Canemah, Oregon
Steamer Gazelle Explosion
April 8, 1854
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 ˝ 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
Submitted & transcribed by Stu
Beitler Thank you,
Stu!
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