The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-05-25 00:00:00

IRON STEAMERS,

We have great pleasure in copying from the London papers
the following particulars of the trial of the iron stentrierßainboar.
The Rainbow was built and conipleled for sea by Mr. J. Laird,
Birkenhead Iron-works, and the engines were manufactured by
Messrs. G. Forrester and Co. of Vauxhall Foundry, and the re-
sult of her trial must be considered highly creditable both to
builder and engineer:
"THE NEW STEAMER THE RA INBOW.—A few gentlemen
connected with the General Steam Navigation Company yester-
day made an experimental trip in titeir new first--class steamer
the Rainbow. At two o'clock the signal was given, and within
a few seconds this magnificent vessel was seen going at race-
horse pace from her station at Brunswick-wharf, Blackwall,
with all the advantage of a rapid tide down the river. It was
said that the Red Rover steamer had sent a challenge to the
Rainbow, and some anxiety was manifested for the result, as the
speed of that vessel is well known ; but the Rover did
not leave her moorings, and the new competitor for fame
had• to look out for some other crack boat with which her
strength could be measured. Fortunately for the desired
experiment, the Vesper, Gravesend steamer, the fastest boat
on the river, came by with her usual rapidity, and after five
minutes had elapsed, on finding that the Rover would not move,
it was determined to try what could be done against the eclipse
of the Pool. The Vesper, having a good start, gallantly main-
tained her advantage to the last, and though she lost one minute
in landing passengers, the Rainbow could not give her the go-
bye. The Rainbow, however, diminished the distance so rapid-
ly in the race, that she passed the pier at Gravesend just as the
Vesper cleared the jetty. The whole distance was done in an
hour and twelve minutes, and though the Vesper had five
minutes' fair start, she had but one minute's precedence at the
pier. The rapidity at which the two steamers came down with
the tide may be imagined from the fact, that the distance from
the wharf to the pier-head is calculated at 23 miles, and we be-
lieve, that in reality it does not exceed 20. Aftor seeing the Ves-
per safe into port, the Rainbow continued her voyage down the
stream, until, meeting the Emerald, from Boulogne, coming up
with as much pretension as if the river was her own, it was re-
solved upon to gu about, and see what could be done with the
crack boat of the French station. The superiority of the Rain-
bow was manifested after a short struggle, and the Emerald had
the mortification to labour under a cloud of her rival's smoke;
but then it must be admitted that the Frenchman was deeply
laden, his deck encumbered with passengers; while the Rain-
bow bad scarcely any ballast on board, and floated like a cork on
the water. No sooner was that trial over than a formidable enemy
came in view. The Comet, Gravesend steamer, left the pier just
as the Rainbow passed it, and a contest immediately arose, which
was maintained with undiminished ardour until both, reached
Blackwall. The Comet is one of the fastest river boats, but
she had the mortification to see the Rainbow beat her in gallant
style, and there was a clear advantage in favour of the latter of
twelve minutes from Gravesend to Brunswick wharf. The re-
turn home was made against the tide, but a first-rate pace was
preserved throughout, and it was admitted by every person on
board, that either with of against the stream a more perfect
steamer could not he constructed. The Rainbow is 600 tons
burden, with 180 horse power, ligtvt and elegant in her appeal-
ance, and quite a model of beauty from stein to stern. From
some peculiarity in her construction, there is none of that tre-
mulous motion felt which is so annoying in ordinary steamers;
and it is most remarkable how little back water is made from
her wheels. It is not yet determined on what station she is to
be placed; but whatever her destination may be, it must be ad-
mitted that for gracefulness of shape, solidity of construction,
and extraordinary speed, the 'river Thames has not yet seen her
equal."
"[The above description, which we borrow from the 'Morn-
ing Post, is so spirited and accurate that we can add but little
to it. The result of the experiment of yesterday proves the
Rainbow to he the swiftest steamer in the ricer, and this with-
out the sacrifice of either grace of form or solidity of construc-
tion. The Vesper was a full mile ahead when the Rainbow
started from Blackwall, yet the former readied Gravesend only
one minute before the latter; but it wason returning, and when
going against the tide, that the Rainbow displayed her adini-
rable qualities to the greatest advantage.' She fairly shot by
the Emerald, and completely ran away from the Comet, the
latter boat passing Blackwall only twelve minutes after the
Rainbow had been fairly made fast to the wharf. The Rain-
bow is 212 feet long from stein to stern, tier beam measures 27
feet, and her tonnage and power are as stated above. Owing
to her great length, she will require much care when turning in
a narrow channel. This manoeuvre was admirably effected
yesterday. At eight minutes before two. she started from
Bug,sby's Hole, and at three minutes after three she passed
Gravesend Church, having run, with the tide, a distance of
about 22 miles in one hour and eleven minutes—a degree of
speed, which we believe, has never been equalled even by the
most rapid of the American steamers. At Lower Hope Point
she turned, and was again abreast of Thu nsvvick wharf, Black-.
wall, at a quarter before six.l"—London Courier.•

