Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-07
MELANCHOLY DISASTER

Yesterday, just as the Steam Boat WuIr,
PENN, with about one hundred and fifty psScen
GERS from Baltimore, had come round the NOM
below this city, she was discovered to be on frsS
near the furnace. The rapidly Of her motioI
creating a strong draft, and the very comhnsg
BILE nature of every piece of wood near 10 tho
place. soon rendered it certain that the hoo.
would be lost. She accordingly run ashore or
the muddy margin Of the river. Before reacb
ing which, however, she seemed to be in On,
full blaze. Here the passengers jumped out ar
most Of their baggage, and part of the great
Southern Mail were thrown on shore, Mar,
of the passengers jumped overheard. A seaIo
boat went down and brought up from the wrect
most of the passengers, to the usual andipo
place
We learned late last evening, that the dcad
bodies of a gentleman and lady, were takcr
from the river.
Several lives were saved by the hazardop.
eXertions of persons belonging to the boat and
by those who were drawn to the scene of opHa.
grafton. From the great number of passengers
and the confusion consequent upon such an aw
full scene, it was impossible to ascertain with any
degree of certainty the extent Of personal niri
ny sustained.
Some Of the passengers stripped themselves
jumped into the river, and swan ashore-those
were taken up almost perishing from the cold
1t was mentioned to us, that Lady in CON.
pany with the Rev. John Mtchemore OF Lew.
istown, Delaware, jumped into the river in her
CONSERVATION. Mr.. M. followed her. and was
drowned. At our last information hopes we're
entertained ofrecoverng the lady
Col. Porter Joseph S. is also among the drown.
ned
One man drfted out into the river on set
tee, but was finally saved.
he cta hna on chr skf,
run with her bows into the mud, and the stern
in deep Water-the fire was raging SO intensely
in the centre of the boat, as to prevent the pas
sengers who were aft, from going forward
they therefore jumped into water beyond their
depth.
We regret to add, that the lady mentioned
above died between and o'clock She was
in delicate state Of health.
The body has been removed by the Coroner
to Cherry Hill, where it will remain for short
time, for recognition.
When the extent ofthe fire was known IN the
boat, Captain Jeffries ordered her to be run
side ways on TO, or long side the shore, which
would allow all the passengers to jump out, while
the smoke was blowing over the side-but some
compelled the helmsman to run bows
on; by which means the passengers IN the stern
were more endangered. Nothing could eXceedtbe
anxiety of the persons connected with the line,
to render every possible assistance to those IN
danger. Mr.. Davidson, the agent, enqred ofthe
first person he met, whether any lives were lost
He was tolG, that ''a were safe" Then say:
Mr.. Davidson, ALPS well-we care nothing about
the boat. The fatal effects were subsequently
learned.
Dr. Joseph Parrish and Dr.. West, Of Front
street were active in directing and aidingin the
attempts of citizens to recover the drownedpef'
sons.
very intelligent lad, named William Henry
Pemberton Hudson, was found in the crowd laS
evening" having been rescued from the steam
boat VIM. Penn. He says his fathers names
Henry Hudson, and he lives in Delaware. !
boy is with the Rev. Mr.. Clay, pastor OF tAs
Swede's Church. He resides near the church
T. S. Gdz.