Accounts were received in New York, says the Observer, on Tuesday, from Baltimore, of an explosion on board the steam-boat Helen McGregor, one of the largest boats on the Mississippi. She was at Memphis, in Tennessee, at the time of the explosion, on her way from New-Orleans to Louisville, with 900 passengers on board. The number of killed and wounded is variously stated from 80 to 120. The following statement, from the office or the Wheeling Compiler, was received in this city on Thursday, and is more particular and authentic than any which we have yet seen.
“The steam-boats Volunteer and Robert Fulton, just arrived from Louisville, bring intelligence of the most dreadful steam-boat disaster that has ever occurred in the Western waters. The Helen McGregor, when about putting off from shore, at, or near Memphis, on the Mississippi, (date unknown.) with steam very high, one or more of her boilers burst, by which accident, in an instant, from sixty to seventy passengers were killed. Sixty-two is the lowest number reported as killed, but it is supposed to exceed that number considerably. This information is principally derived from an intelligent passenger on board the Volunteer, who has his information from passengers who had been on board the Helen McGregor.
In addition to the above, the following detail is furnished by the Nashville (Ten.) Banner of the 2nd inst.
The steam-boat stopped at Memphis on the 24th ult., and had been there about 25 or 30 minutes, when one or more of her boilers burst, with the usual dreadful consequences. There were supposed to be on board, upwards of 350 deck passengers; and altogether, including cabin passengers, &c., not less than 480 persons. Our informant, who was himself one of the cabin passengers, and was, at the moment of the explosion, on the plank, in the act of passing from the boat to the shore, is unable to say how many were killed and wounded, or to give the names of the sufferers. Captain Tyson was injured, but not seriously. One of the engineers and one of the pilots were killed. It is feared that the number of those who were instantly killed or were likely to die of their wounds, cannot be much short of 80. At least 30 are known to have been destroyed. None of those in the cabin were injured. The boiler deck was [obscured text] demolished and blown to pieces and the bow was much shattered, but the hull did not appear to be much affected by the shock.
Litchfield Enquirer, Litchfield, CT, March 25, 1830