Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-30

Geology, Mineralogy, and to certain extent,
Botany, the field before US is ample and unoccu-
pied.
Should another opportunity occur for writing
to the United States, hope to have something
more interesting to communicate.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
To the Editors ofths Ms,o- York Courier.
-ssee9eaa>
We are indebted, SAYS the United States Tel
egraph to an intelligent gentleman, passenger
on board the Helen McGregor, for the following
interesting narrative:
son the morning of the Gath of february, the
Helen McGregor stopped at Memphis to deliver
freight and land number of passengers. who re-
sided in that section of Tennessee. The time
occupied in so doing could not have exceeded
three quarters of an hour. When the boat land
ed, went ashore to see gentleman with whom
had some business. found him on the beach;
and, after short conversation, returned to the
boat recollect looking at my watch as pass
ed the gang way. 1t was half past eight o'clock.
A grear number of persons was standing on what
is called the boiler deck, being that part of the
upper deck situated immediately over the boiler.
twas crowded to excess, and presented one dense
mass Of human bodies. In few minutes we sat
down to breakfast in the cabin. The table, al
though extending the whole length of the cabin.
was completely filled, there being upwards of
sixty cabin passengers, among whom were sever
al ladies and children. The number of passen-
gers on board. deck and cabin united, was be-
tween four and five hundred. had almost fin-
ished my breakfast when the pilot rung his bell
for the engineer to put the machienery IN motion.
The boat having just showed of, / was in the act
of raising my cup to my lip, the tingling of the
pilot bell vet on my ear, when heard an explo-
sion, resembling the discharge of small piece of
artillery-the report was perhaps louder than usu-
al in such cases-for an exclamation was halfut-
tered by me. to the effect, that the gun was well
loaded, when the rushing sound of steam,& the rat
ting of glas in some of the cabin windows check
ed my speech, and told too well what had occur
ed Ialmost involuntariy bent nv head & body
down to the floor,a vague idea seemed to shoot
across my mind that more than one boiler might
burst that, by assuming this posture, the destroy
ing matter would pass over without touching me.
The general cry of "a boiler has burst" resOund-
ed from one end Of the table to the other; and, as
if by a simultaneous movement, all started on
their feet. Then commenced general race to
the ladies' cabin, which lay more towards the
stern of the boat All regard to order or defe-
renee to sex seemed to be lost in the struggle for
which should be first s. furthest removed from the
dreadful boilers. The danger had already pass
ed away. remained standing by the chair on
which had been previously sitting. Only one
person or two staid in the cabin with me. As
vet not more than half minute had elapsed SINCE
the explosion: but. in that brief space how had
scene changed! In that s'drop OF tme' what the
confusion. distress and dismay! An instant be-
fore, and all were in the quiet repose of security
another. and thew were overwhelmed with "a
larm and CONSERVATION. 1t is but justice to say
that in this scene of terror the ladies exhibited
decree of firmness worthy of all praise. No
screaming. no fainting; their fears, when uttered
were for their husbands and children, and not tor
themselves.
advanced from my position to one OF the cab
in doors for the purpose Of inquiring who were
injured. when. lust as reached it. man enter
ed NJ the opposite one, both his hands covering
his face. and exclaiming ''Oh God. oh God!
am lost. am ruined!" He Immediately began
to tear off his clothes. When stripped ne present
ed most shocking and affecting spectacle: his
face was entirely black-his body without par
ticle of skin. He had been llayed alive. He
caye me his name and place of abode-then
SINK in state of exhaustion and agony on the
floor: | assisted in placing him on mattrass
taken from one of the births, and covered nm
with blankets. He complained OF heat and coio
as at once depressing him. He bore his torment
with manly foltitude, yet conyuslve shrieK
would occasionally burst from him. Ills wie,
his children. were his constant theme; it was hard
to die without seeing them-"it was hard "a to go
without bidding them one farewellr u' anu
cotton were apDlied to his wounds; but he soon
became insensible to earthly misery. Before
had done attending to him, the whole floor OF the
cabin was covered with unfortunate sufferers
Some bore up under the horrors OF their SITUATION
with degree of resolution amounting to heroism.
Others we're wholly overcome by the sense OF pain,
the suddenness 9th fatal disaster, and the near
approach of DEATH which even to eth them %as fy,,
dent-whose paugs they already feit some I'm
plored us, as an act Of humanity, to complete the
work of destruction, and free them from present
suffering. One enueated the presence OF cle :.
gyman to pray by him, declaring he was ne not IN mt
to die. inquired; none could De mao: I'm eve W.
CARNATIONS of grief and despair.
To add to the confusion, persons were every