Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-01-30
The Lexington.

II But few additional details have como
to hand since our last, respecting the
conhagration Of tho Lexington. Dur
ing the past week, a Coroner's invcsti-
CATION has been going on in New-York,
and the testimony Of Capts. VIM. s.
J. j. Comstock, +. S. Bunker, Wander
biit, and several others has been taken
touching the causes Of the late terrible
calamity. The testimony Of Capt.
Hilliard, who appears to have been
perfectly self-possossed through the
appalling scene, will be read with much
interest. We give his statement entire.
We have no room this week for the
statements of either of the ether indi-
viduals who have been examined.
THE LExiNCTON.-INQUEsT.
FOURTH DAY
Captain CHEsrEK EnLIARD, sworn. I
was born in Norwich, Connecticut-I have
followed the sea latterly, for about six wears:
mast as a raw hand A.; went first voyages be.
fore the mast, which took me IN all about 3
years; then went Ms third mate of the shin
Sheridan, to Liverpool one voyage. then
went I'd mate of the ship Mississippi, TO New
Orleans and Liverpool | then went as chief
mate ot the same vessel. one voyage, and on
the second voyage TO New Orleans in tho
same ship, under Cupi. Becbce. Capt. B.
died at New Orleans, and brought the ship
home. ] then made voyage as master of
the Mississippi tp New Orleans, and arrived
here four weeks ago next Saturday. took
passage on board the Lexington on last Mon
day week to go to S;onington, Oh my way to
Norwich.
have no family have three brothers
aud two sisters; two half brolhcrs and one
hall sister; my parents are both dead; my
father was scaIariny man.
! went on board the Lexington at 3 o'clock
T.. NJ. don't know the number Of passengers
she had Oh board; ] estimated from the mum.
bcr Mt tho table, that there were $50 passen.
gers; but have since been induced To be.
lleve, that The estimate was too large. I
paid no particular attention 10 the ladIng of
the freight on board.-I think the prcntest
proportion OF The freight consisted of cotton:
Il was slowed under the promenade deck
There might have been boxes Of goods on
board, but did not notice.
Between the wheelbouse and engine, there
was sufficient space for q person 10 pass (:
whether more than sufi, lent for one person
or not, cannot say. There was u tier of
cotton bales slowed in tho pnssnge-I think
on The side next TO the whcelhousc. | went
INTO The forecastle. ] think there were over
ihe forecasllc three or four baggage cars
ne li'e boat was on the st,rboard side of
the promenade deck, forward of the wheel.
mouse. took no notice of the bont, until
saw persons endeavoring to clear her nway.
one WAS covered with canvass. | also saw
the two quarter boats lowered away. after
,"c hre broke ou', but did not notice them
before.
We took supper abou, six o'clock. Thero
were Two tables set. should think more thon
one half the length of the cabin, These
tables were filled, and some Cf the passeu.
gers were compelled to wait for the second
table. The boat ran perhaps I2 to II knots
per hour. think that we must have ,ak,n
supper somewhat before o'clock. think
'ha' The supper occupied from half TO three
quarters OF an hour. don't know Caplain
|niIo, ana cannot say whether he was Of The
table or not.
IL was about an hour after supper TINT I
heard Tho alarm of fire. | was then on tho
point OF turning ~. had my cont and boots
III. lhlnk my berth was No 4J or 40 tbo
thlri length ait from the companion way. and
very near u, on the s'aTboard side did MT
AZ the Time apPrehcnd any thing serious. I
slipped on my coat and boots and went ON
deck. pnt on my hat and took nv ovrrcont
on my arm. When got on deck discoy.
erod the casing OF the smoke pipc on fire.
and think part Of the promenade deck
was also on fire. There W .su ureat rusb of
the passengers, and much confusion. 80 Tim,
could not notice particularly. Tho alter
part of the casing wa. burning, and the FIR.
was making al. thought at the time thar
the lire might be subdupd. | saw tho d,n
below the promenade dec. did no, notice
whether there was any fire below tn, main
deck. was an nj the tlmr, and could nov.
therefore, see distinctly. ! was never before
on board Of the Lexington, and know moth.
ing OF the construction of The smoke pire.
] saw nothing of the commander. bu from
what ! could hear tho crew forward. | sup.
posed they were Mt work trying TO rio Tho
hre engine; ! saw no buckets used. and
thlnk they were not mode use of saw fro
""ck''s on n"ard, but cannot say how many;
'n'"N 'he nrc engine was not got 10 work,
" '"" "''"i"e VI ". i snOfty alter went
on The promenade deck previously nv NJ.
tcntion had been directed to III" ps.scn"ers.
who we're rushing into the quarter bonts and
when went on the quarter deck the boat,
were both filled. They seemed 10 bo sin.
pldly determined to destroy themselves. us
well as The boats, which was their only mean,
1f safety. ] went TO the st,rboard bos,.
which they were lowering away; they low.
red II until sbc took the water, aud then
li'nk saw some one cut the forward tackle
all II was at all events discngs.cd, and IN
me could at The time have unlocked The fall:
ne boat was instantly filled with water: the
boat passed immediately nstern, entirely
rear. then went To tho other side: the
,lhrr boat was cleared away nrd lowered in
ne sam0 manner rs the other, full of ma.
cngcr'. This bont fell astrrn. entirely dis.
'neagcd, az the o:hsr had done she icll
way before she had entirely filled with
water.
By this time the fro had got so that
reuy much made my mind up" was a
osc.' ] thought the bcsi thing that could
e dnne was To run the boat ashore, and for
ms purpose went to the wheel house To look
or Capt. Child, expecting To find him there.
found Capt. Child there. advised him 10