I was awakened when the explosion took place, lying on the top of the
wheel house. As soon as I discovered that the boat had exploded, I
caught hold of the fender and slid down to the water and let myself in,
having nothing on me at the time. I judge I must have swam about ten
miles. The river was alive with people crying and calling for help in
the greatest of agony. Just as I was coming down off the boat I saw two
ladies who had thrown themselves into the water, they having nothing to
keep them up, and sank, when I saw them no more. When the explosion took
place it threw the cabin into the air, and it fell back upon the shell
of the boat in one mass of ruins, crushing many of the passengers, who
were thus caught and were undoubtedly burned to death. Very many caught
hold of horses by their manes and tails, but whether they escaped or not
I cannot tell, as I never heard of them afterwards.