Transcribed by Dee Gabler ____________________ The Sun, Baltimore, Saturday Morning, April 16, 1842 THE EXPLOSION OF THE MEDORA. This most dreadful and lamentable event of ___ occupied the public mind yesterday, to the exclusion of almost every other subject, and the pull of gloom which seemed to have fallen upon the city, aided by an agony of suspense and anxiety pervaded every department of the ___ __ations of men. Business was scarcely thought of except where its requirements were most mandatory and unavoidable, and the pulse of time seemed to be numbered by the announcement of deaths. The inscrutable hand of a mysterious Providence, by an agent of man's own application and art, has rent a fearful chasm in the bosom - in the very heart - of our city, and every member of the human family within its limits, is painfully sensible of the ___ it has sustained. A warning most terrible, and one that cannot be speedily forgotten, one that will thunder in the ear of memory for many years, and linger in tradition for a century, has been pealed forth at our very threshold and it must not pass with heedless disregard. Our respect for the advancement of sciences and the arts, must not urge us to view, with callous indifference, this fearful calamity as the work of an uncontrollable fate, and an accident that could have been neither foreseen nor prevented. It is enough to know that it was possible for it to occur; and it is due to humanity, it is but sheer justice to the harrowed hearts of women widowed in an hour, and children thrown fatherless on the tender mercies of the world, that a thorough and most searching investigation should be instituted, and that immediately, into every particular that can elucidate and bring nearer to our perception the causes, near or remote, of this tragic affair. It should be also invested with such a character, by the authorities of our city or our State, that it may recede into the back ground of time, a dark and threatening beacon, continually pointing to the future. Neither the number of victims which have been already counted, nor the escape of individuals with life, should be a consideration to shield the indiscretion, culpability or guilt of any, who may have remotely contributed to this awful event; we know not, nor can we suppose it probable, that wilful guilt exists, but the possibility of such a thing, and the more than probability that indiscretion did, is sufficient to demand the investigation we suggest. In the meantime, we can but offer to those of our citizens into whose families Death has so rudely thrown his shaft, our deep and sincere sympathy with those sorrows and afflictions which they have no words to express. We can console with the widow, and mourn for the hapless orphan, and while we commit them to the care of Him who careth even for the sparrow that falleth to the ground, we would remind them that those woes for which they now think there is no cordial, nor cure, will be soothed, if not healed, but the hand of advancing Time. FURTHER PARTICULARS We yesterday morning re-visited the scene of destruction, occasioned by the explosion of the boiler of the Steamboat Medora, on Thursday. The event, unparalleled in the waters of the Chesapeake, as might have been expected, has created an immense sensation. We might, without deviating far from correctness, indeed say that "the whole city" has been there. Never, since the introduction of steamboats upon our waters, has there been an explosion, with one exception, and that happened some twenty years ago, when the boilers of the "Eagle" exploded and killed two persons. That was an event in those days - this is an epoch in the navigation of the Chesapeake now. Early yesterday morning, his Honor the Mayor appeared upon the ground with a strong force, ready to exert their powers to rescue the bodies of the lost. It was surmised, and beyond question correctly, that numbers were yet "below the waters," and it was the part of humanity to assist in the recovery of their inanimate bodies. Prompt as the mayor was, however, he was not before a vast number of others who came forward to render their assistance. FOUND YESTERDAY William Lewis, clerk of the steamboat Rappahanock; the body marked with slight wounds and scalded; blown overboard, and doubtless death was caused by drowning. The body taken charge of by his friends. George Geddes, an apprentice to Watchman & Bratt, about 20 years of age; much bruised, scalded and probably drowned. His body was taken from the water and delivered to his friends. James Lavers, was a ship carpenter belonging to the ship Tippecanoe, now in port. His body was found at a considerable distance from the boat. He was a member of the Gratitude Lodge I.O.O.F.; boarded at Mr. Streets, South Exeter street. Taken in charge by the Odd Fellows, a committee of whom were present on the boat. S. W. Hackney, an agent of the Portsmouth and Railroad Company, connected with the Baltimore and Virginia Steam Navigation Company, and stationed here. He was a resident of Weldon, N.C., and boarded at this city at the Union Hotel, South street. His pocket-book was found upon him, containing his cards, some small change and two gold rings; a brooch in his shirt bosom. James Mitchell, who has been reported as missing since the accident, was fished up from the bottom, in the vicinity of the boat at about ___. James Kemp, a painter, recently from Philadelphia, who was not know to have been on board; resided in Thompson street, Old Town; he was got out at about 5 o'clock, from the starboard side of the boat, by a dumb man who had been __ing at that spot almost all day. He left a wife and four children, who, we understand ___ suffering condition. His wife has been sick for a considerable amount of time and is now unable to do anything. This case is particularly worthy of the early attention of the ___ of charity. Let the ladies attend to them. DIED SINCE OCCURRENCE Andrew F. Henderson, Esq., President of the Company, died about 11 o'clock yesterday morning; he had inhaled the steam, and fatal consequences ___ed from this cause. George Enly, mentioned in our first edition