The Sultana disaster is not a happy story. It is filled with great deal of greed and hierarchical posturing by the controlling bodies that stood to benefit from the shipment of these decrepit prisoners. There is an underlying suspicion of sabotage - albeit dismissed by most historians - that adds a further element of story development in the form of intrigue, since the exact cause of the explosion has never been fortified.  The example narration hints of Rod Serling meets Joe Friday in the delivery.  This read should not be referenced as a hard delivery style but more of a touchstone.  Moreover the narration should have a mature voice that subtlety draws the listener into the dark elements of the event and timeline.