STEAM BOAT EXPLOSION IN OREGON.

TWENTY-FIVE LIVES LOST !!

TWENTY-FIVE WOUNDED.

An extra from the office of the Oregon Spectator, published at Oregon City, dated April 8th, received in this city yesterday, from Thos. Pope, Esq., contains the following:

The Wallamette Fall Co.'s new steamer “Gazelle” left her wharf this morning at 6 ½ o'clock, and had just landed at Canemah at 15 minutes before seven, when a terrible explosion of her boilers blew her into atoms, killing twenty persons and wounding many others.

Probably a more heart-rending scene has nevr [sic] occurred on the Pacific coast. As soon as the smoke cleared away a little, hundreds of citizens, who were ready to assist the dying, gathered on the wreck, and the work of aid commenced.

Fragments of bodies were found scattered in every direction; some were blown into the river, others on to the shore; but the greater part of the killed found, were lying about the deck forward, among all kinds of fractured machinery and freight. A more horrible sight can hardly be imagined. MR. DAVID PAGE, Chief Supt. Of the company, had his head literally dashed to pieces, and could not have been recognized by other means than his clothes. Many others were as badly mutilated.

List of Killed.
DAVID PAGE, of San Francisco, to Co.'s superintendent; DAVID WOODHULL, of Michigan; REV. MR. MILLER, of Albany, O.T.; JNO. BLOOMER, (deck hand;) JOSEPH HUNT, of Michigan, (surveyor;) MR. HATCH, (deck hand;) JOHN DALY, (cabin steward;) JOHN CLEMMENS (pilot;) DAVID FULLER, of Portland; MR. WADSWORTH, (a passenger;) JUDGE BIRCH, of Luckmiuke, (passenger;) JAMES WHITE, of Salem; JOHN K. MILLER, (deck hand;) J. M. FUDGE, (pilot of Wallamet;) MR. MORGAN, of Lacreole, O.T.; MR. HILL, of Albany, O.T.; DAN'L LOWE, (passenger;) a Spaniard, (name unknown.)

Missing.
MR. KNAUST, (formerly of steamer Whitecomb; DAVID McLANE; -- some others not known.

Wounded, Scalded, &c.
CAPT. R. HEREFORD, (of Gazelle,) scalded; MR. BLANCHET, (passenger,) scalded; N. F. NEWBY, (passenger,) badly scalded; MRS. MILLER, (lady of REV. MILLER,) had two ribs broken; MATE BOYD, both arms broken; MISS PELL, slightly scalded, and a gash in the forehead; J. HERALD, scalded; JAS. PARTLOW, (pilot) slightly hurt; MICHAEL M'GEE (deckhand) scalded; H. ROYCE, scalded; DAVID DAVIS, slightly hurt; MR. PIANT (second engineer) scalded; ROBT. PENTLAND, scalded; CHAS. GARDINER, slightly scalded and arm broken; MR. CRAWFORD, one leg gone, amputated; PRESTON S. BLACK (cabin steward) slightly scalded; ROBT. SHORTESS, slightly wounded; JAS. STANFIELD (steward) slightly wounded.

Several others scalded and wounded, whose names we have not.

MR. TONIE, engineer; Z. CROWELL, clerk; and MRS. PIANT and child, together with the little daughter of the REV. MR. MILLER, escaped uninjured.

This distressing disaster has thrown a deep shade of gloom over the whole community. Stores, shops, iron-works, mills, &c., are closed for the afternoon – and business generally is hushed. In Canemah, a feeling of intense grief is manifested by nearly every one to be seen. COL. WHITE, MR. POST, JNO. P. BROOKS and others, generously opened their places of business, and spare rooms for the benefit of the wounded, and for the dead bodies, until they are recognized and cared for by their respective friends.

The Quincy Daily Whig Illinois 1854-06-01
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!