yesterday, died at 3 o'clock yesterday morning, at Gideon Brown's house; his body was conveyed home. Richard Linthicum, died at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. Robert Doyle, a brickmaker, died yesterday morning. Thomas Eldridge, just out of his apprenticeship to Watchman & Bratt, died at about ten o'clock yesterday morning. Francis McLear, an apprentice to Watchman & Bratt, it is certain was on board, and has not yet been found. Duncan Ferguson, the Engineer of the Madora, who was taken up severely scalded and hurt, died at his residence, at the corner of Montgomery and Light streets, at a late hour yesterday afternoon. George Hyde, a boy of about 14 years, also died yesterday. BELIEVED TO BE DYING John Yeager, late an engineer of Lanville factory, is in Lee street, and so badly hurt and scalded, that he is not expected to live. Joseph Craig, an engineer. His attendant physician states he cannot live. John Haley, a German, and a stranger, is lying at a house in Hill Street, near Light; there is no doubt but he must die. He recently lived with his sister in Old Town, but she moved to York, PA. James Rigley an engineer, is not expected to live. The same may be said of Wesley Culley, a lad, Jackson Reeder, and Alfred Ramsay. ADDITIONS Isaiah, the bother of Louis Wagner, mentioned yesterday, is also very badly scalded. John Henderson is much more severely injured than was supposed at first; he inhaled the steam, and it is supposed will not survive the consequences. Thomas Smith, foreman for Mr. Abbott, at the Canton Iron Works, was much scalded and had his left leg broken. He was standing close to the boiler when the explosion took place, and the wonder is he was not immediately killed. - His Leg was set yesterday, and he is doing considerably well. Among the many who were saved, was Bemjamin Brown, the first Steward of the boat. - He was on the upper deck, near the skylights, and was blown off into the water. He swam ashore, and found upon trying to walk, that one or two of his ribs were broken. He states an important fact, which will relieve many minds. He says that both cabins were locked, and that no person was in either of them - he has the keys now in his possession. Brown was first steward on the Pulaksi, when she was blown up- a lucky man he is. CORRECTIONS John Speedy, reported as dead, was alive at a late hour yesterday evening. It should have been Henry, and not John Lecount, in the first list of the killed. Mr. Young's name, given in the first account, is Edmund, and not John. He is from Duchess county, New York. We had a conversation with Mr. Watchman yesterday morning; he states that the boiler of the Medora was tried on Saturday last and worked for two hours with 30 inches of steam; and on Wednesday it was again worked for an hour with 27 inches of steam. At about three minutes before the explosion, Mr. Watchman tried the water gauge cock and found there was plenty of water to the third gauge. He then passed the engineer and asked him how the steam was; the engineer replied that there was 22 inches. This was, of course, considered perfectly safe; indeed no thought of danger for a moment was entertained. Mr. Watchman walked aft and immediately the explosion took place. His only conclusion is that the men were anxious to display the qualities of the boat, and concealed or misrepresented the truth; he says that such an explosion could scarcely have been effected with less than an expansive force of 60 m. steam. The boiler is torn like a piece of pasteboard, and doubled up, and the strong built flues were completely carried away. The boiler laid as usual fore and aft, but was twisted by the violence of the steam directly athwart ships. We have also conversed with Daniel Stevens, one of the assistants in the engineer department, and who was trying the steam and water gauge both, at the instant of the explosion. He says the third water gauge was flush, showing an abundance of water, and the index of the steam was certainly 22 inches. He is confident, however, that the boiler could not have exploded with that force, and attributes the accident to a bad or false gauge of the steam - its technical name we know not - or to the fact that it had been tampered with by jealous parties. During the day the flags of all the shipping in port were displayed at half mast, and that on the Observatory, with the ensign indicative of the deep distress in the community. Also, upon all the fire engine houses, and at the different market houses. The bell of the Watchman Fire Company tolled, from sunrise to sunset, the knell of several individuals who have been taken from its ranks. The activity and energy displayed by the Hon. Solomon Hillen, Mayor of the city, in this painful emergency, command our warmest admiration, and afford an earnest of the admirable adaptation of disposition and temperament to the peculiar characteristics of the office. He seems to have neglected nothing which could conduce to relieve the community from the weight of suspense which has been almost insupportable. Under his orders and direction, a field piece was conveyed to a scow, and fired at short intervals, for two or three hours, at different points in the vicinity of the Medora. The whole of the scene presents quite a changed aspect now to what it did at first; the scattered remnants of the wreck have been collected from the surface of the water and removed and a large portion of the forward part of the boat taken up. Yesterday a mud machine was placed on each side and rigged with "sheers" preparatory to hoisting out the machinery, with a view to raise the boat. The last information from the wreck, was that the men could distinctly feel the legs of a person under the boiler, but as violent efforts to remove the body would probably tear it asunder, it has been permitted to remain until the boiler can be raised, to-day. It is supposed to be the body of Francis McLear, and confidently hoped to be the last that will be found to have been involved in the immediate destruction of the boat. We understand that an inquest will be held to-day on one of the bodies taken from the Medora, under