On Board of the Steam Ship Great Western,
' • Bristol Harbour, May, 183 S.
TO JAMES lIOSKEN, ESQ., R.N.
SIR,—We, the undersigned passengers in the Steam-ship
Great Western, have the pleasure to congratulate you on the
safe arrival of the noble ship under your command in this iit.-
hour, after• a short and pleasant journey from New York. We
beg leave to express to you our thanks for.the exercise of those
kind and gentle qualities by which you have so essentially con-
tributed to our comfort and happiness. auring the voyage. We
would also announce through you to the public, that the antici-
pations of security and comfort which weredet•ived from observ-
ing the size and appatent strength of this beautiful ship, the
.power and perfection of her machinery, and the splendour of
her accommodations, have been more than realised. by •a resi-
dence of fourteen days on board of her on the bosom of the At-
lantic.

We would further remark, that it is inour opinion only neces-
sary to Make a single voyage in this noble vessel to be satisfied
that complete success will attend the navigation of the Atlantic
by Steam with safety, comfort, and despatch.
Having performed this agreeable duty, we beg leave to offer
our best
.wishes for your health and happiness, and have the
.honour to be, very faithfully, your ft iends and servants,
William Crane, New Brunswick.
Eben. Chadwick, Boston, U. S. A.
Robert Sharp, New York.
David McDonald, Lieut. Col., New York.
Henry M. Trovott, Philadelphia.
John Mercer Jones, Toronto, UP. Canada.
J. F. Agnew, New York.
Robert Winne, North Wales.
William Mead, Liverpool.
William F. Lynch, U. S. Navy.
Nicholas O'Donnell, Philadelphia.
J. Nicholson, New. York. •
James Porteous, Kingston, Jamaica.
J. W. Butler, 7th Fusileers.
Henry Curtis, 85th Light Infantry.
H. M'Kitn, Baltimore.
Thos. Niles Baston, Massachusets.
Win. A. Banister, Charleston.
N. F. Stoddart, New York.
G. C. Duncan, New Orleans.
John L. Gilbeland, New York.
J. P. Penny, Liverpool.
Vaughan Fras, 2d W. I. Regiment.
P. Vance, Liverpool.
G. Watson. Webb, New Yolk.
Leon Herckeurath, Charleston, S C
G. H. Hullin, Malaga,' Spain.
J. H. Albers, New York. •
. John Hughes, New York.
John Drayer, Salem, Massachusetts.
Wm. Weyman, New York. -
Samuel' B. Dyer, Boston, U.S. A.
James Violett, jun., Bordeaux, Fran Ce.
Thomas MUnroe, London.
E. W. Carpenter; U. S. Navy.
James Dean, Bolton.
George Ord, Philadelphia.
Gaston Brusle, New Orleans.
C. M. Jopp, Jamaica.
E. Harris, New Jersey.
Giles Doxbury, Prestwich, Lancashire.
'A. Bigalon, U. S. Navy.
W. ,H. Chase, Captain U. S. Engineers.
J. Labordie, New Orleans.
B. Dufrey, New Orleans.
J. P. Hamilton, New York.
Francis F. Dot r, New York.
R. Hasluck, Birmingham.
J. bendy Bowles Harrison, Ohio.
Edward Farrean, Rochelle (France).
F. F. Goker, Sillery, (France).
J. P. Shaw, Dundee.
Edward Banister.

