Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-04-07
THE HELEN M'GRECOR.

tIeman. a passenger on board the lielen
AIcGregor, for the following interesting
norlotiye.-U. S. Telegraph.
On the morning Of the 9th Of February
ibe Helen McGregor stopped at Memphis
10 deliver (reigh; aud land number Of pas
sonqers. who resided in that section of
Tennessee. The time occupied in so do
in1 could have exceeded three quarters Of
an hour. When the boat landed, went
ashore to see q gentleman with whom /
had some business. | found him on the
beac|i: s. after a short conversation, retur-
ned 10 the boat recollect looking at my
watch as ! passed the gangway. It was
half past eight O'Clock. A great number
Of persons were standing on what is called
the boiler deck, being that part OF the up
nor deck situated Immediately over the
boilers. 1t was crowded 10 excess, and
enc mass of human bodies. In
, few minutes we sat down to breakfast IN
ibe cabin. The table, although extending
the whole length Of the cabin was com
ple,ely filled, there being upwards OF sixty
cabin passengers, among whom were sc'-
oraI Indies aud children. The number Of
passengers on board. the deck and CABIN
united. was between four and five humid
red. Ihad almost finished my breakfast
when the pilot rung his bell Tor the engl-
aeer to put the machinery 10 motion. be
boat having Just showed OF, was IN me
acl of raising my cup TO my mp, the Jingle
Of the pilot bell yet on my ear when l
heard an explosion, resembling the DIS
charge of IA small piece of artIIlery--lhe
report was perhaps louder than usual 10
such c4ses-for an exclamation was halt
uttered by me to the effect that the gun
was we'll loaded, when the rush ne sound
of steam and the rafting Of glass IN some
of the cabin windows checked my speech
and told too we'll what had occurred. /
almost involuntBrly bent my head aud Boz
DIV down to the lloor--a vague idea seem
ed to shoot across my mind that more than
ole boiler might burst, and that, by assum
ng this posture, the destroying matter
.nIrlt pass over without touching me -
The general cry Of "a boiler has burst
resounded from one end OF the table 10 the
other, and, as if by a Simultaneous move
meat. all started on thcr feet. Then
commenced a general race 10 the ladies'
cabin, which lay more towards the stern OF
the boat. All regard to order or Difference
lo sex seemed to be lost in the struggle Tor
which should be first or furthest removed
rom the dreadful boilers. The danger
had already passed away! remained
standing By tnc chair on which had been
previously sitting. Only one person or
Two staid To- the cabin with me. As yet
uot more than a half "a minute had elapsed
since the explosion; but, in that brief
space how had the scene changed! La
that "drop of time" what confusion, dis
ucss and dismay! An instant before, and
al were lii quiet reposc OF sccunty-ano.
ther. and they were overwhelmed with a.
arm and CONSERVATION. It's but justice
TO sagthat in this scene Of terror the ladies'
exhibited degree offrmness worthy ofall
praise. No screaming, 30 taIntlng; their
fears when uttered. were for thGr husbands
and children, not for themselves.
/ advanced from my position 70 one Of
the CABIN doors, Tor the purpose OF lnqulr-
ing who were injured, when, Just az ! reach
ed H. q man entered at the opposite one,
both lis hands covering his face, and eX-
"Oh God Oh God am lost
| am rulued" lie Immediately began TO
tear of his clothes. When stripped, he
q most shocking and affecting
spectacle; bus lace was entirely black-nIs
body without a particle of skin lie had
been ilaycd alive. Hegaye me his name
and place Of abOde--lheR sunk IN a state
Of exhaustion and agony on the floor
assisted in placing HIM on maitrass Ia
ken from one of the births, and covered
nm with blankets. He complained Of
heat aud cold as at once depressing hun.
lie bore his torments with a mauiy iOru-
tudc, yet a conyulsive shrek would oCca-
slonaly burst from blm. lis wife, his
we're his constant theme; IT was
lard 10 die without seeing them-'It was
hard to 90 without bidding them one fare
we'll" Oil aud cotton were applied to his
wounds; but he sooI became lnsenslbIe 10
earthly misery. Before / mad done at-
lending 10 D.m; tic whole floor was cover
I'd N,,l caouuuato sui rcr5. Some bore
Up aHucr the horrors oi lhcIr situation with
a degree OF resolution amounting 10 hero
sn. Oilers were wholly overcome by
me sense of pain, the suddenness Of the
.4jai disaster, and the near approach Of
death, winch even 30 them was evident;
whose gangs they already tell Some IN
,tored Us, as al act Of humanity to CON.
1.e,e the work of Destruction, aud free
hom from presen, suffering. Oac eutrcat-
ed Tie presence Of d clergyman 10 pray BY
7ir1 CprIari1D H. was fCl fif ~ d,a tn-|