The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-02-05

flames came bursting out Of the fore scussir
The fire at last got W eoySsrsd up into SO
small space that we could do nothing
more with the water. There we're some
eight or ten ofus together, and they asked
me what they were 10 do. j told them
saw no chance for any ofus, for if we stay.
ed there we should be burnt to death, and
il we jumped overheard probably perish
When FIRST got on 10 the .orecss,le there
were about 80.
! or those that remained with me to the
last we're Mr.. Van Cosr, nod Mr.. Hoyt. g. Mr.
Harnden who had charge Of the express
cur. ! took piece of n spun yarn and
made it fast TO my coat, aud made IL fast Ia
the rail and SO essed myself down on to the
raft. There were two or three on II al
ready, and my weight sunk 1t from under
ne. | raised myself up by means of the
line until it cameup, as it did SO sprang on
a piece of the boats railing-on hrs-whlch
fell into the water. From thence ] got od
to the bale Of cotton on which was one man
setting. The bale was made fast to some
railing in the water. ] cut the bale loose
from IL. Some one was standing on this
piece of ra!iog who asked me If there ras
room for another. I made him no answer,
but he jumped on to the bale of cotton and
kancked off the man who was sitting on it
with me. and then fell hack into the water.
| haaled the man he knocked off back a.
gain and caught hold ofa piece of board
that was drifting along past me and showed
the bale Oft clear of the wreck aud let il
drift down the Sound in hopes that should
fetch Craze neck point. Finding | couid
not do this, kept using the piece of bonrd
for exercise.
Ii was l2 o'clock at the time left the
looked a. my watch. The man
on the bale of cotton with me was named
and he lived in New York
he died about daylight.-He appeared to
be greatly exhausted when ! got him on L"
The bale first, and told him to thrash his
hands which he did pretty much. When
he died he fell back on The bale of cotton,
and the fret sea that struck i, knocked hin,
aff-hc went down without n struggle.
My hands were ut the time much frozen.
While WAS on the cotton looked at my
watch ata t past one and then again AT 2.
After that time my hands were too much
rozen for me to take il OUT. was wet up
q my waist. The wreck sunk about 3 o. |
lock. We still drifted down sound, aud |
'bout the last thing recolIect was seeing
he slo"P umprovemen,) coming down.
made out SO as to put my handkerchief in
nto cleft in the piece of wood aud got it
'eiween the palms Of my hands, could moi
'end nay fingers, ia the hope that The sloop /
would see it.
When first got on to the bale | sat
'stride Of il, bat finding I was getting the
ramp, sat as sit in this chair, with both
eet on one side. The bale wasn't very
'nrrow, and sat nearly in the middle of
t. l wasn't upset Mt all.
The man, Mckenney, spoke n good deal
{ his wife and children, and said he kissed
hem before he left them on Monday morn-
ng, aud said he had never been IN the
sound before.
| received every kindness from Cnpt.
ieeker, nnd also from Capt. Godfrey and
an,ily, after we got into Southport.
] have known Capt. Chtlds about 10 or
5 years. We were packet masters together.
considered him II steady, capable man,
nd u smart man.
BY the CorOnsr-Was be man Of
nick perception, and of decision of char
cter,
Wintss--Very much 50, Il
He was confused when he first came to-
ne in the wheel house. have never been
nth Captain Childs when the boat was in
ny immediate danger.
By the Coroner-Whnt is your opiuion
ihe origin of the fire.
Witness-My opinion is that it ori:ina-
I'd about the smoke pipo from the hea, I
'ere. ] have frequently seen it red hot q
t was so on that niyht--the night Of the {
alaniiy. The smoke pipe was red hot
bove the promenade deck. The cotton
'as piled within n foot, perhaps, Of the
lean chimney--perhaps two feet. The {
anne when first saw it looked more like
nat from wood than from coal. '
The TIller was always kept shipped '
here was no wheel afi.. Tie engine wns c
DING At the rate of about IL miles mn hour, {
Ut kcp, decreasing in speed uu,iI she stop
ed, about twenty minutes after the FIRST :
larm. | should think it was impossible :. !, /,
ave remained al the tiIler, aft, during this ,
me, MS the flames and smoke went in G
iat direction. n
Here the Coroner read letter from Mr.. S
Iall, the engineer who constructed tie en- a
inc, &c, Tor the Lexington to Mr.. Hoe, y
I've ofthe jurors, from which we extract the :,
d
The Lexington was the strongest bon, 7
ver put an engine in,e, but the strength Of a
Ne boa, had nothing to do with her taiing 81
re. Wha, wss The cause The fuel ,sed b
'as anthracite coal, Lnckawana. All ,n- u
,rocite coal contains carborated hydrogen, =
nd will and does inAsme or take ire a.
vice; that is, once in the furnace, and he 8,
econd time about three feet above the jupc- 4
on Of the main and steam chimaeys, De- t.
anse the joints are not made ,igh, rond re
ie junction Of The bottom Of the chimney. al
cd also the da@per spindle allows the at a.
...A h.