Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-08-31
From the United States Gazette, Angus. 10


Auful Steamboat Disaster Va are indebted
to an int lligent gentleman from kentucky, for
the following PARTICULARS of obstructive explosion
on the river Ohio.
The steamboat Motto, making her first trip from
Louisville to Pittsburgh ran on the shoals at the
foot Of Blannerhassett's Island. in attempting 10
get off, too great quantity of Steam accumulated.
and the boil r burst, killing Immediately three
persons, and scllding eight others so severely that
they died within few hours, and three more, il
was feared, would survive their injury only few
days.
The steamboat Roanoke came up to the Motto
some hours after the disaster, and afforded what
rlli f could be given.
The persons who were instantly killed. were
the Engineer, deck passenger, who was blown
through the stern of the DO { more than twenty
feet into the rvsr and cabin passenger, Mr.. w.
F. Albums, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Our
informant, who was passenger in the Roanoke.
ithered the following information relative to Mr..
Albums, whose fate seemed to have made greater
impression on the surviving crow and passenger,
than that of other sufferers. Hehad just or aduated
at Augusta College, in Kentucky, and was re-
turning homo to his family, with his diploma he
was attended to the boat by large procession Of
his fellow students, and tho Hearty cheers and
kindly f4rewell given to the youth by those with
whom he had been SO long associated, commended
him to the resp ,ct and afsctionate regard Of the
passengers and crew of the Motto.
Young Albums had during most of the passaFa
walked the upper deck in admiration Of the scene.
ry and dwelling on tho anticipltions of home his
good feelings and buoyancy of his spirits had
caused him TO be particularly noticed, and his
numerous enquiries to b, Immediately answered.
AT tho moncnt of the dis ist,r, the ibin passon.
re-, and tho bot was full, were all in or near
tloir berths on tho upper deck and aft, it being
about two hours after dinner--all Excepting young
Adams, no had been on the lower deck, and was
just leaving position nsar the whool, when the
explosion took pllco. His death must have been
inst lntin 9ous; he wJs found twisted round tho
shaft Of the wheal Tn, trunks Of the deceased
were returned to the Coll &c, addressed to tho
Pr sidsnt, Dr. RuTrER, we bslisve.
the last of the elsvJn who died, was tho cabin
boy. Our informant says, that though used to
rough scenes, his heart was chilled by that pre-
scented on boird the {" Motto" Never did no wit
ness, never indeed did his imagination conjure up
such an app lllng sight.
the line of the s-fJty vavs had become entangled.
so that the engineer could not let of the excess
of steam. Tnoy added also, that the engine had,
in their opinion, been badly managed Through tho
whole voyage.
We have already remarked that Mr.. Adams was
the only cabin passenger killed. Three deesk or
st ,erage passengers were among the eleven dcad'.
,'u s.,o "o.roa' aiivc wheh our informant lett
tn, Motto, belonged, if we understood him cor
roctly, to the crew.
lac g,nti ,man from whom wo derived tho facts
OF tn, above melancholy case, informed US that
no ana another gsntlem IN were waiting at Mays
VILE the arriyl of tao " Motto" with a view Of
tikng pass Age in hJr; but the boy stationed 70
!ook oat for the boIt and to awaken thsm in ssa.
son. either slept on his post or as no asserted saw
so miny passengers on DO .rd that no thought the
gentlemen would do bettsr TO wait for the next
boat. Thoy did wait, and were providontially
saved from the destruction that might haveco1e
upon them, or wers at least spared the shock that
must have boon fslt by all on BOARD