Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-09

cold at depressing him. He bore his torments
with manly iortitudc, yet convulsive shrek would
occasionally burst from hm.-His wife, his children
were his constant theme; it was hard to die without
seeing hem--''it was hard TO go without bidding them
one farewell!' Oil and cotton were applied TO his
wounds; but he soon became insensible IN earthlv
| misery
Before had done attending TO him. the whole floor
OF the CABIN was covered with unfortunate sufferers
Some bore PIP under the horrors of their situation With
adegree OF resolution amounting TO heroism. Others
were wholly by the of pain the sudden
ness oil the disaster, and the approach of DEATH
which even to taemwas evdent-whose pangs they
already felt Some implored us, act of humanity
to complete the work OF destruction and free them from
present suffering. One entreated the presence of
clergyman to pray by him, declaring he fit to
die. inquired; could be had On every side
were to be heard groans and mingled EXPLANATIONS of
| grief and despair
Ioiadd to the confusion, persons every nom ent
running about 10 learn the fate OF their friends and rea.
fathers sons brothers; for i'm this of unm
calamity il was impossible to cay who were saved or
or who had persisted. The counenances Of many were
so much dishgured as to be past recognition My at
tention, alter some ime particularly drawn to-
wards poor fellow who lay unnoticed on the foor
without uttering single word Of complaint. He was
little distance removed from the rest. He not
much scaded, but one Of his thig broken, and
principal artery had been severed from which the blood
was gushing rapidly. He betrayed no dspeasure at the
apparent neglect with which he treaed--he was
perfectly calm. spoke TO him he said he was very
weak he felt himself going-t would be over''
a gentleman ran for one OF the physicians he came
and declared that, il expedition were used he nigh be
preserved by amputating limb but that. effect
,hs, II would be necessary TO remove him fion the
boat Unfortunately the boat su cienty ne ar IN
run plank ashore. We were obliged to wait until il
could be close hauled. stood by him calling for help
we placed him on nattrass and bore him the guards
ttere we were detained time, from the cause /
have mentioned Never did any thing appear to me so
slow as the movements OF those engaged in hauling the
boat
knew, and he knew, tina, DELAY was death-tba,
lille was fast ebbing l could take my gaze from
his ace-there all was GOODNESS and resignation No
word gesture indicative of Impotence escaped him.
he perceived by loud and, perhaps, angry tone of
voice, how. much was excited by what thought the
oarbarous sowness OF those around; he begged me
not to take so much troubles that they doing their
best Atlength we got him shore-It 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 10 examine that part of the boat
where the boiler had burst IL was a complete wreck
IA picture Of destruction. Ii bore ample testimony of
the endous force Of that power which the ingenui
~ oil man has brought 10 his aid The steam had Civ.
en- every thing whitish hue-the boilers were di.pIac
ed-the deck had fallen down--the machinery was
broken and dsordered. Bricks, dirt and rubbish were
scattered about Close by the bowspr was large rem;
through which, was told. the boiler. aiterexpodipg
had passed ont, carrying men in its mouth
Several dead bodies were lying aroun; their fate had
been an enviabe one, compared with that Of others
they could scarcely have been conscious of a pang ere
they have ceased to be- On the s,arboard whee
lay human body, in which life was not vet extinct
apparently, there sensibity remaining
The body must have been thrown from the boiler deck
distance of30 feet. The whole of the ad hal he
blown away the brains still beating Tufts of hair
hreds OF cotng and splotches of blood might be seen
IN every direction. piece of skin was picked I'D by
gentleman on board which appeared TO have been
pealed OIL by the force of the steam; il extended from
The middle OF the down TO the tip of the fingers
the nails adherng TO it, So dreadful had been the
force that particle of the flesh adhered TO H. the
most stul operator could scarcely have effected such
result Several died from inhaling the or gas
whose skin almost uninured.
The number of lives lost will in all probability me-
yer be distinctly known. Many were seen flung into
the river, most OF whom sunk to rise MORE Could
the survivors have been kept together until the list of
passengers called the precise loss would have been
ascertaned; that however, though it had been attempt
ed would under the Circumstances have been next to i'm
possible.
Judging from the crowd which | saw on the boiler
deck Immediately before the explosion, and the state
ment which received to the number of those who
succeeded in swimming out after they were cast into
the river am inclined TO believe that between 40 and
80 must have perised
The cabin passengers escaped. owing TO the peculiar
construction OF the boat. just behind the boilers ere
several large iron posts, supporting, think the boiler
deck; across each post large circular pIate of
iron, of between and two inches in thickness
O1e OF those pots placed exactly opposite the he
OF the boiler which burst, being the second one on the
siarhoard side Against this plate the head struck and
penetrated TO the depth OF inch, then broke and
dew oil at an angle, entering cotton bale the deph
of foot The boe head was i'm point blank range with
the breakfast table in the cabin, and had net been OBJ
Nfructed by the iron post, have Aade clear sweep
OF those who were seated at tie table.
10 render any satisfactory account OF the which
produced The explosion, hardly be expected from
one who scientific knowled or the sub
lect, and who previously thereto payng no atten
ton TO the managementof the boat The captain appear
ed 10 be very active and dgen in attending TO his duty
He was on the bolerdeck when the explosion occurred
was materially injured by that event and must have
been ignorant OF the mismana cement il any there vyas
From the engineer alone could the true expana tioi
be afforledaDd il indeed il was really attributable to
negligence, ii can scarcely be supposed he will Law the
the blame Oh himself. II might venture a suggestion
in relation thereto, would assign the following cases.
That the water in the tarbard boiler had become low
in consequence Of that side Of the resting upon The
ground during stay Memrhi-; that though the fire
were kept up some time before showed oil that the
head which burst had been cracked Tor a considerable
tDe that tAe boiler extremely heated, and the
water, thrown in when the toat again in motion
lag sufficiently large carry off quickly a,it was
generated, nor the boilerhead OF strength capable OF
resisting i:s action, the explosion natural result
assume this proportion 10 be cotrecthat in every
case where boiler burst il is far infer tina, il pro-
cerded from gec' until the contrary shall he proved
| n GbinPosseager on boord the Helen Me Gregor
Washington City, 26th March, 1880.
Correspondence Of the Journal of C1umerce
WAsHINGTON' 29th March 1880.
The Senate to-day acted on The nominations OF NJ
Swartwout, Decatur, Cushman, &c. The first named
gentleman confirmed by handsom vote. OF the
fate OF the other two, do net desire be The telegraph
They will know it enough
The House OF Repres natives progressing on the
road from buffalo to New Orleans. Ii is enough TO
know that they are not ye, at IN, end Of the journey
/ I n Il i'm 4, et a lon,