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

did any thing appear to me 80 slow as the move
ments Of those engaged in hauling the boat.
l know, and he knew, that delay was DEATH
that life was fast ebbing. could not take my
gaze from his face-there all was GOODNESS and
resignation. No word or gesture indicative of
impotence escaped him. He perceived, by my
loud and, perhaps, angry tone of voice, how
much was excited by what | thought the bar
barous slowness of those around; he begged me
ing their best. At length we got him on shnre-
1t was too late; he was too much exhausted, and
died Immediately after the amputation.
So soon as was relieved from attending on
those in the cabin, went to examine that part
of the boat where the boiler had burst 1t was
complete wreck--a picture of destruction. 1t
bore ample testimony of the tremendous force of
that power which the ingenuity of man has
brought to his aid. The steam had given every
thing whitish hue--the boilers were displaced
the deck had fallen down-:he machinery was
broken and disordered. Bricks, dirt, and rub
Dish, were scattered about. Close by the bow
spirit was large rent, through which, was told,
the boiler, after exploding, had passed out, car
rying one or two men in its mouth. Several dead
bodies were lying around-their fate had been an
enviabe one, compared with that of others-they
could scarcely have been conscious of pang,
ere they had ceased to be. On the starboard
wheel house lay human body, in which life was
not yet extinct, though, apparently, there was no
sensibility remaining. The body must have been
thrown from the boiler deck, distance of thirty
feet. The whole of the forehead had been blown
away-the brains were still beating. Tufts of
hair, shreds of clothing, and splotches Of blood
might be seen in every direction. A piece of
skin was picked up by a gentleman on board,
which appeared to have been pealed off by the
force Of the steam; it extended from the middle
of the arm down to the tips of the fingers, the
nails adheridg to it. SO dreadful had been the
force, that not particle of the flesh adhered to
it; the most skilful operator could scarcely have
effected such result. Several died from inhal-
inc the steam or gas, whose skin was almost un-
injured.
The number of lives lost will, in all probabi-
lity, never be distinctly known. Many were
seen flung into the river, most of whom sunk to
kept together until the list of passengers was cal
that, however, though it had been attempted,
would, under the circumstances, have been next
to impossible.
Judging from the crowd which | saw on the
boiler deck Immediately before the explosion, and
statement which ] received as to the number OF
those who succeeded in swimming out after they
were cast into the river, | am inclined to believe
that between forty and fifty must have persisted.
| The cabin passengers escaped owing to the pc
culiar construction of the boat. Just behind the
boilers were several large iron posts. supporting,
| | think, the boiler deck. Across each post was
large circular plate of iron of between one and
two inches in thickness. One of those posts was
placed exactly opposite the head OF the boiler
which burst, being the second one on the star
board side Against this plate the head struck,
and penetrated to the depth of an inch, then broke
and ilew of at an angle, entering a cotton bale
to the depth of foot. The boiler head was In
| point blank range with the breakfast table III the
cabin, and had it not been Obstructed by the IRON
post, must have made clear sweep OF those who
were seated at the table.
! To render any satisfactory account OF the
cause which produced the explosion can hardly
be expected from one who has no scientific or
| practical knowledge on the subject, and who
previously thereto was paving no attention to the
management of the boat The captain appear
ed to be very active and diliSent in attending to
his duty. He was on the boiler deck when the
explosion occurred; was materially injured by
that event; and must have been ignorant OF the
mismanagement, if any there was.
l
| PLANTATION be afforded; and if it was really at
tributable to negligence, it can scarcely be sup
posed he will lay the blame on himself. 1t
might venture a suggestion in relation thereto, l
would assign the following causes: That the wa
ter in the starboard boilers had become low in
consequence of that side of the boat resting upon
the ground during our stay at Memphis; that
though the fires were kept up some time before
we showed off, that the head which burst had
been cracked for considerable time; that the
boiler was extremely heated, and the water,
thrown in when the boat was again in motion,
was at once converted into steam, and the fues
not being efficiently large to carry it oifa quick
ly as it was generated. nor the boilers head OF
strength capable of resisting its action; the ex-
plosion was natural result.
Tassume this proposition to be correct-that
in every case where a boiler bursts, 1t is far
to infer that it proceeded from neglect, until the
contrary shall be proved.
! A Cabin Passenger on boardthe H. 1McGregor.
Washington City, Goth March, 1880.
| -sase9eGn-
| CrnEMrfNJcA ALTON