Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-08-07
From The PosghLsFse Journal
TIE STEAMBOAT WASHINGTON.

We prefer 10 give the following uuvsrnished
tale In the words Of the writer himself as they
very forcbly convey to the reader knowledge OF
facts With which the public should be fully &C.
qusinied. IL always happens. when steamboat
disasters occur, that some will be found vho will
lend their aid TO screen the csplsin or engineer
from the oehsute he deserves, though we believe
that very few indeed ere the Instances where those
who have charge Of he boat arc blameess All
or nearly all OF the receLt steamboat calsmities
ere chsrgeabe to gross negligence. or, what is
worse, TO pAlpsble Encouragement. With the
writer OF the account which We give below, We
are not personally acquainted, nor are Ne aaftcu-
larry con,efssni wh the statements ~ relation to
the bufnng Of the Washington which have here
tufars been given to the public. bu, We would take
occasion 10 remark. That the communication of Mr.
Lown besn on It's face the sembl.nce OF truth,
and is particularly worthy Of attention, coming.
as i. does. from one who had the opportunity Of
knowiag what actually occurred.
Ito the Editor OF the Journal
"Sif--l have just returned TO Red Hook
vas passenger IN the s,eamboa, George Wash.
ington at :he time of the Disaster, together with
my wife snd family. We lost five children, and
my wife was burned so that we could not move
fyt some days. We remained at Silver Cteek.
think should say nothing about The affair OF the
Washington but have seen many statements
withou, iru,h, think II my duty to cay something
Some papers state that there Is no blame laid on
the eap,sa. That, SIR, is tie esplsins statement.
snd be has got few OF the cabin passengers TO
enter their names 20 II. know that they were
driving the boat With all possible speed. There
was passenger on board who told the captain he
would psy han ore hundred dollars to DIVE The
boat Ell he could and not land ct any other port
Thst wss Immediately after landing a. Ashtabula
Ohio. lie had passengers to land at Ere and
Duukifk. In my presence, he told these psssen-
gots he would refund their money, board them
and pay their fare back 10 Their respective landings
be dad no, land at ether place. The captain also
avs che wbsel ropes we're burned Of aud she be-
came unmsuagesb.e." That Is not true. The
boat Was stopped ono hour snd twenty inmates
before the ere broke out on deck. Al the time
che ,iopued abe had IS inches Of steam on her
The engineer VAS a young man, J1st married. -
He - lie VAS on board. She said her husband
.lonped the bost 10 .egd bet ashore ia the yawl
o. that she might be saved. The boat was hons.
lsd oui. snd 10 lowering they filed her with va
ter aud sere Gfy minutes IA bahng her. lie
never tired to start the boat after that The cap
tam and ell tie crew Ieit the boat, and did not
leave man on board 10 take charge Of her. The
passengers were len TO do the beet they could for
themselves. lie also sBys There were from 1T.
teen TO twenty los," There acre from fay to
..riy 30 my esHsin knowledge. The man who Of
f,fed the esp,sin the one hundred dollars. lives 10
Censssss. Genessee county, New York. do cot
remember he name. This ~as on Friday, and on
Mondsy be had a sUt 10 court. aud sad 1t would
be Eve Thousand dollars dsnlsge. # he could not
D. there time.
saVed myself by swimming three niles w,h
ehl.d three .esrs OLD. My wife also Jumped over.
board sRh eh,id IN her arms. The child was
dfosuee, boz ale Gosied on The water forty min
Vtss, cod ~ss then tsksn ,nlo the boat.
ush you would ante ooi my statement as II
should be. and publish II.
ioOrs respectfully.
NILuAN Lows.