the superintendence of the Mayor, the City Counsellor, and the Coroner, with a few to a thorough and complete investigation of the cause or causes of the disaster. The residents in the vicinity exerted their utmost efforts for the comfort of the wounded, and did all they were able to render proper respect to the unfortunate dead. The houses were opened freely, and attention bestowed without stint. Indeed too much praise cannot be awarded to the householders for the great and unwearied application to the relief of all. We have omitted to mention above that in connection with the force employed by the mayor yesterday, the port wardens and commissioners of health were promptly on the spot, and rendered whatever service was deemed requisite. The number of dead - up to the time of going to press, as far as we have been able to learn, there have been twenty-three deaths, viz. John C. Moale and his son William, John Vickers, John Young, John Lecount, Benj. French, John R. Boone, John Burns, John Harper, Wm. Lewis, George Geddes, James Lavers, S. W. Hackney, James Mitchell, James Kemp, Andrew F. Henderson, George Enley, Richard Linthicum, Robert Doyle, Thomas Eldridge, Francis McLear, Duncan Ferguson, and Geo. Hyde. A suggestion - A correspondent suggests that a meeting should be called at the Exchange to take measures to obtain subscriptions of money for the relief of many of those who have been injured by the explosion, and the surviving wives and children of those who have been killed. The suggestion is a good one, and we hope it will be acted upon. Another correspondent suggests that the flags of the shipping and on all the public places in the city, be hoisted to-day and to-morrow at half mast, as a token of the deep affliction which the city has experienced by this awful catastrophe. THE FUNERALS The most affecting, though not the most startling part of such tragedies as that which it has pained us to record for two days past, is to be found in the funerals of the deceased. The friends of the departed are there - the relatives - the widow it may be, and the orphan children, or the bereaved parents, or altogether; and all prepared to take a last look at the beloved deceased, untimely snatched from the embrace of their affections, and consign him to the last earthly home appointed to man. Many circumstances combine to render the scene deeply affecting. We are shocked at the violent death, we are melted and solemnized at the funeral; and if we visit the late residence of the deceased, and witness the effect of the sudden bereavement on the survivors - but here we pause; we may not draw aside the curtain, and expose to the public the scene sacred to such grief, such unutterable woe and misery, as we witnessed yesterday - the young widow and her only child, just old enough to articulate its father's name, and to ask for him repeatedly; and while too young to understand what death is, yet sufficiently old to pierce its mother's heart with inquiries, which it were next to death to answer. But we cannot permit ourselves to dwell on the theme, or to give up our pen to the government of feelings excited by the funerals of yesterday; such submission would carry us too far; we must therefore confine ourselves to a simple record of the facts, thus: Yesterday afternoon, the bodies of George Enly and Robert Doyle, two of the persons killed by the explosion of the Medora, were interred in the Methodist burying ground on Light street, Federal Hill, the Rev. Mr. Guest officiating on the occasion. The deep interest excited by the disastrous occurrence which caused their death, was evinced by the presence in Light street of about ten thousand persons, of all ages and both sexes, merely as spectators of the funeral procession, which was itself composed of some two or three thousand persons. The deceased were both members of the Watchman Fire Company, and in addition to their personal friends, immediate relatives and near connexions, they were attended to the grave by thirteen fire companies, the members of which, on very short notice, turned out in large numbers, most of them with banners, and accompanied by a band of music, together with the music of the United States recruiting party, under Sergeant Twist. The following was the order of the procession as it entered the cemetery: First, the Watchman Fire Company, which opened to the right and left at the gate, and became stationary, the others passing between the files thus: the corpse of Enly; with a large train of mourners and friends, male and female, on foot, and one carriage containing aged mourners. To this succeeded the corpse of Doyle, attended also by a very long train of mourners, male and female, on foot, with a large number of friends, of both sexes, the coffins of both being borne by firemen. To these succeeded the following Fire Costumes in their respective costumes, viz: the Mechanical, the Union, the Deptford, the Liberty, the Independent, the Vigilant, (preceded by a band of music) the New Market, the Columbian, the United, the Washington, the Patapsco, and the Howard. After the performance of the appropriate religious services by the Rev. Mr. Guest, the bodies were placed in the public vault, and the procession left the cemetery in the order in which it entered. The whole scene was one of very unusual solemnity; imposing and impressive in a high degree; and which in truth will never be forgotten by those who either witnessed or took part in it. The funeral of John Harper, second mate of the Medora, took place yesterday afternoon, from his residence in Frederick near Baltimore street. It was attended by one or two lodges of the I.O.O.F. in full regalia and band of music, an d proceeded to a place of interment in the eastern suburbs of the city. The funeral of Benjamin French, was attended by the members of the Marion Total Abstinence Society, who were out in great numbers. The proces sion moved down Gay and up Baltimore street, towards the western section of the city. The funeral of S. W. Hackney, took place from his late residence, the Union Hotel, South street and was, though private, very respectfully attended.