Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-21

Commerce have been favored with the following letter
from Captain Brooks, Of the Steamer Nnrod, dated
STEAMER NIMRoD,
Jan. -, 1870
have Captain Chester Hilliard one of the
survivors from The destruction Of the steamer Lcxng-
ton IN Monday night last by fire, and from him gather
the following PARTICULARS. The boat left New York al
3 oclock--lie thinks with about $50 passengers and
full freight.
About half past in the evening, heard the cry of
hire; he ran deck, and the fire bursting through
the wood work round the chimney. All was confusion
and terror in moment. He ran up TO the wheel to
advise running for the shore, which Capt. ChiIds in
formed him they doing, he being up at the wheel
He then ran down 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 he thinks of 90 in each
and lowered them down, while the boat under full
headway, and they were filled Immediately, and he is
OF opinion that not one them escaped.
The Lie Boat was thrown over but caught the wa
ter wheel and was lost He saw several floating with
e-preservers, but Capt H. thinks survived until
morning lie advised to tumblins the cotton
bales and assisted he thinks, in getting 10 l2,
and dashed himself 10 one
When the steamboat stopped, which she did from
some cause 10 INN unknown, man by the name of
Cox, employed on board, got on with him about s
clock, and the braces under the guards were full
OF persons, having gained that position as the last re-
sort.
Daic OF cotton, anu was taken oil
by Captain Seeker of sloop Merchant, of Southport
They discovered the FIRE after it broke out and
attempted to get out of the arbo but il being shallow
and the tide falling, they caught aground, and did
get ont TIL morning tide. Cox died about o'clock,
on the bale with him
Captain Manchester, the pilot, and Charles Smith,
boat hand, and Capt. Hyer, are supposed to be all
that are saved Two bodies were found one supposed
to be the steward, and Cox as mentioned above and
were taken to Southport. Capt. Hillyer is now on
hon ri frpY, Rr m, t,N NJ, Varl-
Your obedient servant,
JOHN BROOKS
The number saved, according to statement in the
Republican Farmer in connection with the correspond
encc OF the u. - Gazette must have been four, viz
Captain Hard, Capt. Stephen Manchester, the pilot
and an engineer and fireman clingng to fragment
OF the boat and taken up by the soop Merchant. The
number on board 10 supposed to have been TO- of whom
lou were passengers. Among the number five or
six females and several children The fatal consum-
nation of the disaster is in all probability attributable
to violation of law of Congress, in the use of hempen
er ropes instead chains, which sooner burnt
than the boat of course became unmanagcablc. The
scene board was awful beyond description The fire
being midway of the boat, cut off all communication
from one end TO the other. The passengers crowded
together in the bow and scrn moaning and bcwailirig
their fate till compelled to cast themselves into the wa
terry deep, to escape the flames.
The boat drifted with the tide and sank at 8 o'clock
off Bridgeport harbor.
We extremely panied to learn by letters received
in this city that Mr.. John w. kerlc, and Mr. g. W.
Walker, Mr. Kcrlc in law, left New York in the
steamboat Lexington the day Of her fatal disaster
There also strong grounds for belief that Mr.
Church, formerly Of the firm of Messrs A. Lilly & Co..
and Mr.. A. Weston, of the firm of Weston Pendcxtcr
d Co, Of this city, were on board.
1t it also supposed that there among the pas
sengcrs Mr.. Robert Blake of Wrentham a Mr. Fowler
of this city, VIM. A. Green firm of Allen and Green,
Providence; Samuel Henry, of Manchester (Eng;)
Chas. VI. Phelps, Stonngton, R. w. Dow, firm of Dow
and CO., New York; Captain Vanderbilt.
The n Y. Correspondent of the Z. S. Gazette fur
nishes the following list:
DR.. Follcn and lady, formerly professor of German
literature at Harvard University. Corey, Provi-
dcncc.-S. Henry, Manchester, England Henry
Craig, of the House of Maitland Kennedy and CO.
II. S. Finn, of Newport, the Comcdiun.-Charcs
Woolsey, Of Boston, say with wife and seven
childrcn-John Brown, Of John Brown and Co., Bos-
ton-Charlcs Lee, of Boston.-Mr. Mason of Glou-
cester.-Geo. Child, Of Stonington, Commander
Jesse Comstock of Providence, Clerk.-Capt. Ste
phen Manchester, pilot, (saved)-N. p Newman,
Stcward.-Ed. Therber, Matc-D. Crowly Cd Mate.
CORTLAND Hampstead, Engineer.-Wm Qumhy, I'd
do.-Martin Johnson Wlieclman.-Joscph Robinson,
(colored) Cook.-over Howell do. Cd dor. Peters,
do. Sd do.-Job Sands, head waiter, (colored.) -5
others.--8 deck hands, boy frcmen.-2 wood
passers.-Susan fIulcomb, chambcrmad.-C. III.
Phelps Of Stonington.-John Coslcy of Providence.
have no time 10 add further particulars, amid the
general excitement.