Bayou Goula, LA Steamer BRILLIANT Explodes, Sep 1851

STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION -- DESTRUCTION OF THE BRILLIANT -- GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

From The New Orleans Crescent, Sept. 29.
Out city was the scene of unusual excitement last evening, on account of a painful rumor that the steamer BRILLIANT, hence for Bayou Sara, with a large number of passengers, had exploded at some point near Bayou Goula, on her upward trip. What little particulars we could learn of this steamboat disaster are obtained from the officers of the steamboat MONTGOMERY, which will be found below. We could not ascertain whether any blame attaches to the officers of the BRILLIANT, or indeed anything more satisfactory thatn the following very meagre account.
The steamer BRILLIANT left her wharf at the head of Conti st. on Saturday evening, at 5 o'clock, for Bayou Sara, and had proceeded up the river as far as Bayou Goula yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, when she exploded her second starboard boiler, which carried away her main cabin and state-rooms as far aft as the ladies' cabin, and everything forward of the boilers, making a complete wreck of the boat above the hull. Captain HART stated that he had from 80 to 100 deck hands and firemen on board at the time the explosion took place. After the accident, he could not find more than about 25. The number of passengers on board he could not ascertain, but thinks the loss of life must be very great.
The following are the names of the persons killed and scalded, as near as could be ascertained:
JAMES FULLERTON, mate, lost.
J. A. COTTON, first clerk, badly scalded.
S. G. COLE, assistant clerk, do.
J. CAMES, second clerk, slightly scalded.
MR. FALSE, second pilot, badly scalded.
MR. McCARTY, second engineer, slightly scalded.
ROBERT DOYLE, assistant engineer, badly scalded.
Several firemen and cabin boys slightly, and others badly scalded. Captain HART was in the wash-room when the boiler exploded, and was not injured.

The New York Times New York 1851-10-09
(Transcriber's Note: I found by further research, the total number (I'm sure approximately) of dead from this explosion was 47. Both crew and passengers included.)
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!