Bayou Sara, LA (near) Steamer LOUISIANA Explosion, Aug 1841

STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.

The steamboat LOUISIANA, bound from N. Orleans for St. Louis, with U.S. troops, exploded the head of one of her boilers, the fatal effects of which are thus described in a letter from the captain:

10 miles above Bayou Sara.
August 13th, 1841.
While running along last evening as usual, the head of the starboard boiler burst, carrying every thing before it to a heavy bank of wood piled on the forecastle. By this accident we lost three overboard, supposed to be drowned, to wit:
WILLIAM SMITH, deckhand.
J. GOODMAN, fireman.
HARRY FINLEY, colored fireman.
We had six scalded, two of whom are since dead, viz:
JACOB CROSS, deckhand.
JOHN HENRY, fireman.
The surviving four are doing well and are not in a dangerous situation, except one whose case is doubtful. Of the U.S. troops there are some 12 or 15 missing and one dead. None of the officers of the army or of the boat are hurt, nor any cabin passengers. I am induced to believe that the missing persons were either blown overboard or jumped over and were drowned. Several swam ashore.

[A latter account gives the number as 34 in all -- 5 dead, 11 scalded, and 18 missing.]

The Adams Sentinel Gettysburg Pennsylvania
1841-08-30

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