Point Clear, AL Steamboat OCEAN WAVE Explosion, Aug 1871

ANOTHER STEAMBOAT DISASTER.

MOBILE, August 29. --- The low pressure steamer Ocean Wave exploded her boiler at 5:30 p. m. Sunday, at the wharf at Point clear.

There were about two hundred excursionists on board, fifty or sixty of whom were killed and wounded. A number of the bodies were brought to the city of Mobile by the steamers Fountain and Annie last night, and others will be brought here to day. Efforts are being made for the recovery of the bodies of the drowned.

The cause of the disaster has not been ascertained, and an investigation is to be made. Out of seven persons comprising one family circle six were killed. The captain, engineer and pilot were killed, and only three officers are saved.

Liberty Weekly Tribune 1871-09-01

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A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER OCEAN WAVE AT POINT CLEAR -- NEARLY ONE HUNDRED PERSONS KILLED AND WOUNDED -- MANY OF THE VICTIMS MERE CHILDREN -- ANOTHER SAD STORY OF AN "UNSAFE" BOAT.

Yesterday's mails brought us full particulars of the terribly fatal disaster at Mobile, Ala., on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 27, when, by the explosion of the steamer OCEAN WAVE, a large number of lives were lost, and very many persons wounded. When the population of Mobile is taken into consideration, the fatality is even more startling than was that attendant upon the WESTFIELD explosion on a previous Sunday in this City. Eighteen deaths had at that time (Monday) been ascertained, while the number unknown was a matter on conjecture only, some of the many wounded who survived being injured beyond hope of recovery. Thus a large portion of the community was suddenly thrown into mourning; business, politics, pleasure, all were forgotten in the general distress and anxiety pervading the community. The excitement was more intense than on any occasion that has occurred in that city for many years, unless it were in the news of some great battle during the late war. Below we quote from the Mobile Register full details of the calamity:

THE NEWS RECEIVED IN MOBILE.
The community was shocked and startled Sunday night by the report in circulation that the steamer OCEAN WAVE, that left here in the morning with about 200 excursionists aboard, for Bon Secours and Fish River, had exploded her boiler at Point Clear. At first it was thought that the report might be untrue, but it was soon authenticated by Capt. JOHN PAYNE, who brought the news to the city, he being at the time about four miles from Point Clear, coming to the city in the sloop IDA. He saw a huge column of smoke and steam arise from the steamer, but heard no report, being so windward and a fresh wind prevailing. On his way to the city, Capt. PAYNE fell in with the steamers ANNIE and FOUNTAIN, and notifying them of the occurrence, they were headed for the scene of the terrible disaster. In the city the news spread rapidly and wildly and the streets were filled with people making their way to the river front and anxiously and tremblingly awaiting the arrival of the steamers with the news and victims of the accident. Those having relatives aboard the OCEAN WAVE manifested their deep and pent-up feeling by an occassional outburst of grief, while women were running hither and thither about the wharves weeping.
ARRIVAL OF DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Though a sad scene, it was but the precursor of that which was evinced when, at about 11 P.M., the ANNIE and FOUNTAIN arrived at the wharves, bringing a portion of the dead and wounded. People were rushing toward the boats, fathers and mothers inquiring anxiously and breathlessly for their sons and daughters, and, in some cases, receiving the terrible news that they were no more. The excitement was intense, and it was with great difficulty that the Police force, nearly all of whom had been called from their beats, could prevent the swaying crowd from pushing aboard the boats. Every arrangement had been provided by the city authorities, surgeons and physicians; stretchers, wagons, carriages, &c., being in attendance. The majority of the dead and wounded, some eighteen or twenty aboard the two boats, were nearly all taken to their relatives and friends, but a few wounded were sent to the hospital.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
It appears that the steamer exploded at 5 1/2 o'clock, just as she was about starting from the wharf at Point Clear, leaving her a complete and sudden wreck. The whole forward part of the boat was badly shattered, and it is feared that in the chasm made quite a number of persons now lie dead. The explosion was terrible, sending human beings and gragments of the wreck high into the air. Many who were uninjured jumped overboard in the excitement of the moment, and it is feared that some were drowned in this way, though quite a number were rescued from the water. The ladies were in the after portion of the boat, which was comparatively untouched, the force of the explosion being forward; yet it is painful to record the killing of MRS. EDWARD, mother of MR. JOHN POWERS, of the SHAKESPEARE; MRS. MARY HANNON, and two daughters of MR. J. QUINLAN. In one creole family of seven, that of G. NICHOLAS, six were killed outright. The commander of the steamer, Capt. EATAON, her pilots, PETERSON and GEO. CROSWELL, were killed. It is impossible at this writing -- everything being in great confusion -- to obtain anything like full and correct particulars of the occurrence and the casualties. The following is the list of the killed and wounded, which is far from being complete:
THOSE KNOWN TO BE KILLED.
Capt. WILLIAM EATON.
MARY QUINLAN.
ELIEN QUINLAN.
GEORGE CROSWELL.
J. PETERSON, pilot.
W. J. PROVOST.
MRS. MARY HANNON.
MRS. ANNIE EDWARD (POWERS).
CORNELIA DUBROCA.
ELIZA NICHOLAS.
AGNES NICHOLAS.
ALEX. NICHOLAS.
OSCAR LAURENDINE.
OCTAVIA BERNARD.
ROBERT ANDERSON.
M. E. HOMER.
MRS. PICKETT and son, aged about 12 years.
WM. F. COURSAN.
Two negro firemen badly scalded. A negro boy, living at Point Clear, was killed and his body recovered. MR. S. C. MULDON was blown overboard, but managed to save himself, and was uninjured. Only three officers of the boat were saved. Every attention and care possible were devoted to the sufferers by MR. and MRS. SAMPLE, of the Point Clear Hotel, who were unremitting in their kind efforts. The Bay in the vicinity of the accident is still being dragged, and other bodies will no doubt be fished up, as there are quite a number of persons yet missing, and it is probable they are lodged in the debris of the sunken steamer. Many of the wounded are in a precarious condition, and the child of Capt. SMITH had died.

The New York Times New York 1871-09-03

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!