1844 — Oct 23, stmr. Lucy Walker boiler explosion, Ohio River near New Albany, IN –56-80

–56-80 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

— >100 Mullins. “Three Rivers History…Lucy Walker….” Muskogee Phoenix, OK 12-12-2009
— ~100 The Evangelical Guardian. “Wreck of the Lucy Walker,” V. II, No. 7, Dec 1844, p327.
–56-100 Wikipedia. “Lucy Walker Steamboat Disaster.”
— 50-80 Williams. History of the Ohio Falls Cities and Their Counties (Vol. 1). 1883, p. 294.
— ~70 The Scrap Book (V1) Mar-Aug, 1906. “How…Lucy Walker was Blown to Pieces,” p. 451.
— 60 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 252.
— 50-60 Huron Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “Terrible Steamboat Disaster,” Oct 29, 1844, p. 4.
— 50-60 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 143.
— 50-60 Lossing. Harper’s Encyclopedia of U.S.…458 A.D. to 1902. 1902, p. 454.
— 60 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 680.
— 60 U.S. Patent Office. Report of…Commissioner…on…steam boiler explosions. 1848, p61.
— <50 Childs. A History of the U.S. In Chronological Order…1492…to...1885. 1886, p. 120. -- ~50 (killed and missing) Collins and Collins. History of Kentucky (Vol. 1). 1882, p. 49. -- 50 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 98. -- 20-39 Ohio Repository, Canton. “The Catastrophe on the Lucy Walker,” Nov 7, 1844, p. 2. -- 25 Fisher/McCord. “Steamboat Explosions…Fifty-Five Years.” In Scharf 1883, p. 1108. -- 18 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 179. -- 18 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Pass. Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, p298. * Blanchard estimated death toll. We are very suspicious of nice round numbers such as “100.” It has been our general experience that such numbers are based on newspaper reporting at the time, which either reflect fears concerning the number of people who might have been lost, statements of survivors or those in the vicinity, who witness or came upon a mass casualty event and tend to over-estimate, or the headline of an editor designed to attract the attention of a reader. We do not see lists of passengers and crew totaling one hundred. Thus we do not use this number in our own estimate. We suspect that those estimating 50-80 deaths are probably closer to the actual loss. We choose to use 56 as the low end of our estimate, rather than fifty, in that this number is the low-end of the Wikipedia estimate and because it is a precise number, less likely to be a rounding or guestimate. This number also is very close to the sixty or 50-60 deaths reported by a number of sources, including the U.S. Patent Office in a Congressionally mandated report to them on steamboat boiler explosions. For the high-end of our estimated death toll we choose to rely on Williams who reflects a death toll estimate of fifty to eighty lives lost. It is possible that there were fewer or more deaths than the 56-80 we choose to show. One will have to go through the information below and/or draw upon additional material to come to one’s own conclusion. Narrative Information Berman: “Lucy Walker. St. p. [Steam sidewheel]. 182 [tons]. 1843 [built]. Oct 25, 1844. Exploded. New Orleans, LA. 18 lives lost.” (Berman 1972, p. 179.) Childs: “On the 25th of October, three of the boilers of the steamboat Lucy Walker burst, the boat caught fire, and over fifty lives were destroyed, besides several persons injured.” (Childs. A History of the U.S. In Chronological Order…1492…to...1885. 1886, p. 120.) Hough: “Pegram, Gen. James W., d. Oct. 23, 1844, by accident on board the steamboat Lucy Walker; was president of the Bank of Virginia.” (Hough. American Biographical Notes: Being Short Notices of Deceased Persons. 1875, p. 318.) Lloyd: “The Lucy Walker, Capt. Vann, was descending the river, and when about four miles below New Albany, Indiana, some part of the machinery got out of order, and the boat was stopped to make repairs. During this pause, the water in the boilers was measurably exhausted, and about five minutes after the engine ceased working, three of the boilers exploded with tremendous violence and terrible effect. “The principal force of the explosion took an upward direction; and the consequence was that all that part of the boat situated above the boilers was blown into thousands of pieces. The U. S. snag-boat Go¬phar, Capt. L. B. Dunham, was about two hundred yards distant at the time of the explosion. Capt. Dunham was immediately on the spot, rescuing those who had been thrown into the water, and affording all other assistance in his power. Having been a spectator of the scene, with all its horrors, this gentleman has furnished