Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-05-06
THE STEAM BOAT DISASTER.

We have gathered a lew additional partcu.
isrs requesting the melancholy disaster which
has ken The subject OF suCh lively interest for
the fasi ,hree days. line NewbuIgh GaZete
thus describes the terrible event.
" The steam boa, had iust len he wharf with
about l7n persons on board, when one OF the
hucs burst with aterrbe explosion mud forced
oil lhr false front OF her boiler ihe immense
volume OF dense smoke and steam winch ascen.
ded 10 great hrighl-lhe rushing oil the peo
pie on board 10 the exnemucs OF the vessel,
aud the piercing cries OF distress, lrt no doubt
10 those on shore OF The cause of the iremen.
dous crash they had heard. The alarm lnmc.
diately spread to all points OF tue village, aud
the surrounding wharves were soon covered
" ith people The terror aud curlosity natn4
rally eKeitedb by such an event, readily gave
Nay 10 hose strong feelings Of hrnevolcnce
snd humanity which piampl man 10 alleviate
IT, suilerIngs of his fellow beings. Boats we're
Immediately put oil 10 re=ene III So WIN IN the
moment oil despair Ind thrown themselves into
the river. The steam boat was hauled TO the
dock, aud such Of the passengers as were unin
iured, and those who were IN couditlou 20 be
removed, where conveyed 10 the hotels were
preparations hao been made Tor their reception.
and where they received every attention which
their situation demanded. All the PHYSICIANS
the village volunteered their services, aud
every person seemed anxious 70 do something
TO alleviate the load al suffering and misery"
Thirteen persons we're badly scaided, three OF
whom died ON the aight OF the accident
genurman who was present AT the time of
The accident, informs the editor of the Albany
Argus, " that he was standing az the extreme
part Of the bow thai he observed an increased
smoke and vapour passing out of the pipe but
heard no explosion. aud that the crirs sud
nf he craltla1 H.
upon deck or were brought up, was the first
iHiimation Of the accident"
An inquest was held on Saturday morning nj
Newburg over the bodies OF the persons who
have died from inj uries received from the ex
plosion. Verdict that they came 10 their
death by the bursting of the boiler of the Chief
Justice Marshall, in consequence OF excess oil
steam at The time
The boat was towed down 10 This city yes
ierday, aud taken round to the Dry Dock for
pepairs.
From the hest information we have been
able 10 Obtain, we are inclined 10 think that
Capt. Ford has been too hastily and freely
censnred tor this grievous catastrophe. II is
true that The entire ship is under the command
1.-THE captain, bur il is equally true that the en-
Pn"er Is the responsible man, as IL regards the
operation and care Of the machinery Of the
hnat And The engineers are selected not by
The captains OF the boats, but by the owners-
too often. we fear. not because of their fitness
for the station. but for the small amount Of wa.
ses they will take for their services.
Whenever an accident of this painful descrip
tion occurs. il is sure TO he iollowel by a yarie
~ Of wise prescriptions aud advise menis. %
guard against them in future. But hitherto
every suggestion has alike proved Intellectual.
We, TOO. have suggestion to make. which we
hope will arrest the attention of the public
The great source of danger. in our apprehen.
sion, is. the ignorance and unski fulness of en-
gineers. " Steam, we quote fhe American.
-" when applied by those who understand
its nature and agency, is safer and more man
ageable power, than any other, either animal
or mechanical and il is therefore, just and
right that those who undertake TO use i, for
pubic purposes, should be required under the
seyeresi restrictions and penalties, thoroughly
I aaders' and its effects" BItwhatis tb- facts
We understand that il many instances, men.
who, ship on board Of boats as Gremen, whose
ness is to attend the furnace, and who
know no more ABOUT the engine than TO look a,
Inc safety saIte, and now and then turn stop. |;