Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-07
ANOTHER STEAM BOAT EXPLOSION.

been again shocked this morning with
another steamboat explosion.
The Legislator, plying between this
city and New-Jersey, was lying this
morning at the wharf, at the foot OF
Market-held-street, OH the eve of her
departure for New-Brunswick, when a
sudden explosion occurred, which pro-
duced excessive CONSERVATION among
the numerous passengers on board, ex-
ceeding in number, it is said, one hum
dred-and resulting in the loss of two
lives, and the injury OF several persons.
TWAS soon ascertained that the main
flue of the boiler had burst, driving out
the false head, and sending forth vo-
lume of steam. Francis Ramsey, a CO
lored man and cook of the boat, was
killed instantIy-Robet Greenieaf, a fire
man on board was severely scalded, and
has since died in the hospital, whittier
he was Immediately conveyed,- Joseph
Bease. one Of the hands, was severely,
and Capt Henry, Of Ncw-Brunswick,
passenger, and several others, names
unknown, were slightly scalded.
The alarm among the passengers
was so great, that lady, with her two
children, jumped from the cabin win
dow, and fortunately escaped without
injury.
Ofthe actual causes of this accident
we can obtain no satisfactory informa-
ton, and in the state Of excitement
which it has produced, we will not ha-
card any conjectures concerning its
probable cause, in order that we may
not wrong any one. Thus much how
ever it is our duty to say-that most
strict investigation of the facts, con-
nected with this disaster, ought to be
made, by the jury of inquest-and if, on
such investigation, it shall appear, that
any negligence, however, slight, any
want Of the utmost caution, has been
exhibited, by the officers or engineer of
the boat, the fact should be proclaim
ed, both in order 10 guard the public "a
gainst any future confidence in those
that might be implicated, and to enable
the relatives of the unfortunate suffer-
ers to pursue, as sense of public duty
should induce them do, the remedy
which the laws afford, against such
ne sligence and want Of caution.
In England if stage coach upsets,
and breaks the limbs of a passenger
and such accident cannot be proved 10
have been absolutely unavoidabie--the
law sanctions, and juries constantly a
ward very heavy pecuniary damages
against the proprietors of the coach,
who are held responsible for the skill,
caution, and good conduct of their SER
vants.-Thc same law prevails here
and in proportion as the dangers that
may result from neglect or proper pre-
caution, is greater in steam vessels than
in stage coaches, should the vigilance
of juries be appealed to more freely, to
protect the lives and persons Of our CT
tizens.
In recording the above melancholy
ao~i-i,ut, II Is proper and just 10 state
the striking fact, that not one of the
steamboats, equipped with copper
boilers, and engines, as Fulton directed,
has ever done any injury by explosion.
In vain will capt. Fisher, or any bo-
dy else, in the face of this fact, state.
their conviction that iron is better than
copper, for boilers. The fact is not so,
we believe, on principle; for copper
tears, from its softness, like wet paper,
where iron, from its brittleness or hard
ness, breaks. But were it otherwise,
the experience of the boats constructed
on Fulton's plans, is sufficient to pro-
scribe the use of iron.
The boats of the North River Com.
pany, moreover, have, besides their or
binary safety valve, another, placed out
of the control Of the engineer.
The Connecticut and Fulton, and the
fine boat New-London, on the Sound,
have all three, we know, copper boil
ers.
Since penning the above remarks,
we have received from the editors of
the Commercial Advertiser the pro-
ceedings Of the Coroner's inquest over
the body OF Francis Ramsey. The YER
dict is, that che came to his death by
the accidental bursting of the main
flue of the boiler ofthe steam boat Le-
gislator."
The testimony follows
Capt. Laurence Fisher being sworn,
testified that he is the commander of
the boat. The fires were built and the
steam was raised this morning as usu-
al. While he was standing on the
wheel house, giving directions as they
were putting the boat off, the boiler ex-
ploded, by which means the deceased
came by his death. 1t was the main
flue' which burst, by which the whole
boiler was started, and the false head
driven off. He had given no directions
to raise an unusual head of steam, nor
was there so much steam on the boat
as usual. He has seen fifteen inches
of steam on the boat, but usually runs
hnt i, f,<~