a narrative, to which we are indebted for many of the facts related in this article. He states that such was the force of the explosion, that, although the Lucy Wal¬ker was in the middle of the river, many fragments of wood and iron were thrown on shore. At the moment of the accident, the air ap¬peared to be filled with human beings, with dissevered limbs and other fragments of human bodies. One man was blown to the height of fifty yards, as the narrator judges, and fell with such force as to pass en¬tirely through the deck. Another was cut in two by a piece of the boiler Many other incidents, equally distressing and horrifying, are related. Before Capt. Dunham could reach the spot where the wreck lay, he saw many persons who had been blown overboard perish in the water. But it was his good fortune to save the lives of a large number, by throwing them boards and ropes, and pulling them on board with boat-hooks. Immediately after the explosion, the ladies' cabin took fire and burned with great rapidity, but before it was consumed, the steamer sunk in twelve feet water. Thus the whole tragedy was completed within a few minutes…. There were at least fifty or sixty persons killed or missing, and fifteen or twenty wounded, some of them very seriously. Capt. Dunham took off the wounded and left them at New Albany, where they were suitably provided for by the hospitable and benevolent citizens of the place….” (Lloyd. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, 142-145) Mullins: “Before the Civil War, steamboats were a primary mode of transportation along the Mississippi River and its tributaries such as the Arkansas. For many steamboats, Webbers Falls was as far as they were able to travel upriver because of the waterfall located there. Webbers Falls became a steamboat landing and many of the first steamers on the Arkansas paid a call to this community. “One resident of Webbers Falls was a wealthy Cherokee named Joseph Vann. His nickname was ‘Rich Joe’ Vann to distinguish him from a cousin also named Joseph. Vann built a large plantation home near Webbers Falls and raised cotton there with slave labor. The house was a duplication of his plantation home, Diamond Hill, that had been located at Spring Place, Georgia. “As one of the wealthiest citizens in the Cherokee Nation, Vann could indulge his fascinations and two things captured his interest — race horses and steamboats. Vann purchased a filly named Lucy Walker which won many races in the quarter-mile. Her colts brought top dollar when Vann sold them and helped add to his wealth. “When he purchased a steamboat in 1843, he named it the Lucy Walker after his prize-winning racehorse. Some of the first passengers on the Lucy Walker were Seminoles being transported from Florida to their new homes in Indian Territory. “The crew of the boat was made up of slaves owned by Vann. He used it to ship cotton from his plantation at Webbers Falls as well as shipping goods in and out of Indian Territory. Vann was proud of his steamer because it was fast like the racehorse it was named for. In the heyday of the steamboat, captains often tried to break speed records in their travels between river ports. Races between steamboats were also popular, though they often could be dangerous. “In late October 1844, Joe Vann was aboard his steamboat and acting as its captain on a run between Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans. Various accounts of this fateful day conflict with one another so we may never know exactly what happened. Vann’s own grandson reported to historian Grant Foreman that the Lucy Walker was in a race with another steamboat near New Albany, Indiana. “According to some accounts, Vann ordered the boat’s engineer, a slave named Jim Vann, to build steam in the boat’s boilers by tossing in slabs of meat. The engineer argued that the boilers would not handle more steam, but Vann threatened him if he didn’t comply. So Jim threw a slab of bacon into one boiler and then wisely headed for the stern and jumped overboard. “The Lucy Walker’s boiler exploded, killing nearly 100 passengers. Then the boat quickly sank. Rich Joe Vann did not survive the explosion, but Jim Vann did. Following the Civil War he settled at Fort Gibson and later told the story of the Lucy Walker to Joe Vann’s grandson. The disaster was not the worst steamboat accident to occur, but it was one of the most deadly and became a part of the history and legend of steamboat travel in early America.” (Mullins, Jonita. “Three Rivers History: Wreck of the Lucy Walker made steamboat history.” Muskogee Phoenix, OK 12-12-2009.) The Scrap Book: “JOE VANN, Cherokee Indian, who lived many years ago