Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-05-07
ITEM s.
FROM THE NEW York COMMERCIAL OF Nov.
DAY Is ULTIMo.
THE STEAMBOAT DISASTER.

DAY
THE STEAMBOAT DISASTER.
We have this morning gathered few addi-
tional particulars respecting the melancholy
steamboat disaster which has been the subject
of such lively interest for the last three days.
The Nswburgh Gazette Of Saturday, thus des-
cribes the terrible event -
"The steamboat had just left the wharf, with
about ITO persons on board when one of the fiues
burst with terrible explosion, and forced offthe
false front of the boiler. The immense volume
of dense smoke and steam which assembled to
great height--the rushing ofthe people on board
20 the extremities of the vessel, and the piercing
cries of distress, left no doubt to those on shore
ofthe cause of the tremendous icrash they had
heard. The alarm Immediately spread to all
points Of the village, and the surrounding
wharves were soon covered with people. The
terror and curiosity naturally excited by such an
event, readily gave way to those strong feelings
of bcnevolence and humanity which prompt man
to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow beings.
Boats were Immediately put off to rescue those
who in the moment of despair had thrown them
selves into the river. The steamboat was haul
ed to the dock, and such of the passengers as
were uninjured, and those who were in condi-
ton TO be removed, were conveyed to the hotels,
where preparations had been made for their re-
| ception, and where they received every atten-
ton which their situation demanded. All the
physicians of the vilage volunteered their SER
vices, and every person seemed anxious to do
something 20 alleviate the lead of suffering and
misery"
K uof,o h,II oI fbroo 4
| whom died on the night Of the accident viz -
MIR. Roe, OF Kingston, passenger David Vo.
| liant, engineer, and James Cassidy, waiter.
Three others died on Friday, viz : Thomas Di-
mond, cook William Cole, waiter, and Peleg
| Moore, fireman. And Robert Crandall, fire.
man, and Thomas Greenough, machinisl, Of
| Mattewan, passenger, died on Friday night
The name Of a Mr.. Rose, ship-carpenter, of this
| city, is also returned among the dead-making
nine deaths in ALL at the date of our last advces
| In addition to these, Aaron--,and William
Moore, two Of the hands, and three passengers,
Messis. Quick, Seaman, and Mann, were at the
| Orange Hotel, and badly scalded Several o.
theirs were scalded, but not dangerously. The
Albany Evening Journal, of Saturday, states
that three of the bodies, viz:--James Cassidy, Of
| albany, waiter Peeg Moore, of Troy, fireman;
and Thos. Dinond, of Troy, cook, "a black y had
been conveyed to Troy for burial.
An inquest was held on Saturday morning al
| Newburgh over the bodies Of the persons who
had died from injuries received from the explo
SION. Verdict, "that they came to their death
by the bursting Of the boiler Of the Chief Justice
Marshall, in consequence of excess of steam al
| the tine"
From, the best information we have been able
to obtain, we are inclined to think that Capt
Ford has been too hastily and freely censuret
for this grevious catastrophe. IT is true that the
entire ship is under the command ofthe captain
but ii is equally true that the engineer is res
ponsible man, as it regards the operation aDc
\ care of the machinery ofthe boat. And the en-
ginsers are selected not by tho captains of the
boats, but by the o,oaers-too often, we fear
not because Of tbor fitness ofthe station, bu
for the small amount Of wages they will take
] for their services.