The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-05-14
A PAINFUL SCENE ON BOARD A
STEAMBOAT.

| We are indebted to the Inquirer of this NOR.
ming for the following thrilling details ofhe per.
ilous situation of the passengers ion board the
Steamboat Alabama. 1t was indeed nm appalling
hour, and none but those who lave experienced
the horrors of situation agonzing can form
the most faint conception OF it's intense painful
ness.
| "A portion of The pass engers on board the
steamboat Alabama, Capt.. Sutton, were not a
!ite alarmed OH Sunday last. The boat left
| Baltimore for Norfo k ut four o lock on Satur
day afternoon, and by two O'Clock the next
morning had accolnplishe, the greater part of
her voyage. AT that solemn hour, however, IL
when she OUT in Chesapeake Bay, report
reached the gentlemans CABIN that the boat aoas
on fire.
The effect of such intelligence at such an
hour and under tho circumstances described,
was painful and unuerving in no ordinary degree
In an instant every individual whose ears were
open to the appalling alarm started from
his pillow, and hurryhg on such clothing as
could he discovered in the darkness and confiI-
sion, proceeded Oh deck. The number embra
ced but small number of the passengers, and it
was fOrunnte perhaps that few were awake
The firemen were busly engaged in drag
gng The wood from benoalh one of Tie
boilers and daslng water upon il; while one or
two of the passengers more active than the rest,
had already seized the water buckets in readiness
for The OCCASION and made their way toward the
furnace between decks. For the space of Il few
IN inutes the scene was full of danger, horror g.
despair. Some threw doubt upon the story
others confirmed it, while all were dreadfully ag-
ita,ed. The shore on either side, was shrouded
in darkness, and the waves, as they ieaped and
gamboled along, looked 10 the atfrighted eve
and mind like so many huge and living monsters,
ready TO swallow mp the unfortunate traveller
who mi ght be consigned to their tender mercies
Various expressions passed from blood deserted
and trembling lips, while few stout hearts grew
danger. "
kindly and consolatory language, 10 cheer the
timiti and Responding. 1t was, indeed mo.
,nent of peril, and suited TO The courage, the
virtue ami philosophy OF ira human nature.
A party OF four engaged in The forward cabin
playing cards, were among the most terrified.
No wonder! The visage o.. Death, always terri,
BILE, must have been especially TO such
group. They rushed wildly on deck, and in IA
condition of almost brealhess agitation. Their
feelings may be better imagined than described,
when we remember that two hours of The Sab
bu,h had already gone by!
Fortunately the story had been somewhat eX
aggerated. The boat was not on fire-but one
otthe boilers was in very precarious condi.
ton and it had been deemed essential TO eXtin-
gush the fire under it, in order 10 prevent AN ex-
plosion. The waste stop cock had been opened,
with the object of letting off the surplus steam,
and had not been e6ectudliy closed again. Some
| time after, the engineer, seeing the boiler be-
come unusually heated, tried the upper cock, &
men the lower, and discoVeren Witn nluch n
urn, that the water had fallen below both,
while the boilers had attained dangerous heat!
Had he Introduced cold water at this crisis, an
explosion must have been inevitable. But he
saw the difficulty, and Immediately ordered the
hands to pull ont the wood aud eXtnguish the
fire beneath the boiler. This they did under
some excitement, but without serious diff Guilty.
The passengers, seeing them throw water upon
the blazing wood, naturally enough thought the
boat fire, and gave the alarm.
In The confusion aud darkness, Some time e.
lapsed before the real difficulty was made know
generally, and not indeed until more than one
had turned thought inward and upward, and
had looked out upon The broad and billowy bay
with well founded alarm.
Captain Sutton was perfectly self possessed
throughout the crisis, and it was dicovered with
pleasure, even after the danger had passed away,
that the boat literally provided with lite
preservers.-PhI. Eue. Star