Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-01-23
AWFUL CALAMITY.


Loss Of Steamboat Lexington. Cap,. Chds. with
nearly every soul on board, IN number from 100 it
200 persons
Our community has been thrown INTO great ex
element and greet, III consequence OF the news u
the loss o tho steamboat Lexington, which left her,
on Monday iierDoon for Providence, nad nearly al
the persons board persisted.
A letter from Norwalk. received some hou,. since
! announced The fact that steamboat had hcen burn
oil ia al poi, aud that II was supposed 10 be the Lex
ingon.
Blu, the full extent ofiae calamity was not known
nor scarcely anticipated, until half hour SINCE OF
the pnIyal OF the Nmrod, Captain Brooks, New
pot.
Among the passengers, we understand, were Ro
bert Bhke, Of Wreptham; a Mr. Fowler, of TN,
city; Wu. A. Green, firm Of Allen q Green. Pro
violence; Samuel Henry Of Boston; Charles II
Phelps. Sionpgton; r. w. Dow, firm Of Dow &
CO., New York Capt. Vanderbilt.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The Edno" of the Journal Of Commerce have
been favored with the following letter from Captain
Brooks, OF the steamer Nnrod, dated
STEAMER N,mnop. ]
January 10, 1870.
have seen Capt Chester billiard, one Of the
survivors from the destruction o: the steamer Lex
,ngton on Monday night last by fire, and from him
gather the following particulars The boat LEFT
New Y ork al 3 o'clock-he thinks with about 100
passengers and full ir.igl.
Abou, half past z in the evening, heard Tho cry
Of fire; he ran on deck, and saw the fire bursting
through the work around The chimney. All was
confusion and terror in moment. lie ran M 10 the
wheel 10 advise running for the shore, which Capt
Chllds informed him they were doing, he being up
al the weel he then dow deck.
An attempt had been made TO rig the FIRE engine
on board, but did not succeed They rushed for the
boats. and jumped IN, to the number lie thinks oil
90 in zach, aud lowercd them down, while the
boat was under full headway. and hey were filled
Immediately, and he Is Of OF opinion that not one o
Them escaped
water wheel, and was lost. lie saw several float
ing with life preservcrs but Capt. II. thinks none
survived until morning. lie advised TO tumbline
over the bales and assisted, he thinks, IN get
ling ever 10 OF II, and dashed himself 10 one.
When the steamboat stopped, which she did from
some cause 10 him unknown, a man by the name oil
Cox, employed on board. got with HIM about t
o clock aud the braces under the guards we've full
o. persons, having gained that position as Tho last
resort.
He remained on the bale Of cotton. and was taken
of by Captain Meeker, Of sloop Merchant, OF South
port. They discovered the fire so"n aliern broke
out, and attempted 10 get out Of the harbor, but >
being shallow and the tide falling. they caught I"
ground, aud did not get out uniil i""rning tide
| Cox died about 8 o'clock on the bale with l'Itn
Capt. Manchester, the pilot and Charles Smu u
boat hand and Capt. H,ll,er. are supposed TO b
all thai are saved. Two bodies were found, on
supposed To be the steward, and Cox ~ mentioned
above and were taken 10 Southport. Captain HI
! liver is now board, from bridgeport 10 New ofk
Your OBJ scry't. JOHN BROOKS.