near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, possessed five hundred slaves and thousands of acres of land. Some of his horses were fine racing stock, and he owned the Lucy Walker, the fastest steamboat on the Arkansas River. Vann was good to his slaves—open-hearted, generous; but he was an inveterate gambler. He lost and won large sums at horse-racing… “The Fort Gibson Post recalls as follows the tragic circumstances of this remarkable Cherokee's end: “While his steamboat had no rival for speed on the Arkansas River, from its mouth at the Mississippi to Little Rock and Fort Gibson, there were two or three rivals on the Mississippi River, between St. Louis and New Orleans. One of these boats, said to be the fastest on the river, attempted to pass the Lucy Walker one day on the way down. “Vann had a crew of thirty negroes, said to have no superiors on the river. He told the boys that the Lucy Walker must be kept ahead, no matter at what cost. An allowance of grog was given to each, and all promised to stand up to the work. “The rival boat was gaining on them; the usual fuel failed to give sufficient speed. Vann went around and told the hands to gather up everything that would burn. Tar and bacon were thrown into the furnace, and soon the Lucy Walker was forging ahead of her rival. “Timbers of the boat creaked and groaned; the furnace was red hot; the boilers were seething and foaming; the heat was terrific. The passengers, of whom there were about one hundred and fifty, became alarmed; but Vann was cool as a cucumber. He told his negro crew that they would beat the rival boat or all go to Hades together, and they promised to stand by him. “Then came an awful explosion, and nothing remained of the Lucy Walker but scattered fragments. Most of the negro crew were blown to atoms, about forty passengers were killed, and nearly all the rest more or less injured. Vann's body was found, horribly mangled.” (The Scrap Book (V1) Mar-Aug, 1906. “How the Lucy Walker was Blown to Pieces,” pp. 451-452.) U.S. Patent Office: “Lucy Walker, Captain Vann, bound from Louisville to New Orleans, when five miles below New Albany, blew up. Just before sunset, some of the machinery got out of order, and the engine was stopped to repair it. While engaged in making the repairs, the water in the boilers got too low, and about five minutes after the engine ceased working her three boilers exploded with tremendous violence. The explosion was upwards, and that part of the boat above the boilers was blown into thousands of pieces. She was in the middle of the river at the time, and parts of the boat and boilers were thrown on shore. Sixty persons were killed, including the captain, pilot, second mate, second clerk. Pieces of the boilers, not thicker than half a dollar, were found on the Kentucky shore.” (United States Patent Office. Report of the Commissioner of Patents, to the Senate of the [U.S.], on the subject of steam boiler explosions. Dec 1848, p. 61.) Way: “Lucy Walker. SW p wh [sidewheel packet, wood hull] b. [built] Cincinnati Oh., 1843. 182 tones. Joe Vann was a Cherokee of Webber Falls on the upper Arkansas River, quite well to do. He acquired the famed racehorse Lucy Walker, considered the fastest quarter-mile horse in the world. This Joe Vann built the steamboat Lucy Walker to run Webber Falls-Louisville, Ky. He procured Capt. Halderman as master for the first trip, then took charge personally for the second. It was on this second trip that the boilers exploded below New Albany, Ind., with loss of 18 lives. Date was Oct. 25, 1844. Joe Vann’s remains never were found. Eight of the unidentified were buried in Fairview Cemetery near New Albany.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, p. 298.) Wikipedia: “The explosion occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 23, 1844, when the steamer's three boilers exploded. The vessel caught fire and sank in the Ohio River near New Albany, Indiana. The demise of the Lucy Walker was not the worst steamboat disaster in American history…but it was among the most deadly. It is possible than more than 100 persons perished on that tragic day….her home port was Webbers Falls on the Arkansas River in the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The boat frequently steamed to both Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans, Louisiana…. “Dead Passengers…[List of 43 names.]