The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-26

The steamer Pulaski LEFT Charleston at o'clock in
the morning and al IL o'clock night the starboard
boiler exploded blowing of the wheel house and all Che
portion OF the deck above the boiler shaerng the star
board side smidshp the head Of the boiler forced
out and the top. From The arboard boiler hay-
ing been uninured the stavboard side kept partially
out Of water On rolling 10 heavy sea, she took IN
large quantities OF water from the shattered side, and
settled rapidly in the water The settling continuing,
the ladies' were transferred 10 the promenade deck,
above their cabin! The soon reached the prone
made deck and the boat broke in two parts with tre
mendous crash. Upon this separation happening, the
parts and foated for few moments but the stern
part soon settled again, and second separation took
place, the promenade deck parting from the hull he
deck part canting over. preciPated The ladies' and
children, who had taken refuge upon IT, into the ocean
This part Of the boat then parted INTO several pieces,
and many persons regained position upon the floating
fragments The bow portion Of the boat, together with
the mast which continued standing, foated, apparently
10 to Is feet Of water. The engine, boilers, and
probably portion Of the centre Of the boat sunk, when
the first boat parted. All this occurred within As mi
nuies after the explosion Of the boiler.
The two small boats left the steamer within ten
minutes after the explosion, and before the passengers
had any determined idea Of oecting their escape, other
wise both would have been sunk by the number that
would have crowded into them The boats remained
about the wreck nearly four hours and during that time
picked up as many could safely be carried The
running very high at the time, with fresh knot
breeze from S. E.
When the boats left the wreck the was strew-
ed with fragments Of the steamer and the excruciang
wangs Of the dying, and those calling for aid were
heard from every direction At this time very large
proportion Of the passengers must have been living for
they had very generally retired to rest it is pro-
babe that many were killed by the explosion,
The two boats left the wreck about o'clock A. M.
made land at H. and reached the beach at p M. Mr.
Hbberd then stopped until the boat with Mr. Copper
up when he stated that his being exhausted
resolved TO land. Mr. G. protested against this
step as being aught with imminent danger and urged
the proprey OF keeping down the coast in the hope Of
finding some inlet, meeting with relief Mr.. G. being
over-rued the attempt made to land through the
breakers which setting with great violence far
the eye could reach. Mr. Hibberd proposed to lead
the way, that they might aid in saving the ladies and
children should they reach the shore in safety. In
making the attempt to land, he lost pe Of his number
the other boat then continued to lay off until sun
set the persons in her refusing to any further, and
insisting on landing: the attempt made about sun
set the third breaker billow turned the boat
petey bottom upwards Notwithstanding this disaster
the whole party reached the shore in safety.
Among the number saved in the small boats two
Of the crew, who state themselves TO have been
the boiler about the time Of the explosion and observed
that the steam giage varied from 20 to 20. One OF
these men noticed the engineer touching the water
guage-cock, and, instead Of the usual sound attending
the escape of water that shrll whistng was heard
which is produced by high pressure Of steam, and
indicating the want Of an adequate supply Of water in
the boilers The explosion is represented to have fol-
lowed this discovery in few seconds
The presumption from these circumstances is, that
the second engineer, who duty the time, in
blowing off water had neglected to close the escape
pipe, aud percevng the OF the boiler had turned
on full supply Of water from the feed pipe
Major Heath and twenty one others were rescued
from portion OF the wreck Of the Pulaski, after hav
ing been upon for four DAYS and four nights without
food water. The suffering became so intense as to
by lot for the sustenance and support Of the rest hut
was abandoned by Major HIS firm and determined OPP
position
Major H. thinks the ladies' cabin went down in
mass, carrying duwn about fifty ladies', Of whom
he supposed had not risen from their berths
The surviving passengers, Major H. represents, are
unanimous in charging the Chief Engineer with having
caused the dreadful calamity. He Is reported to have
declared previous to leaving Savannah that should
be the shortest trip made between that port and
Norfolk There four parts Of the wreck to which
passengers chung two Of them, it is supposed went
down; form the other two, twenty-five were thrown
overheard, having died with fatigue and excitement
From the Fayetteville Observer.
Seven persons died Of the pieces Of the
,.s.., OAR, episcopal Church,
and lady To such extremity had the sufferers been
reduced, that the day Of their deverance had been
fixed the fatal day to select by lot victim to APP
pease the cravings Of hunger.