The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-04-07
TREMENDOUs EXPLOSION.

The following narrative OF circumstances
connected with the explosion of the boiler
of steam boat on the Mississippi short
time since, is from the pen of one of the
passengers.
On the morning of the Oath Of February,
f, the Steam Boat Helen Mc'Gregor stopped
{ at Memphis to deliver freight and lsnd a
number of passengers, who resided inthat
section of Tennessee. 1t was half past
o'clock. A great number of persons we're
standing on what 10 called the boiler deck,
being that part of the upper deck situated
Immediately over the boilers. Hwas cpwd-
ed to excess, and presented one tense
mass of human bodies. In few minutes
we sat down to breakfast in the chin.
/ The table was completely filled, Their be-
ing upwards of sixty cabin passengers,
among whom were several ladies and chill
dren. The nunberof passengers on bard,
deck and cabin united, was betweenfour
and five hundred. had almost finished
my breakfast when the pilot rung his bell
/ for the engineer to put the machiney in
motion. The boat having just shovel of,
| heard an explosion resembling tn dis
charge Of small piece of artillery, When
the rushing sound of steam and the rafting
OF glass IN .s.~ cabin window
cnecKeG my speech, and told too well what
had occurred. The general cry of F." a boil
er mas burst" resounded from one end of
the table to the other. pad, as fbv stimuli
taheous movement, all started GA their feet.
Then commenced a general rush to the
LADIES' cabin, which lay more towards the
stern of the boat. All regard to order or
Difference to sex seemed to be lest in the
struggle for which should he first and fur
therest removed fIom the dreaded boilers
The danger had already passed away:
remained standing by the chair on which |
had been previously sitting. Only one
person or two staid in the cabin with me,
AS yet not more than half minute had
elapsed since the explosion; hui, in that
brief space how had the scene changed
In that "drop Of time" what confusion, dis.
tress and dismay! An instant before and
all were in the quiet repose of security
another, and they were overwhelmed with
alarm and CONSERVATION. 1t is but Justice
TO say that IN this scene of terror the ladies
exhibited degree of firmness worthy o
all praise. No screaming, no fainting
their fears when uttered, were for theil
husbands and children, not for themselves.
| advanced from my position TO one o
the cabin doors for the purpose of inouirins
who were injured, when, just as l reached
II, man entering at the opposite one, both
his hands covering his face, and exclaimine
"Oh God! oh God am lost am ruin.
ed" He Immediately began to tear of
his clothes. When stripped, he presented
a most shocking and affecting spectacle
| his face was entirely black-hs body with.
out particle of skin. He had been slaveC
! alive. He gave me his name, and place O
! abode-then sunk in state of exhaustion
and agony on the floor. / assisted in plac
ing him on matrass taken from one of the
births, and covered him with blankets
lie complained of heat and cold as at once
expressing him. He bore his torrents with
manly fortltude. yet convulsive shriel
would occasionally burst from him. His
it was hard itt 10 diss wfFs bis es9Rstapt hef
was hard to go without bidding them one
farewell" Oil and cotton were applied Il
his wounds, but he soon became insensibl,
to earthly misery. Before / had done at
tending to him, the whole floor of the cabiI
was covered with unfortunate sufferers
Some bore up under the horrors o: thei
situation with degree of resolution
amounting to heroism. Others were Who'll
ly overcome by the sense of pain. the sud
denness of the fatal disaster; and the neal
| approach of death which even to them was
evident-whose pangs were already felt
Some imPiored US, as an act of humanity, Il
complete the work of destruction, and fire.,
them from present suffering. One entreat
ed the presence of a clergyman to pray b,
him, decarl;ng he was not fit to die.
tnnnIFnd cn.nl1 hA L. n
side were to be heard groans and mingled
EXPLANATIONS Of grief and despair.
To add, to the confusion, persons wer,
every moment running about to learn tn,
fate of their friends and relatives, fathers
sons. and brothers, for, in this scene o
unmixed calamity, it was impossible to sa,
who were saved, or who had persisted
The countenances of many were SO mucl
dishgured as to be past recognition. M,
attention, after some time, was particularly
drawn towards a poor fellow who Law I'm
noticed on the floor, without uttering a sin
! gle word of complaint. He was at littl,
distance removed from the rest. He was
not much scalded, but one of his thighs wa,
broken: and principal artery had beer
severed, from which the blood was gushing
rapidly. He betrayed no displeasure It tn,
apparent neglect with which he was treated
he was perfectly calm. spoke to him
he said she was very weak, he felt himsel
going-it would soon be over" A gen
tleman ran for one of the physcians,he cam,
and declared that, if expedition were used
he might be preserved by amputating tn.
limb. but, that, TO effect this, it would he
necessary to remove him from the boa,
Unfortunately the boat was not sufficient,
near to ron plank ashore. We were
obliged to wait until it could beclose hauled
] stood by him calling for help; we placed
him on a matrass, and bore him to thu
| guards there we were detained some time
from the cause have mentioned. Neve,
did any thing appear to me so slow as III.
movements Of those engaged in hauling
the boat
/ knew, and he knew, taat delav wa,
desth--that life was fast ebbing. I couls
not take nv gaze from his face-there al
was Goodness and resignation. No word Of