…. Note that only two children and no women perished, probably because their cabin was further from the blast than the hurricane deck where most of the male passengers were gathered. Note also that newspapers did not provide names of Vann's slave crewmen. Thus there were thirty-six passengers and twenty crew members identified as killed in the explosion, and forty eight passengers and seven crew members who survived, with a total of 111 persons aboard.” (Wikipedia. “Lucy Walker Steamboat Disaster.” Williams: “Steamboat Explosion. The steamboat Lucy Walker exploded three boilers October 25th ...in the middle of the river, only about four miles below New Albany, with the most disastrous effects. Everything immediately above the boilers was blown to pieces, the ladies’ cabin also took fire, and in a short time the vessel sank in twelve feet of water. Fifty to eighty persons were killed or drowned by this awful calamity, and about twenty were more or less injured. Among the former were General Pegram of Virginia, and others of more or less note.” (Williams & Co. History of the Ohio Falls Cities and Their Counties (Vol. 1). 1883, p. 294.) Wright: “One of the prominent Cherokee citizens who lived at Webbers Falls in early days was "Rich" Joe Vann, owner of a large cotton plantation there and three hundred negro slaves. Because of his passion for horse racing, he became the owner of the celebrated "Lucy Walker," for a time the fastest quarter-mile horse in the world. It was said that she never lost a race and that Joe Vann sold her colts for five thousand dollars each. He built a splendid side-wheeler steamboat for the river trade between Louisville, Kentucky, and New Orleans, manned her with his own negro slaves, and named her the "Lucy Walker," after his famous race horse. On her first round trip, under the command of Captain Halderman, of Louisville, she ascended the Arkansas to Webbers Falls, carrying away Joe Vann's cotton crop and, also, that of Lewis Ross. Vann was a delighted passenger on his fast steamboat from the start, keeping up a continual round of drinking in celebration. Upon the arrival of the "Lucy Walker" at Louisville, Captain Halderman resigned, Vann taking command himself. Just then a fast steamer was leaving the wharf and he vowed he would beat her to New Orleans. Taking his stand on the boiler deck of the Lucy Walker, he swore and shouted at his negroes who even went so far as to fire the engines with large slabs of bacon to make the chimneys red hot, according to orders. The steamer hurried through the Falls canal, touched the landing at New Albany, Indiana, long enough to take on a few passengers, but as she backed out and rounded into the Ohio, she blew up with one of the most frightful explosions ever known along the Mississippi or any of its tributaries. Many of the passengers were lost, all the negroes were either killed are horribly wounded, and Joe Vann's remains were never found.” (Wright. “Early Navigation…Commerce Along…Arkansas…, Chronicles of OK, V8/N1, 1930.) Newspapers Oct 24 report: “From the Louisville Courier…. [24th] The steamboat Lucy Walker, Capt. Vann, left this place for New Orleans yesterday, crowded with passengers. When about four or five miles below New Albany [IN], and just before sunset, some part of the machinery got out of order, and the engine was stopped in order to repair it. While engaged in making the necessary repairs, the water in the boilers got too low; and about five minutes after, the engine had ceased working, her three boilers exploded with tremendous violence, and with horrible and terrific effect. “The explosion was upwards, and that part of the boat above the boilers was blown into thousands of pieces. The U.S. snag-boat Gopher, Capt. L.B. Dunham, was about two hundred yards distant at the time of the explosion – Capt. Dunham was immediately on the spot, rescuing those in the water, and with his crew rendered all the aid in his power. To him we are indebted fore most of our particulars. He informs us that the Lucy Walker was in the middle of the river, and such was the force of the explosion, that parts of the boilers and the boat were thrown on shore. “Just after the explosion, the air was filled with human beings and fragments of human beings. One man was blown up fifty yards, and fell with such force as to go entirely through the deck of the boat. Another was cut in two by a piece of the boiler…. “Before Capt. Dunham reached the place where the Lucy Walker was, he saw a number of persons who had been thrown into the river, drown. He however, saved the lives of a large number of persons by throwing them boards and ropes, and pulling them on his boat with hooks. “Immediately after the explosion, the ladies’ cabin took fire, and before it had been consumed, she sunk in twelve or fifteen feet water. Thus is presented the remarkable circumstance of a boat exploding, burning, and sinking, all in the space of a few minutes. The screams