The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-10-19
II. /. SATURDAY, OCT. 10. 1898.
STEAM BOAT EXPLOSION.

- IA1 DOA LA t-O>iON.
In our last we mentioned the report o.
u steamboat accident which took place
between New York aud Hartford. We
now furnish our readers with the follow
ing particulars ofthis melancholy catastro.
phe.
On Wednesday morning about 3 o.
clock, while the steamboat Now Engla
Of Hartford, was engaged in landing pas
sengers at Essex, small village near
the mouth Of Hartford river, both her
boilers exploded Il the same instant, kill
iog !, and wounding 90. There were IL
bout 20 passengers on board ut the time
Of the disaster, most Of whom were lcltun-
ately in their births.
The explosion was succeeded by the
screcches ahdgroans Of the wounded, the
cries OF mothers for their children, of
wives for their husbands, and brothers and
sisters for one another, tad for their
iiicnds--the hustle and confusion of get
ting down the boats TO esve those who
were in the water-the whole constituting
sceno which utterly beggars descript-
ion.
Letters have been eccived ut New
York from Essex, the place Of the disas-
tor, as late as e'cloch, on Friday even
ing.
Fourteen wcro then dead, and some
others not expected TO survive. Tho on
Iy names we have learned, of tho deceas-
cd, are Allen Pratt, Of Hartford, baggage
master; Jared Lane, Of KiIingworth, deck
land; child Of Mrs. Thompson, about 9
cars old; man supposedto bo - las {
abrook, Of Concord, IN. H); DR.. Ste
,hen B. Whiting Of Reading, Conn. Ly- II
nan Warner Of Plymouth, Cokn. MIR. &
Of Norwich, Conn. J. M. Her
on, of Reading, Conn. and Mr. Robin r
on Of Bronson, boatman. 10
The following is an extract of letter
or from gentleman ofthis city, who was N
passenger on board the New England ;,
The upper works OF this unfortunate G,
oat is the most extraordinary wreck / b,
yer behold, and if the event had OCCUR u,
I'd in the day time, when the passengers tb
re generally upon the decks, not per- er
IN could have escaped injury. Ibelieve ct
wSote you that ] early discovered taat m
ebk was an impeffection In the working ,y,
Tho machinery Of this boat; that, how vi,
'er, considered of no importance, aa pe
garded safety: but when she, found it ",
'cessary IN lay too 10 fix her steering bo
pes, which required some time, l at nh
ce became astonished that she did not or,
row off steam, as is usually the case m,
len stops ure made, and from this time Ju
the explosion there were several stops cx
lde, and at the different Soppages of nt
, engine ! could perceive but a faint
nnd of the discharge Of steam. tn,
j became early impressed with tie sus. WI
zion that something was wrong, and rs
I'm my own reasoning on the subject, see
not consider ourselves in condition thi
safety, and so confirmed was I in this fro
preston, that came to the conclusion hai
remaining where | was in preference to Of,
angIng my position. At three o'clock ma
, explosion was most terrific, and for thu
ny minutes every thing around seemed dat
p chaos. i found myself unhurt, and, the
nc how, entirely free from excitement
extraordinary alarm. got on my pro
thos, and while dressing one Or two thu
sons rushed to the front cabin where an,
.. asked some questions, but they ha,
re so horror stricken that the power OF ]
nrance had ceased, and when they be- mo,
! to utter, il was in whispers, word at and
ime, and long intermssions. went VIII,
we, where all was darkness. Ireturn- the
got lamp, and lhcnabegan my cx- my
ration. The decks were covered with lie
ken timbers--the baggage all thrown ion,
, the rivcr--the cries and shouts of self
cry, and the moaning Of the dying, sst
, for a moment with mo paralysis; / ger
n felt like helping what could.
visited the dilIercpt scenes Of disirosa ---
ong the passengers; found nothing 4
Id be done for them but get the boat KeI
he shore rs speedy as possible, and in say
vt thirty minutes we lay alongside of uni
dock; The good people Of Essex were the
up with the first report Of the cxplo- *.
!, supposing it was an earthquake. Of
, news was soon spread, tho inhabi- deaf
s came down with great energy; hea
npt and efficient services were rem the
ID by tho male and female citizens; Con
r oil, their cotton, their meal, their The
J, and every thing they possessed, was Gust
nptly furnished and applied, and every wer'
9 was done by the hanos Of those cs- abo'
ble inhabitants to alleviate the dis COW
PES ofthc unfortunate sufferers. This
has been built nj IA great cost, ond no u
,nse has been spared; shc has run a latel
tn, and believe the only cause Of plan
misfortune has orioinated from ,bo fourt