Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-15
STEAM BOAT WILLIAM PENN.

STEAM BOAT WILLIAM PENN.
The undersigned, Committee of the Board
of Directors of the New Castle and Frenchtown
Rail Road Company. having examined into the
circumstances connected with the destruction
bv fire of the fine boat VIM. Penn, on the even
ing of Tuesday, the 4th instant which was UNI
fortunately attended with the loss of four lives
submit the following as the result oftheir myes.
LEGATIONS.
About half past O'Clock on the evening afore-
said. the William Penn, on her return from New
Castle. having on board about one hundred and
fifty passengers, and being about one mile this
side of Gloucester Point was discovered to be
on fire. the flames bursting out with great VIC
lence on the windward side of the boat, outside
of the larboard boiler near the after end OF it
The committee are satisfied that 1t was commu-
nicated to the wood near the boiler by means
of assure through the sheet iron work of one
of the return fues of the furnace which had Ell
Their escaped the vigilance of the workmen by
whom it had been examined two days previous
w. or which was of still more recent origin.
The wood which first became ignted was UNI
usually dry and therefore burnt with great ra-
pidity, and the combustible nature OF the bulk
heads, and slight upper deck OF the boat togeth
err with strong westerly wind, aided It's pro-
gress. so that in few minutes but little hopes
were entertained ofbeing able to save the boat.
The efforts of Captain Jeffries, and his crew to
do so. SEEM nevertheless, not to have been aba
ted while the slightest chance OF success remain
ed. hole was cut through the upper deck,
and a large quantity of water was thrown on the
fire, without producing any sensible eHecC the
hose was rugged TO the forcing pump near the
bow of the boat, but so great was the press OF
passengers in its vicinity, that 1t could not be
worked, and in the mean time the progress OF
the flames and the alarm had reached such a
pitch, that nothing remained TO be done but to
run the boat ashore, in order to preserve the
lives of the individuals on board. The tller
ropes having been burnt, this was promptly Ell
fected by means of the starboard engine-when
all the passengers Except three, who jumped
overheard into deep water and were drowned)
were safely landed The bodies of those who
threw themselves into the river, were immediate
Nv recovered and conveyed TO the city, where
every effort was made that medical skill could
devise to fesusitate them, but in vain.
One of these unfortunate persons was in the
bow of the boat out of danger, and rushed to-
wards the stern through the flames, to meet his
DEATH by precipitating himselfinto the water,
although begged by Captain Jeftries to re-
main where he was. The fourth passenger who
is deceased, was in feeble health, and died the
day succeeding the disaster it is supposed in
consequence Of having been in the water.
Several horses a portion of the mails, and
the largest part of the baggage, were saved;
and no doubt exists in the minds of the Com
mittee that all the passengers might have been
rescued without difficulty but for the panic
which is natural, and perhaps unavoidable, on
such an occasion. 1t appeared, however, that
the greatest presence of mind was preserved by
the engineers fremen, and crew generally, one
Of whom held up a portion of the bulk head
which the fire had forced out, and called to the
pass myers to 90 forward, whilst he thus conhn-
ed the flames and prevented the passage from
being interrupted.
AS soon as the fire was discovered the safety
valves were raised, to prevent the additional
danger of explosion of the boilers.
Captain Jeffries remained on board eXer-
ting himself to save the property of the passen-
gers after all were out of the boat, and was him
Self the last person to leave her.
The Committee, in giving these details of the
above melancholy disaster, deem it their duty to
express their thanks on behalf ofthe Company,
TO the master ferrymen and the captains and
crews of the steam and other ferry boats, both
of this city and Camden, as well as to many
others, who so promptly repaired to the William
Penn, and rendered every assistance which the
nature of the case would permit.
The Committee, after a very close investiga
ton, are enabled to state their decided cOnVc-
ton, that the persons already announced sdead
are all that lost their lives on this distressing Oc
casion.
On the WHOLE the Committee consider the fire
to have been entirely accidental; and while they
are of opinion that it ought to induce additional
care on the part of those engaged in steam navi-
cation, they unable to perceive that want
of prudence or caution can be attributed to Cap
tain Jeffries or the persons employed under him.;
on the contrary, they deem Captain Jeffries en-
titled to every confidence, and believe that his
conduct in the trying circumstances in which he
was placed was deserving of the highest praise.
JAMES LEFEVRE,
S. NEVINS,
VIM. ID. LEWIS,
VIM. J. WATSON
Committee,
Philadelphia, March 18th, 1884