and exclamations of the females, and those who were not killed, is represented as having been distressing and awful. We believe none of the females on board were injured – some, however, may have been drowned. The books of the boat were destroyed, and of course it will be impossible ever to ascertain the names or the number of those killed. “There were at least fifty or sixty persons killed and missing, and fifteen or twenty wounded – some seriously. Capt. Dunham left the sounded at New Albany….” (Huron Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “Terrible Steamboat Disaster,” Oct 29, 1844, p. 4.) Oct 25 report: “From the Louisville Courier of October 25. The Lucy Walker. We have but few more particulars relative to the loss of life by the explosion on board this boat. The snag-boat Gopher, and on of the New Albany ferry boats, were at the wreck yesterday, recovering the bodies of the lost. Some fifteen bodies were found during the day, which were taken to New Albany. Six persons were buried there yesterday, and the remaining will be interred today. The 1st engineer, whom we reported as being badly hurt, died yesterday morning…. “We are satisfied that the terrible accident was the result of the most criminal carelessness. “It will be recollected by our readers, that we mentioned yesterday that the body of a man was blown 150 feet in the air and fell with such force as to break through the deck of the Lucy Walker. This occurrence was the means of saving the lives of two or three persons, who were confined beneath by the deck falling on them, but who were able to escape through the hole thus made. “The number of lives lost with this ill-fated boat cannot yet be ascertained. There were upwards of one hundred persons on board; some say one hundred and twenty. If this estimate be correct, there are near one hundred lives lost.” (Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg PA. “The Lucy Walker,” Nov 4, 1844, p. 4.) Nov 7 report: “The number of persons on board the boat [Lucy Walker] supposed to be about 130. Forty-six escaped uninjured, and 21 were more of less injured. Twenty bodies have been recovered, and 19 persons are known to be missing. There were a good many deck passengers, most of whom, it is feared, were lost. “The New Albany Gazette gives the following as the cause of the explosion, which shows that the most utter and criminal recklessness and disregard of human life were exhibited by the officers. The Captain and first Engineer were among the killed. The Gazette says: “The steamer Lucy Walker, on her passage down touched at our wharf on Wednesday evening last, at which time the force pump was our of order; but supposing that it could be righted while under way, the Captain ordered the vessel to move on; the boat had reached the point five miles below this city, about 5 o’clock P.M., when the boilers had become nearly or quite dry; at which time, by the greatest exertion, the pump was brought to perform its office, and the waster was forced into the boilers, which, by this time had become so heated as to cause the explosion.” (Ohio Repository, Canton. “The Catastrophe on the Lucy Walker,” Nov 7, 1844, p. 2.) Nov 12 report: “The steamer Lucy Walker left Louisville on Wednesday, the 23d ult. For New Orleans. When about 4 miles below New Albany, Ind., an accident occurred to some part of her machinery, and it became necessary to lay to in order to repair….” (Racine Advocate, WI. “Terrible Disaster,” Nov 12, 1844, p, 3.) Nov 14 report: “New Albany, In., Thursday Evening, Nov. 14th, 1844. “Rev. and Sear Sir:—I have been requested by Mr. D. Christy who called here this morning, on his way to St. Louis, to give you the particulars of the late Steamboat disaster, near this place. And in doing so, I shall avail myself of the statements of those who were eyewitnesses of, and sufferers in this awful catastrophe. “It is not known, nor will it in all probability ever be known, until the waters shall give up their dead, how many passengers were on board the ill-fated vessel; and consequently the number of the lost, cannot be ascertained. The boat was but a few miles from port, and had received an accession of eight or ten from this place. Many of the names had not been registered, and if they had, it would not have removed the difficulty, as the records of the boat were entirely destroyed. It is supposed however that there were at least 130 on board, of whom about 30 were saved, some of them in a dreadfully mangled condition. “But my principal object is to inform you of the sufferings of those with whom you were acquainted. They were (as you are aware) on their way home, from attending a meeting of the