Lexington, MO Explosion Of The Steamer SALUDA, Apr 1852

THE EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER SALUDA -- PROBABLE LOSS OF ONE HUNDRED LIVES.

The St. Louis Republican of the 10th inst., has a dispatch from Lexington, Mo., the scene of the fatal explosion of the steamer SALUDA, giving the following particulars of the occurrence:
The steamer SALUDA burst her boilers at this place, at 8 o'clock this morning, April 9. The explosion was terrific, killing, as is supposed, nearly 100 persons. Her passengers consisted chiefly of Mormons, bound for Salt Lake.
The following is a partial list of the killed and buried:
Second bar-keeper, LAYNELL; MR. NASH and MR. CLENCY, second engineer; E. S. HAFFER; LEGGETT; WAYLEY; J. BRICK; MRS. DUNBAR and child; MRS. McGAHAS and child; Two children of MR. ROLLINS; two MESSRS. BAYLEY; three white men not known, and one boy; two second clerks, one colored lad.
Missing -- First engineer, and the two pilots; yound Mr. McALISTER; W. H. BRIDGES; and five firemen. This is as far as heard from of dead and missing -- 33.
There are 16 wounded, two believed to be mortally; the others badly; a number slightly. Most of the killed and wounded, except the officers and hands of the boat, were Mormons from England and Wales. Remains of Captain BELT and one of the second clerks sent to St. Louis. More probably killed, of whom we have no account.
The precise number of killed and wounded is not yet ascertained; the accounts vary from 80 to 100. A meeting of the citizens was held this evening, and measures were adopted for the burial of the killed and the relief of the wounded. Nearly the whole population, including many ladies, have turned out to relieve the suffering. The Hospital contains eleven males and three females -- all wounded. MR. CONRAD, half owner of the boat, is seriously but not dangerously injured. The mate and carpenter are not dangerously wounded. The captain and second clerk will be sent to St. Louis for interment.
The negligence of the engineer was the cause of the explosion. The boat was owned by Captain BELT, who had purchased the one half, for which he gave $4,200 about three weeks ago. The other half was owned by MR. PETER CONRAD. He had held an interest in her some ten or twelve months. He was on board on this trip, acting as bar-keeper. The boat was not insured. Her cargo was a very valuable one.
The SALUDA had been running between five and six years.

The New York Times New York 1852-04-20

Crew Members Of The SALUDA:
FRANCIS T. BELT, Captain (co-owner)
CHARLES LaBARGE, First Pilot.
LOUIS GUERETTE, Second Pilot.
LEWIS TEBO, Pilot.
JOHN EVANS, First Engineer.
JOSIAH CLANCEY, Second Engineer.
CHARLES EVANS, Carpenter.
WILLIAM HEMLER, Mate.
WILLIAM EMORY, Mate.
FERDINAND C. BROCKMAN, First Clerk.
JONATHAN BLACKBURN, Second Clerk.
JOHN TALBOTT, Steward.
PETER CONRAD, Barkeeper (co-owner).
MR. LAYNELL, Assistant Barkeeper.
JOHN CONNOR, Watchman.
JOHN SUMMERTON, Mariner.
EPHRAIM HOWELL, Deckhand.
3 Unnamed Whites and 3 Unnamed Negroes, Firemen.

Killed Or Missing Passengers:
LOIS LOCKE BAILEY.
MARY ANN BAILEY.
DUNCAN CAMPBELL, wife JANE, children JAMES and NEILE.
HELEN DUNBAR and children EUPHEMIA and FRANKLIN.
EMMA HARRY.
Children PRESTON, JOSEPHINE and WILLIAM of JOHN TILLERY MITCHELL.
WILLIAM ROWLAND and four children, RACHEL, DAVID, WILLILAM and SARAH.
JOHN SARGENT and son JOSEPH.
SISTER JOAN WHITAKER.
GEORGE WHITEHEAD, wife CATHERINE, children GEORGE and ISABEL.
MARY GLEDHILL WHITEHEAD (Mother of GEORGE).
JOB and ALLY MORETON.
Severely Wounded:
IRA BROWN; teeth knocked out, right leg broken and amputated.
OWEN HARRY; dangerously wounded.
AGNES GILLESPIE; face and neck badly scalded.
SARAH McKEACHIE; spine dangerously injured.
JOHN TILLERY MITCHELL; left leg amputated (died shortly thereafter).
MARY ROWLAND; scalding burns on shoulders.
RACHEL EVANS ROWLAND; broken leg.
LOUISA SARGENT; legs badly scalded.
ISAAC BULLOCK; badly wounded.

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