The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-04-08
From the Washington Telegraph.
STEAM BOAT EXPLOSION.


We are indebted to an intelligent gen.
tleman, a passenger on borad tho Helen
McGregor, for the following interesting
nnrratve:-
On the morning Of the oath of February,
the Helen McGregor stopped at Memphis
to deliver freight and land number o.
passengers, who resided in that section of
Tennessee. The time occupied in so do
ing could not have exceeded three quarters
OF an hour. When the boat landed went
on shore to sec gentleman with whom
had some business. | found him on the
beach, and after a short conversation, re-
turned to the boat. recollect looking at
my watch as | passed. the gang way. II
was half past eight O'clock. A great nun.
Der Of persons we're standing on what is
called the boiler deck, being that part of
the upper deck situated Immediately over
the boilers. II was crowded to excess,
and presented one dense mass Of human
bodies. In few mind we sat down to
breakfast in the cabik The table, al.
though extending the whole length of the
cabin, was completely hiIed, there being
upwards Of sixty cabin passengers, among
whom we're several ladies' and children,
The number Of passengers OH board, deck
and cabin united, was between four and five
hundred. had almost finished my break
fast, when the pilot rung his bell for the
engineer 10 put the machinery in motion,
The boat having just showed of, was in
the act of raising my cup to my lip, the
tinkling Of the pilot bell yet in my ear,
when | heard an explosion, resembling the
discharge Of small piece fartillery-the
report was perhaps louder than usual in
such cases-for an exclamation was half
uttered by me that the gun was well load
cd, when the rushing sound Of steam, by
the rafting Of glass in some Of the cabin
windows checked my speech and told too
well what had occurred. almost involun.
torily bent my head and body down to the
foor--a vague idea seemed to shoot across
my mind that more than one boiler might
burst, and that by assuming this posture
the destroying matter would pass over
without touching me.
The general cry of "a boiler has burst"
resounded from one end ofthe table to the
other; and, as if by a simultaneous move.
ment, oil started on their feet.--Then com
menced n general race to the ladies' cabin,
which lay more towards the stern Of the
boat. All regard to order or difference to
sex seemed to be lost in the struggle for
which should be first and furthest removed
from the dreadful boilers. The danger
had already passed away! remained
standing by the chair on which had been
previously sitting. Only one person or
two staid IN the cabin with me. AS yet
not more than halfa minute had elapsed
since the explosion; but, in that brief space
how had the scene changed! In that "drop
Of time" what confusion, DISTRESS and dis.
may! An instant before, and all were in
the quiet repose of security-another, and
they were overwhelmed with alarm and
CONSERVATION. 1t is but justice to say that
in this scene Of terror the ladies exhibited
degree Of firmness worthy Of all praise
No screaming, no fainting; their fears
when uttered, were for their husbands and
children, not for themselves.
| advanced from my position to one OF
the cabin doors for the purpose Of inQuir.
ing who were injured. when, just as
reached il, q man entered at the opposite
one. both his hands covering his face: and
exclaimed, "Oh God, oh God am lost!
am ruinedl" He Immediately began to
tear off his clothes. When stripped he
presented most shocking and affecting
spectacle, his face was entirely black-his
body without particle Of skin. He had
been flayed alive. lie gave me his name
and place Of abode then sunk in state
Of exhaustion and agony on the floor. I
assisted in placing him on matrass taken
from one of the births, and covered him
with blankets. lie complained of heat and
cold as at once expressing him. lie bore
his torments with manly for,itude, yet a
convulsive shrek would occasionally burst
from him. His wife, his children, were