Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-15

The ladies cabin, being on deck, was oeu'J S"s
tered, and filled instantly with steam anu sea'u'
ing water. Every berth 10 this cabin was occu'
o, ed, and some on the settees. No ladies' were
below. Those who were IN the after part OF 'n's
cabin generally escaped, land others VINO rema'neu
in their berths were scalded only IN the parts
which were directly exposed. Some sprans .n'
stantly from their berths into the sca'a'ng "ater
which for a time vas ANGLE deep on the caDin
floor. The explosion was succeeded by the
screeches and sroans of the wounded-the cries
of mothers for their children, Of wives tor their
husbands. and br others and sisters for one ano'
ther, and for their friends-the hustle anu cohiu'
sion of getting down the boats to save those VINO
| we're in the water-the whole constituting scene
which utterly besgars description. May heaven
| in mercy never show US such another.
The immediate cause Of the accident must Tor
| time remain a matter Of speculation and sur
mise. The engineer, Mr. Marshall. was at DIS
post in the engine room, and escaped un'nJured.
| He declares positively that there was not more
than inches of steam at the time. The assist
ant engineer, who had left his post but short
time before, says that the guage rod was up 10
the deck, and his story IS confirmed by the men
who were in the fire room al the time. Inc pl.
| lot, who was in the wheel house at the time OF
the explosion, says, that when the boat came TO
the Saybrook landing, some difficulty occurred
to the engine; that they were unable to start the
boat ahead; that they were compelled to anchor
to prevent drifting ashore; that she lay at anchor
about twenty minutes, during which time no
steam was blown off; that he felt alarmed and
went down and found that there was "quite too
much steam on" and that the hampers were not
up; that once afterwards be went down and
found matters IN nearly the same situation.
The place where the boat was anchored is
about miles below the scene OF the DISASTER
and the time which elapsed from her getting un'
der way to her stopping at Essex, must have
been at least half an hour. No steam was blown
Of when she stopped at Essex. Mr.. Potter. the
former engineer, was not on board; but Mr.. MAR
shall, the acting engineer, was considered ski
full man, fully competent to fill his place. One
Of the boilers is in the river; the fragments Of
the other are upon the wharf. where the boat
lies. Nothing Of it remains except the front
and the hues. There are perfectly sound evil
dences that there was no deficiency OF water in
the boiler. The whole OF the sides and back end
are gone, and the appearance Of the edge where
the parts separated is such as to give one the
idea that he may with his hands tear of piece as
easily as If it were rotten paper. 1t may be pro-
per to state, the BOILERS were made at the West
Point Foundry, Of the best copper, and they had
been in use only about two months
The directors Of the steamboat company, on
the receipt of the news yesterday morning, i'm
mediateiy dispatched the steamboat Massachu.
sets to the assistance OF the sufferers. She re-
turned to this city about 10 O'Clock last evening
with the passengers and some OF the wounded.
The body of Mr.. Pratt was brought up.