FROM the Louisiana Chronicle, Extra, Sept 90
DREADFUL EXPLOSION.
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Destruction Of the steamer Ckipper.-Great loss
OF lilo. 1t has become our mournful duty TO re.
cord one Of the most terrible catastrophes which
has ever happened on the Mississippi. Yesterday
about quarter after II o'clock, as the Clipper
No !, was backing out from her mooring at our
landing. she blew up with an explosion that shook
the earth, air and heaven, as though the walls Is
the world were lumbling to pieces about our ears.
All the boilers bursting simultaneous y--machne-
ry, vast fragments Of the boilers, huge beams of
timber. furniture, and human beings in every de-
gree of mutilation, were alike shot up perpendi-
cularly many hundred fathoms in the air. On
reaching the greatest height, the various bodies
diverged like the Jets Of fountain, in all direc-
tions--fang to The earth, and upon roofs of hous.
os, in some instances as much two hundred
and fifty yards from the scene Of destructon.--
The hapess victims were scaded, crushed, torn
manglcd and scattered in every possible direction
many into tho river, some in the Streets some
on the other side Of the Bayou, nearly three hum
dred yards--some torn asunder by coming in con.
tact with pckets and posts, and others shot like
cannon balls through the solid walls of houses at
great distance from the boat. All in front of
the wheeI-houses appears as though swept by Il
whirlwnd. But anything like an adequate de-
scnption of the wreck and ruin is utterly out of
the question. What romans of the hull has been
firmly lashed TO the shore, but it seems to have
broken in too and partially sunk. She had just
taken on board, at the Railroad depot, about Sc
bales of cotton, nearly all of which, together with
the money chest, and most of the cabin furniture,
we are glad to learn, has been saved.


On reaching the spot under whip and spur, we


Immediately bent our steps towards the temporary
hospital lately prepared for the reception Of such
as might be found to retain the spark of life. The
scene was such as we hope never to Icok, upon
again. The floors Of the two large warerooms
were literally strewn with the wounded and dying
and Others pouring in as fast it was possible
to convey them, praying, groan'ng. bowling aud
writing in every possible contorlion OF physical
agony. In the midst of this confusing ain, up to
their arm.pi,s in oil and cotton and bandages, we
found our praseworthy physicians--like good Sa.
maritans doing good--quieily and silently. but
with the energy and activity apparently OF fifty
pair hands--now washing burn, now dressing a
wound, and anon spIinterng factured limb
Indeed our citizens generally, every man aud
mo. hers son, appeared only anxious as to how
they might render most service to the poor suffer.
crs--wh,te aud black without distinction.


The following are the most important particu.


lars, a. far as have been able to gather them .


The crew consisted of one captain, one mate.
two clerks, three engineers. two pilots, one car.