Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-05

Steamboat desfroyedby Fre.-Last evenings
mail brought US the lamentable intelligence of
the total destruction, by fire, OF the new and va
liable steamboat North Carolina, commanded by
Capt Samuel Pedrick, belonging to the Virginia
and North Carolina Transportation Company
and engaged in facilitating the conveyance OF pro-
duce on that part of the line OF navigation be-
tween Elizabeth City and Weldon.
This melancholy event will be learned with
deep concern by this whole community. whose in
teres,s are insepara6ly connected with the sue
cess Of this undertaking
The value Of the boat about $4,000, and
we regret to learn she was not insured.
The following is the substance Of letter, adj
dressed to the President and Directors OF the
Company, by Capt PeJrick, announcing the dts
astro,s occurrence, received by last evening
mail, and Immediately handed to us for publica-
ton, BY the Agents here.-NoyoM Beacon.
BRIpeEs' FsRRy, IN c.
November %, 1881.
GENTLEMEN: The steamboat North Carolina,
recently under m; command, is no more! This
melancholy and dreadful accident occurred on
Saturday afternoon. Goth instant. about hall past
two O'Clock, near Bells Bar. While walking on
the boiler deck, suddenly discovered fire burst
inc out Immediately under my feet. called all
hands, with the buckets, and made every exertion
to extinguish it. but without effect. In few
minutes the boiler house was in flames from one
end to the other, and no hopes Of success re-
naming, and the fire gaining rapidly on the boat,
it became necessary to provide means for our own
safety. Tho two freight boats ha, ing been cast
off to secure their safety, | proposed that we
should make our escape in the small boat, but on
looking over the stern for 1t, to my surprise and
dismay, discovered her several hundred yards
distant, with no one but my pilot in her. then
steered for the Shore but finding it impossible to
get near enough from the pro ecting trees, threw
nv trunk overheard and succeeded in escaping,
with all my crew. Unfortunately, however. |
had been looking over some accounts just before,
and had laid my account books, and nearly all
nv clothing, in one of the births, all OF which,
with my log book aud journal, shared the fate Of
the boat.
With the exception of few articles left in
my trunk. nothing was saved by any one on board,
but the clothes they stood in. The want of the
small boat exposed our lives to imminent danger,
and renderedit impossible to save manv move.
ables which fell prey to the flames. My last
effort, before abandoning the boat. was to run her
on Bells Bar, thinkingif could effect that, the
engine might be get out at low water-but even
this satisfaction was denied me, and after burn
ing to the waters edge, had the pain and NOR
LITIGATION to see her sink in water of such depth
as to leave me little hope of effecting any mpor-
tant recovery until the dry season in the summer,
| when there will not be more than three or four
feet water where she lies. am deeply afflicted
BY this unhappy occurrence, and am using every
effort to save such parts of the engine as can be
detached.
attribute this deplorable misfortune to the
housing being built too close to the boilers, which,
owing to the narrowness Of the boat. became ne
cessary to avoid encumbering the deck too much.
Yours, with respect,
| SANIIEJ pEnRICK