Southern Synod. They came to Louisville and were there detained near two days, waiting for a boat; at length they succeeded in finding one, which they supposed would get down the River. Being disappointed in their accommodations, and in the time of starting, they hailed the Lucy Walker, which sent out a yawl and took them on board. “The little company, with the exception of Mr. Wilson and lady, had scarcely seated themselves and begun to congratulate each other on their happy escape from the other boat, when the awful explosion buried them in its ruins. They were sitting at the end of the Social Hall near the door by which the Gentlemen's Cabin is entered, and consequently near the boilers. Mr. Wilson and lady were on the guard, aft of the wheelhouse, looking at the steamboat which had just passed. As soon as he (Mr. W.) recovered from the shock, he exclaimed, "Where are my friends?" Looking around he saw Mr. McCrery struggling in the midst of the ruins, and assisted him in extricating himself. He then turned to look for the rest; but they were not to be seen. By this time the flames began to spread rapidly thro' the wreck, and the thought struck him that he had better save himself and wife: which he did by jumping into the water and making his way by the assistance of the fragments of the boat, to the U. S. snag-boat Gopher, which .had approached as near as the flames would permit. Mr. McCrery, succeeded in reaching the Gopher, by the same means, as also Messrs Young, Pressly and McCain, after which they were pulled on board by means of ropes and poles. “Mr. McCrery was mortally wounded; one of his thighs being literally crushed, and his chest and head considerably injured. He died about five minutes after he was taken on board the Gopher, he appeared to be conscious of his situation, remarked that his thigh was broken, and exclaimed some seven or eight times, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit," and gave up the ghost. His body was immediately laid out, and buried next day in the citizens burying-ground, in a decent and becoming manner. A stone will be placed on the spot, with a suitable inscription to point out the grave to any friends who may hereafter pay it a visit. The body of Mr. Watt (Elder in Mr. Pressley’s church) was recovered the following day, and also decently interred by the side of Mr. McCrery's; it did not appear to be mangled, or but slightly disfigured. “Mr. McCain (Mr. Wilson's Elder) was severely wounded in the head and bruised in one of his hips. The wound in his head was a cut extending in an oblique direction past the lower part of the right car, severing a small portion of it. The bruise rendered him in a great measure helpless for some days. He was taken from the boat to the Hotel, where he received every attention which kindness and sympathy could command. Mr. Pressly had his hands badly burned and his head slightly scalded on the back part. It is remarkable that while some of the wounded heard the report of the explosion, others did not. Mr. P. says he heard it distinctly. He was able to walk from the river, and was conducted to a private house, where his hands were dressed and every thing done which could render his situation comfortable. He was attended daily by a kind Physician, and Christian friends ministered to his wants. His hands were burned chiefly on the backs—the left one most severely; it was thought however that they would not be rendered useless, as the burns were not so deep as to make them stiff or to draw the fingers out of their natural position. His general health was good, and he so far recovered in nine days after the accident, as to start home in company with Messrs. McCain and Wilson. He was liberally supplied with clothing and other things necessary for his comfort, by the council and citizens of this city, as were also all the sufferers who remained here. A letter was received two or three days since, from Mr. McCain stating that they arrived safely at Randolph, from whence they would proceed to Portersville, where Mr. P. would remain a few days, until he could get some friends to assist him on his way, by land, to Starkville. Their wounds were doing well; Mr. McCain was able to get about with the help of a crutch; and Mr. P. thought he would be able to use his right hand in the course of two weeks. “Mr. Young, after being very badly wounded, had a narrow escape from a watery grave. He states, that the first thing he was conscious of after the explosion was, being covered up in the ruins and endeavoring to clamber out of them. He did not hear the report of the explosion, but it seemed like a terrible dream; he did not even know he was wounded until