Jefferson County KyArchives News.....Lucy Walker Steamboat Explosion November 2, 1844 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 September 9, 2014, 7:53 pm The Times-Picayune November 2, 1844 The Times-Picayune Sunday Nov 2, 1844 (New Orleans, LA) Awful Disaster Steamboat Lucy Walker blown up, and from 130 to 150 persons reported to be killed.----- By the steamboat Maid of Kentucky, Captain Miller, arrived here last night from Louisville, we learn that the steamboat Lucy Walker, from Louisville, bound to this port, blew up on the evening of the 23d of October at Hughes Bar, about 5 miles below Louisville, killing upwards of 130 persons! All the officers of the boat, with the exception of the cleark and one of the pilots, (the latter having his arm broken,) are said to be killed. After the explosion, the boat took fire and burned to the waters edge. The L. W. stopped at Hughes' Bar to take in a passenger, and in attempting to get under way, exploded. Want of water in the boilers is said to be the cause. The above information was communicated to Capt. Miller by a gentleman who came on board his boat at Anderson's Bar, in the Ohio, while she was lying to sounding the channel. He said that he was a passenger on board the Lucy Walker at the time of the explosion, and was among the fortunate few who escaped. He afterwards got on the steamboat Arkansas Mail, which passed shortly after the disaster, and which boat was then in view, also lying to sounding in the channel. The Arkansas Mail, which is expected here every hour, will bring the full particulars. We sincerely hope and trust that the report of the number killed is greatly exaggerated. At this season of the year a large number of our citizens are on their return from the North, and in consequence an extreme anxiety is felt as to the reported catastrhophe. -------- P. S. -- Since the above was in type, the steamer Arkansas Mail has arrived. Captain Pritchard informs us that he met the steamer Gopher at New Albany, having on board some of the wounded from the Lucy Walker, and was requested to hasten to her assistance. After going to the wreck, he returned to Portland, and landed alongside the Gopher, and was informed by the mate of the Lucy Walker, that at least from 60 to 100 lives were lost. There were 18 ladies on board, 4 of whom were lost. One trunk was the only article of property saved. The wounded were left at New Albany. Among the killed were Captain Vann, Mr. Tibbs, Mr. Kirby, (pilot, who was at the wheel at the time, ) Mr. S. Houston, (son of the captain of the Paragon,) and both engineers.-- Mr. Thompson, pilot, had his arm broken. The Lucy Walker sunk nearly over her wheelhouse, immediately after the explosion. The remainder of the wreck was left on fire. The Times-Picayune Sunday Nov 3, 1844 (New Orleans, LA) Loss of the Lucy Walker. By the arrival of the steamboat Uncle Same, we have further particulars of the awful catastrophe mentioned in our paper of yesterday morning. From a slip of the Louisville Journal, of the 24th ult. We gather the following: The snagboat Gopher, Capt L. B. Dunham, just from the scene of disaster, reports that the Lucy Walker, when about 4 miles below New Albany, stopped in the middle of the river in consequence of some of her machinery being out of order. In a few minutes and while the necessary repairs were in progress, the boilers exploded with terrific force and with terrible effect, scattering death and destruction all around. Such was the force of the explosion that the whole upper works were blown away, and the mangled remains of several human beings were see floating in the air. Although the boat was in the middle of the stream, parts of her machinery were thrown on the Indiana shore. One man was blown in the air about 50 feet, and fell with such a force that his dead body went through the planks on which he fell. The explosion was instantaneously followed by the heart-rending shrieks of groans from men, women and children. At the time of the explosion, the Gopher was about 200 yards distant. Captain Dearborn repaired instantly to the spot, and was the means of saving the lives of many that otherwise must have perished. The boat immediately took fire, and sunk to her wheelhouses in a few minutes. The books and papers of the Lucy Walker were all lost. It will be totally impossible, we fear, ever to ascertain accurately the names or the number of persons killed. From the best information we can gather, there must be at least from 50 to 60 killed and missing. Captain Dunham brought the wounded, 15 or 20 in number to New Albany, where every assistance was rendered them that humanity could dictate. List of Killed and Missing Capt. J. W. Pegram, Richmond, Va. Philip Wallas, Baltimore Nicholas Ford, formerly of Louisville. S. M. Brown, U.S.M. Agent, Lexington, Kentucky Rebecca, daughter of A. J. Foster, Greensville, Va. J. A. Carmick, Va. Mr. Hughes, formerly of Lexington, Ky. Mr. Watlock, of New Albany, (Engineer) Charles Donne, Louisville James Vanderburg Louisville David Vann, (Captain of Lucy Walker) Moses Kirby (Pilot) 2d Clerk, 2d Mate, Bar-Keeper, 3 deck hands, and 4 negro firemen, names unknown. Wounded. Capt. Thompson, Pilot, arm fractured Mr. Raines, Va. Badly scalded W. H. Peebles, Va. badly scalded 1st Engineer, badly scalded Mr. Roberts, Philadelphia, slightly Captain Dunham brought up to New Albany several dead bodies not recognized. Every survivor was bitterly lamenting the loss of some relatives or friend. The surviving passengers lost everything but the clothes on their persons, and some of them had their clothing literally torn to pieces. The Lucy Walker was owned by Captain Vann and was insured. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/jefferson/newspapers/lucywalk30nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/kyfiles/