Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-08
THE STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT.

Fros, the United States Gazette Of Thursday.
The WILLIAM PENN.-This unfortunate boat
driffed nm TO the island, opposite the city, on
Tuesday evening. where she lay until the tide
turned. A small boat was sent, with number
of hands. to watch her; but a set OF proving
scroundrels beset the wreck, while 1t was yet
burning and stole and carried OH every thing
thew could lay their hands on. The boat drift
ed down with the tide, and what there is leit OF
her, is at Kaghn's Point. The agent OF the line
is DESTROYS that articles, ofevery kind, that were
in the boat, and may be found, should De return
ed to his Office, at the foot Of Chestnut street.
We learn, with regret that Mr. Buckley, pas
senger, died yesterday, in consequence OF his
su fferings from the accident.
During the anxiety on Tuesday to escape
from the steam boat, lady presented herself at
the bows with very young child, and gentle-
man offered to assist her He took the infant,
wrapped it carefully in his cloak. and called to
person standing in the mud to catch it. The
person addressed probably did not attend to the
call The little child was thrown into the
marsh The gentleman, however, supposing
the infant safe, helped the mother to get on
shore. That being accomplished, the child was
not to be found; but as it had been directed to
somebody, there was no doubt but it would soon
appear, and the mother was removed.
Afterwards, person discovering the cloak,
thought to rescue it from the tide, when to his ut
ter establishment, he perceived that it contained
q living child. He conveyed it to careful hands;
and the next morning it was restored to the
anxious mother
The Post Master sent down yesterday and
had the river dragged, in the hopes OF finding
the mail bags missing from the steam boat; but
the persons employed were unsuccessful. When
the tide ebbed, he despatched messengers to
the remnants Of the boat who, after some time,
raked up from the bottom near the bows, the
lock and chain of the portmanteau containing
the Baltimore and western letters. The lock
was much melted, and the chainnearly destroy
ed No doubt remains that the whole contents,
probably very valuable, Of the mail were burned.
PHILADELPHIA PosT OFFICE,
March 9Th, 1884, P. M.
Three bags, containing newspapers and pam
phlets were received on the evening of the 4th,
from on board the William Penn; one Of them
partly burnt, some Of the packages missing, and
portion Of the remainder so wet and defaced
as to render further transportation useless; one
package marked MASSACHUSETTS STATE" TAX
en- from the Washington City Letter Mail, (the
only one saved and containing letters for parts
of Massachusetts and New Hampshire was de-
taned the letters being too damp to be forward
ed.
A number of bags containing newspapers and
pamphlets are missing, some it is supposed were
burnt and others thrown overheard and lost.
Persons finding any loose packages and de-
tanning or embezzling Them will be prosecuted
under the act Of Congress, and become liable to
fine and imprisonment; if returned Immediately
to this Office, suitable reward will be given.
Further search has led to the conclusion that
two large portmanteaus containing the letters
from Baltimore city and the West, embracing, as
is supposed, Cincinnati and Ohio State, (South,)
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Tennessee,
Western Shore, Maryland and Washington,
Union town and New Geneva, Pa.
and for distribution have been entirely consum-
ed. Their locks and chains partly melted were
found in the wreck Of the boat on the falling of
the tide, by Mr.. McCahen, Chief Carrier and
the proprietor Of the Hotel at kaighn's Point;
Messrs. Taber and Potter after diligent search
in the fats at low water were unable to discover
any of the lost mails.
1t is impossible to tell the extent of the loss oc
casioned by the destruction Of the portman-
teaus. JAMES PAGE, P. M.