he extricated himself and saw the horrid gash in his thigh. His first thought was to swim to the shore—he walked up the steps over the wheelhouse on one side of the boat, but had scarcely gained the upper deck, where the flames met him and compelled him to retreat to the other side. Here, for the first time he saw the Gopher, to which he swam by the aid of a piece of the wreck. The men then threw him a rope and drew him part of the way up but his strength failed and he fell back into the water, and having seized hold of a ring in the side of the boat, remained there until all the rest were taken up. At length a rope was let down to him which he succeeded in getting over his shoulders and under his arms and in this way was drawn upon the boat. On arriving at this place, he was taken to the High Street House and his wounds dressed. It was found that his right hand was dreadfully mangled, two fingers -- the small one and the one next to it -- were dangling by the skin: the back was badly cut and burned, and he fears that he will not have much use of the hand. The left hand was slightly cut between the thumb and forefinger, but is nearly healed. The wound which has given him the most trouble and confined him to his bed for 21 days and still keeps him confined, is on the outside of the right thigh. When first dressed, it was about six inches in length, two and a half or three inches in breadth, and one and a half deep. From its appearance it was supposed by some that a piece of the flesh was taken out. It has been considerably drawn up since, and now looks healthy and improving in its condition. Below this wound there was a very bad burn, which is now healed. He has been at the Hotel since the accident until yesterday, when he was removed to the house of Rev. Dr. Wood, where he receives every attention which Christian sympathy and friendship can bestow. His removal exhausted him very much, as it was about 3/4 of a mile he had to ride, and consequently he is not so well to-day. He has made his calculations to start home on the 25th of the present month by way of N. 0. and Mobile. Rev. P. Monfort and lady are expected to accompany him home. It is somewhat doubtful about their getting off so soon as the 25th: it will depend on the state of his wounds at that time. Mr. M. has not been here yet; but wrote that he could be here in time to start with him. Yours with great respect, “Rev. D. MacDill W. H. Moore.” (The Evangelical Guardian. “Wreck of the Lucy Walker,” V. II, No. 7, Dec 1844, pp. 327-330.) Sources Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg, PA. “The Lucy Walker,” Nov 4, 1844, p. 4, Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=3099881 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972. Childs, Emery E. A History of the United States In Chronological Order From the Discovery of America in 1492 to the Year 1885. NY: Baker & Taylor, 1886. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=XLYbAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Collins, Lewis and Richard H. Collins. Collins’ Historical Sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky By the late Lewis Collins, Judge of the Mason County Court. Revised, Enlarged Four-Fold, and Brought Down to the Year 1874, by his son Richard H. Collins (Vol. I). Covington, KY: Collins & Co., 1882. Accessed 2-16-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=xMM6AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Fisher, Captain S.L., and Captain James McCord. “Steamboat Explosions for Fifty-Five Years.” In Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Saint Louis City and County, From the Earliest Periods to the Present Day: Including Biographical Sketches of Representative Men. In Two Volumes, Illustrated. 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Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=fnwQAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Mullins, Jonita. “Three Rivers History: Wreck of the Lucy Walker made steamboat history.” Muskogee Phoenix, OK 12-12-2009. Accessed 5-19-2012 at: http://muskogeephoenix.com/local/x546271518/Three-Rivers-History-Wreck-of-the-Lucy-Walker-made-steamboat-history Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages. Ohio Repository, Canton, OH. “The Catastrophe on the Lucy Walker,” Nov 7, 1844, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=10723541 Racine Advocate, WI. “Terrible Disaster” [Steamboat Lucy Walker Boiler Explosion], Nov 12, 1844, p, 3. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=53754394 Simonds, W. E. (Editor). The American Date Book. Kama Publishing Co., 1902, 211 pages. 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