
Most of the sufferers were taken to the residences of their friends, or to the
different hotels. The following were conveyed to the Commercial Hospital. Three
deck-hands, sufferers by the explosion were taken to the Commercial Hospital,
one of whom-a colored man named Stephen Shorter-died almost immediately after
his removal there. His remains were taken by his family to his late home, No.
144 East Fifth street. another colored man, Green Johnson, who will probably
die, presented the most horrible sight it has ever fallen our lot to witness.
Between two single blankets, on a cot, lay the unfortunate man, with the skin
completely stripped from his body, leaving nothing but the raw flesh, and being
covered by blankets caused the most agonizing tortures it seemed possible for a
human being to bear. Charles Lewis, (white), aged twenty-four years, was badly
scalded about the face and shoulders. His eyes were completely closed, and a
deep gash was cut on the back of his head, which deprived his of his senses.
EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY
Rumors of the explosion first reached the city at four o'clock P.M., which gained credence until the report strengthened to certainty. The excitement was intense, and the Maysville wharf boat was besieged by crowds of persons who had friends or relatives upon the doomed boat. Like most disasters, this was at first magnified to the extent that every passenger had been either blown up or drowned, but the arrival of the Panther, in a measure allayed the intense excitement.
A RELIC OF THE WRECK
Mr. Abel, previously mentioned, and familiarly known as "Doc Abel", has placed
in our hands a pocket book which he recovered from the wreck. It contains
papers, receipts, a lock of hair, a silver quarter of a dollar, and a
certificate of sixty shares in the Southern Pacific Railroad. We judge that it
was the property of Mr. Thomas A. Curran, at least the receipts, etc. would
imply so much. We have the book in our possession, subject to the call of his
friends.
THE MAGNOLIA
What there is left of the unfortunate boat is sunk on Coal Haven Bar, at the mouth of Crawfish. She was principally owned by David Gibson, Esq. and was considered one of the fastest boats belonging to the up river trade. She was a favorite craft, and hence rarely left without a full passenger list. We understand that she was insured to nearly her full value. The direct cause of the explosion is not ascertained, but as she was under headway, and had proceeded several miles from port, it is the more strange and remarkable. We heard, near the scene of the disaster, but can not vouch for its truth, that when the explosion took place, two men were blown by the force of the steam ashore, which the boat was hugging at the time.