Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-21
THE STEAMBOAT DISASTER:
rFron the Norfolk Beacon, March III

Prom the NOriOik DeaCoh, SiaFSh al
The deplorable catastrophe produced by the
explosion Of the boiler of the steamboat Poro-
MAc, on Sunday evening, noticed in postscript
in Yesterdays Beacon, is even more trag'eal
than our FAIRS had led us to anticipate, and
has excited much painful interest throughout
eur town. The three victims who survived
when our last paper went to press, have since
changed their sublunary condition for one Of
more or less comfort-they successfully exPir-
ed, be,aeen and 10 o'clock, yesterday morn
ing.
JOHN DUDLEY, the white freeman, % years
Of age, had long been deck hand, bu, had, a
few weeks since, unhappiiy changed his situa>
ton for that OF fireman, 10 which there was a
little more pay attached; he is represented to
have been a man OF very es,imabe character,
faithful and persevering in the discharge Of his
duty, and Of upright intentions. wife aud
child deeply lament their sudden and untimely
bereavement 1t was, indeed, scene calculated
10 awaken the keenest sensibili,y, 10 SEE, yes
tertlay, the mother-in-law and wife Srwaiiirg
in The bitterness Of grief, the sad even, which
had removed from them their natural friend
and protector. His parents reside In Alexan.
dria
ENocH Hoy, the colored hre>man. was free
man, and hid connexions residing in Aiexan.
dria: he was severely scalded; and although, in
common with his Suffering companions, he re-
cei, ed every assistance which the bes, medical
experience could aft I'd, all was unavaIlinG 10
preserve his existence.
AusTIH WHITE, LIST steward, the property OF
Mr. John Cooke, Of Portsmouth, was a 'alua-
a.. no Inn evf.ral v ali do ~
TO survive.
GsoRoE NIXON, the eolored freeman, be-
longing TO Mrs. Richard of this town, is hea>
w loss to that worthy lady. He was more ,ho>
roughly preached whit destroying fluid than
either Of his companions, and survived about
an hour from the time of the explosion.
We have heard several accounts, touching
The particulars Of this sad event; bu, as they
are various and contradictory, and OF no utility
TO the public, we do not give them. Suffice it
TO say, that no censurc is imputed TO Captain
JENKINS, or any who suIvive-Io all OF whom il
is a source Of unfeigned sorrow. II fault there
was, we incline TO believe, from what we have
heard, that it was to be ascribed to an honest,
but imprudent zeal, on the part of the sufferers
themselves; who, having charge OF the prepel-
ling and destructive agent, were reluctant 10
lose en- advantage they had gained over the o.
Their boats by letting ph the steam while stop
ping to take in way>passenger; and no, aware
that there was any defect IN tie bo'kr, t"ey
paid tor their indiscretion with heir lives Let
US hope that it may prove an awful warning &c
ali who NAV, al any time, he char ged with the
management ofa power aluabe, when right.
" controlled so swfully caamitou-, whe'e II,
keepers sIumber, or permit 1t, from impru
dence, to gain the asceadancy
Doctor r BERr MAYO, OF Richmond, who
was passenger in the boat, promptly aford
the unhappy sufferers every relief and comior
which his experience or humanity could pre-
scribe, and, upon the arri' al oil the boat, con
suited and CO operated viii DR.. Ro. b. STARK
Of his place, in all the means of improving
their cordlion; and resigned them t. his care
about o'clock yesterday morning, when h,
left the Potomac, to take passage in The Virgil
MA, on his way to Washington.