Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-11-17
From the Apalachcola Advertiser Extra, Oct. 28th
STEAM BOAT EXPLOSION-SIX LIVES
LOST

The steamboat Siren, Capt. Field, brings
intelligence OF the loss of the lie Roy, WASH
ington Smith, master, and reports the melan-
cholly news that persons were killed, and
several dangerously scalded, burnt, or other
wise wounded. The accident occurred on
Sunday last, about two o'clock, P. NJ, oppo-
site Blount's Town, on this river.
The LIE Roy was employed on the Bruins
wick line, in the conveyance Of the rssil and
passengers, between Chattahoochee and lola,
and in her last trip was coming from The first
named place. She is represented to have been
an old boat, but was not considered unsafe
1t appears that first her boilers exploded, and
afterwards she caught fire and burned down
to the waters edge. The wreck now lies op-
posite Bount's Town,to which place the woun-
ded were conveyed.
Among the passengers was Mr.. Willis Ais
ton, and we believe he was the only one who
escaped unhurt. He is reported to have sta
ted, that before leaving Chattahoochee, he OBJ
served something about the boat which crea.
ted feeling of insecurity. Thus impelled,
he kept as near the stern OF the boat az possi-
BILE, that being the safest place. On hearing
the explosion, he Immediately jumped into the
yawl boat, and thus made his escape while
the vessel was on fire.
The killed are reported TO be
Daniel Rowlett, passenger.
Washington Smith, master.
John Ashton, engineer.
Pressly Hicks, fireman.
John Walker, do
Henry Carter, free mu!latto, steward.
Tho names of the wounded we have not
learned. :,
| Fortunately there were not many passen-
gers on board, otherwise the disaster would
have been still more melancholy. The lie Roy
was owned by the mail contractors on the
great southern route, Messrs. Hopkins and
| Stockton.
Further Particulars.
Since the above was in type, through the po-
likeness of Capt. James Y. Smith, of the steam
boat Louisa we have just received more cir
cumstaniial account OF the melancholy catas-
trophe above related.
The lie Roy left Chattahoochee on Sunday
] at half past 10, A. NJ, conveying the mail 10
lola. The accident occurred two miles above
Blouni's Town, at the hour before stated.
The names Of the woundel
- Holloman, Pilot.
Sam Smothers, free mu
A black woman belonging ifn @
a negro boy belonging to Ju 90 ~1rHr
There were three persons who escaped IN
hurt, making in all thirteen persons who were
on board at the time OF the accident.
The wounded were conveyed TO the plan
,ation Of Mr.. Sutton, where they have receiv
ed every attention, and are in a fair way o
recovery. The pilot is much bruised, having
been blown several feet into the air, and faller
on the wreck, with the wheel in his hand.
Nothing was saved but the mail which wal
blown on 10 the forecssile. The river, Capt
Smith says,is literally strewed with fragments
and since the accident the boat has entirely
disappeared, leaving nothing but the sierr
pole 70 indicate where it lays.
Atter the explosion. and before the FIRE, ;
Mr. Taper went on board the wreck, Stone, u
render assistance TO the wounded and Iecove
the bodies While thss engaged the woundes
were taken away in the yawl boat, leavin.
him without living companion. In It's alb
sence the flames spread with fearful rapidly
but with undaunied and true bravery, he stil
perseyered, 10 the imminent danger Of his life
and had the return Of the yswl been dehye'
a few minutes, he would undonbisdly hay'
fallen sacrifice 10 his heroic beneyolenes--
We are happy 10 state ihaihe escaped, bot soei
noble eooduct should not 60 entirely unno
ttced