From the Syracuse Daily Courier and Union (Syracuse, N.Y.)
29 April 1865, page 3:

STEAMBOAT DISASTER ....St. Louis, April 28.--A telegram received by the military authorities from New Madrid, says the steamer Sultana with 2,000 paroled prisoners, exploded. 1400 lives were lost.

SECOND DISPATCH.
Cairo, April 28.--The steamer Sultana from New Orleans the 21st, arrived at Vicksburg with boiler leaking badly. She remained 30 hours repairing, and taking on 1,996 Federal soldiers and 35 officers, lately released from Cahawba and Andersonville prisons.

She arrived at Memphis last evening, and after coaling, proceeded at
2 A. M.

When 7 miles up, she blew up and immediately took fire and burned to the water's edge.

Of 2,100 souls on board, not more than 700 will be recovered. 500 were rescued, and all now are in the hospital.

Capt. Mason, of the Sultana, is supposed to be lost.

At 4 o'clock this morning the river in front of Memphis was covered with soldiers struggling for life. Many were badly scalded.

Boats immediately went to their rescue and are still engaged in picking them up.

Gen. Washburne immediately organized a board of officers to investigate the affair. They are now at work.