The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-04
From The National Gasetie.
EXPLOSIONS-No. :

IF
However much we may be gra,i6ed at the fact, that
the skill, ingenuity and enterprise OF our citizens are
carrying country forward with rapdity uncxam-
Piled in the history Of old nations and however zeaousy
we may caim for her the credit Of these rumphs won
BY her Futons, her Evanses and her host OF modern
mechanicians, cannot forget that more enduring
glory yet 10 be acquired Il is the dominion Of sci
ence And Of law those monsters Of mechanic art
which have Of late spread mnch terror and dsmsy
throughout the land. From the apparent culpabe in-
difference the subject Of human life. might infer
thai il commodny held at q much cheaper rate in
this country Than in any other part OF The globe This
feeling has possibly been fostered by the large mpoa
tons Of the inferior qualities Of humanity which have
OF late years been introduced When steamboat ex
posio,s occur is too often the case the great
thoroughfarcs Of the West, what is common than
to spread the deep dyes Of their disgrace and cr
mnaty the heariless consolation that :. most OF the
sufferers, however, emigranls, or I'VE are happy
to say that few Of the cabin passengers were injured,
the effect Of the steam being chiefly confined TO those in
the srerage." Thas they, whom the glowing. perhaps
deceptive pictures Of prosperity and happiness IN our
country, have anred to shores, after taskg TO the
utmost their industry and rugay to procure the means
Of enlgration sad scattered IN man
ged masses the dark current, consigned 10 tor
tures excruating than ancient cruelty could IN
vent. .,. y,
Bot the sad ca,astrophes Of steamboats, not unire-
quenty prove themselves TO be respectcr OF persons
There stands like - hound upon the start fierce
and fiery of the waters, feghted with all that is
bright aud beautiful with all that is wise brave learned,
and reyered slvey age bends over tho idols OF ITS
affections lal love makes but short that
throBged deck from the maternal presence all tho
mountains of merchandse which there find place,
not for hide from each other the manly youth
aud his fair companion who both seem TO forget that
there is other human being board. But cnpid,y
not yet satisfied with the overlooking freight, with
the stfed condition Of the cabin II" holds on lit
tie longer for arrive, though the shr dry whis
tie Of the loaded safety yave and the thin light blue
current thence issuing, speak fcarfuy Of empty boilers
and incandcsccnt metal.
During all this tune the houghtless passengers
crowdng ahat side OF the vessel whence they
the loved and left, and where they best their
last adeus She lies carcenng, and the boiler next tho
shore has nearly received the contents Of all the rest
But sec, the opposition boat has put off All ready
" Go ahead !" The second movement Of the engine
brings water fom the pump upon the burning metallic
surface, aud the boat sits on even keel also
flows from the full TO The empty boilers One stunning
stroke Of thunder comes, and through the air flies
dark aud mingled mass-wood, iron, water, vapor--
volcano spoung blood instead OF liquid fire, and, for
stones aud fire balls, shooting towards heaven, CORY
heads, decorated trunks, dsjonted limbs aud all tho
horrid forms Of ghas,y death. Expiring groans ond
screams Of terror quickly succeed wretchcd mother
shrieks for her darling child An orphan boy picks up
in horror the shreds of his dead fathers garment An
excoriated maniac punges beneath the waves. The
nseparabe lovers seek the death, and sink in each
others arms All around are s,rewed the wreched me-
MORALS Of the desd-fragments Of the wreckthe poor
pecuiuin Of the cmigranthc rich bales OF The distant
trader. The commander where TO be found He
too has gone to his fearful account. To Judge some.
thing Of his calling and character let follow the
tagonist boat day two her route. The river is
swollen and ,arbid Boilers and pipes are choked with
the injected impurities. The pump to do its
Office. The inferior fues coated with sediment,
while the water wastes, the annealed metal loses e
nacty The drowsy engineer leaves to chance and the
fireman (par mobile ratrum) the Of his machine,
and wakes only hear the husky dry, whlsng Of the
guage cock, The commander is all this time perhaps
engaged IN game Of hazard, where haggard fea-
lures, napseous fumes, decpmouhed curses with now
and then convulsvc cenchng Of bowie knives, con-
spIre to stamp him the chieain Of floating pande-
monium. The deadly bottle. parent OF crime and des-
perstion, necessarily piled the whiskey barrel ps-
cod mvitngly on deck, they whose vocation de-
mand the greatest caution and self CONTROL least subject
to us influence Some baggar rival, impeed by hair
brained ignorance comes booming in their wake The
demoniac spirit at once aroused fearful and pro-
tracted struggle ensues All precautions aud all thought
full regard to others feelings, rights aud lives for.
gotten Mems expostuations, woman's tears alike
Undecided What are the lives Of passengers, to one
who regards not his ownl What the losses Of other.
TO him who has lost oil sense Of shame, and who
had auRht else, nor much OF that to lose few days
Of farhes viii place thousand miles Of space Between