Litchfield enquirer., 1830-04-15

| ] thing whitisE hue---the boilers were dis l placed--the deck had fallen down--tEe machinery was broken and tlisordered. Bricks dirt and rubbish, were scattered about. Close by the bowsprit was large rents through which was told the boiler, l after explodings had passed out, carrying 1 one or two men, in it's mouth. Several { dead bodies were lying around their fate 1 had been an enviable one compared with that of others-they could scarcely have been conscious of pang ere they ceased to be. On the starboard wheel house lay human body, in which life was not yet extinct, though apparently, there was no sensibility remaining. Tho body must have been thrown from the boiler deck, a distance of thirty feet. The whole of the forehead had been blown away: the brains were still beating. Tufts of hair, sl,reds of clothing, and splotches of blood might be seen in every direction. A piece of skin was picked up by a gentleman on board, which appeared to have been pealed off by the force of the steam it extended from the middle the arm down to the tips of the fingers, the nails adhering to it. So dreadful had been the force that not par- ticle of the flesh adhered to it <: the most skilful operator could scarcely have effec- ted such result. Several died from in- haIlng the steam or gas, whose skin was al- most uninjured.
 The number of lives lost will in all probability never be distinctly known. Many were seen flying into the river, most of whom sunk to rise no more. Could the survivors have heen kept together until the list of passengers was called, the precise loss would have been ascertained that however, though it had been attempted. would under the circumstances have been next to impossible.
 Judging from the crowd which I saw on the boiler deck immediately before the explosion, and the statement which recei- we'd as to the number of those who succeed ed ln swimming out after they were cast into the river, am inclined to believe that between forty and fifty must have perlshed.
 The cabin passengers escapeds owing to the peculiar construction of the boat. Just behind the boilers were several large iron posts, supporting, think, the boiler deck across each post was large circular plate ofiroD, of between one and two inches in
 
 exactly opposite the head of the boiler which burst. being the second one on tho starboard side. Against this plate the head struck and penetrated tosthe depth of foot. The boiler head was in point blank range with the breakfast table in the cabin, and had it not been obstructed by the iron post, must have made clear sweep of those who were seated at the ta- ble.
 To render any satisfactorily account of the cause which produced the explosion, can hardly be expected from one who pos- sesses no scientific or practical knowledge on the subject, and who previously there- to was paying no attention to the manage ment of the boat.-The Captain appeared to be very active and diligent in attending to his duty. He was on the boiler deck when the explosion occurred was n,ateri- ally injured by that event, and must have been ignorant ofthe mismanagement,i if any there was.
 From the engineer alone could the true explanation be afforded :; and, if indeed it was really attributable to negligence, it can scarcely be supposed he will lay the blame on himself. lfI might venture sugges- tion in relation thereto, I would assign the following causes: That the water in the starboard boilers had become low in conse- quence of that side of the boat resting upon the ground during our stay at Memphis 1; that the fires were kept up some time be- fore we showed off. that the head which burst had been cracked for considerable time, that the boiler was extremely heated, and the water, thrown in when the boat was again in motion, was at once conver- ted into steam, and the dues, not being suf- ficiently large to carry it off as quickly as it was generated, nor the boiler head of a strength capable of resisting its action the explosion was natural result.
 Iassume this propositionto be correct that, in every case, where boiler bursts it is fair to infer that it proceeded from neg lect, until the contrary shall be proved. On the evening of the 29th ultimo, as the Breechin gaoler was paying his evening visit to the prisoners under his charge, Ire found that tho door of the cell of the pri- soner Temple, committed on suspicion of having robbed wright's shop on Deeside. was barricaded on the inside. The gaol- CT of course demanded admittance which the prisoner stoutly refused, and the gaolAr ' ,4s t.G- (