DREADFUL STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION IN
AMERICA.
( From the Pennsylvanian Courier, April 30.)
An extra by express mail, from the office of the Cincinnati
Whig, furnishes the following appalling particulars. It is dated
tib ednesiky night, 8, p.m. All comment is unnecessary. The
details are heart-rending indeed, and, shocking to relate, the
whole is attributed to imprudence and carelessness on the part
of the captain. Our correspondent writes—
It becomes strain our painful duty to record one of the most
awful and destructive occurrences known in the terrible and
final catalogue of steam-boat accidents.
This afternoon, about six o'clock, the riew and elegantboat Moselle, Captain Perin, left the wharrof this crty stg tut
(full of
passengers) for Louisville and St. Louis, and with a view of
taking a family on board at Fulton, about a mile and a halt'
above the quay, proceeded up the river, and made fast to a
lumber raft for that purpose. Here the family were taken on
board, and during the whole time of the detention the captain
was holding on to all the steam he could create, with the inten-
tion of showing off to the best advantage the great speed of the
boat as she passed down the whole length of the city,. The
Moselle was a new brag boat, and had recently made several
exceedingly quick trips to and from this place.
Soon as the family were taken on board frors the raft, the
boat shoved off, and at the very moment het wheels made the
first evolution her boilers burst with a most awful and astd-
nishing.noise, equal to the most violent clap of thunder. The
explosion was destructive in the extreme, as we are assured by
a gentleman who sat on his horse on shore, waiting to see the
boat start. Heads, limbs, bodies, and blood, were seen flying
through the air in every direction, attended by the most hor-
rible shrieks and groans from.. the wounded and the dying.
The boat, at the moment of the aecident, was about 30 feet
from the shore, and was rendered a perfect wreck. She seemed
to lie all torn to finders as far back as the gentlemen's cabin.
and her hurricane deck (the whole length) was entirely swept
away. The boat immediately began to sink rapidly, and float
(with •a strong current) down the river, at the same time get-
ting further from the shore.
. The 'captain was thrown by the explosion entirely into the
street, and picked up dead, and dreadfully mangled. Another
man was throWn entirely through the roof of one of the d
neigh-
bouring houses, and limbs and fragments bodies scattered
about the river and shore in healt-rending profusion. Soon as
the boat was discovered to be rapidly sinking, the passengers
who remained unhurt in the gentlemen's and ladies' cabins
jumped into the rivet. Being above the ordinary business parts
of the city, there were no boats at hand, except a few large and
unmanageable wood flats, which were carried to the relief of the
sufferers-as soon as possible, by the few persons on the shore.
Many were drowned, however, before they could be rescued
from a watery grave, and many sunk who were not seen after-
wards.

We'are told that-one little boy on shore was seen wringing
his hands in agony, imploring those present to save his father,
mother, and three sisters, all of. whom were struggling in the
water to reach the shore, but• whom the poor little fellow had
the awful misfortune to gee perish, one by.one, almost within
his readi., An infant child, belonging to this family waSpicked
upalive, floating down the river on one of the frai-,,metits of the
hurricane.cleck..- '
The boat sunk in about fifteen• minutes. after the accident,
leaving nothing to be seen but her chimneys and a small por-
tion of het upper works, and a scene of distress and confusion
immediately ensued that altogether baffles description. Most
of the sufferers are among the hands of the boat and steerage
passengers. •
It is supposed that there were about 200 persons on board ; of
which number only from 50 to 75 are believed to have escaped,
making the estimated loss of lives about 125.