Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-02-07
THE LEXINGTON.

was resumed on Tuesday last The fol-
lowing are the chief points in the testimony
Of Captain Name hester, the heImsman of the
boat, and one of the individuals who were
saved on bale Of cotton; and it establishes
the fact Of the grossest carelessness in ireigh-
ting the boat.
"The mate told me that there were $50
bales Of cotton on board, but did not OBJ
serve particularly how they were slowed
away. noticed, however, that there was
cotton over theiop of the boiler. The fire
engine on board stood forward and ready
to be got out upon the forecastle. was at
the wheel when the first alarm was given,
al half past O'clock. Some one opened
the door, and said the boat was on fire, when
l Immediately stepped out and went aft.
The promenade deck was on fire all around
the smoke pipe, and | quickly returned
and headed the boat for land. | considered
it then doubtful whether the fire could be
put oul, which was the reason OF my tor
ming the course of the boat toward land.
The boat could have run ashore in about
twenty minutes, but had not got her fairly
headed towards land when The tiiier ropcy
gaze way! The engine continued working,
but do not know where the engineer was
II did not see him. just before the tller
ropes gave way, Captain Chids came into
the wheelhouse and took the wheel The
ldrboard side gave way while the wheel
was in the hands The smoke Immediately
became so thick that we could not live there
and myself Captain Chids, and the wheel
man came ont and went forward. | did
not see the Captain afterwards l called
the men to get out the engine and man the
buckets, but the fire had progressed so rap
idly that the engine could not be got at. and
my orders relative 10 the buckets were not
obeyed. think the tiler rope was burnt
of;-should Judge it was burnt close TO the
wheel. IL could hardly hare been strained
off, thought my services were needed for
ward in endeavoring to save the boat Az
ter my exerlions in this had proved frutless,
1 went to the life boat and Iound some per-
sons taking off the larpaulin and undong
the lashings. A line was made fast to her
hawser, and then gave directions to have
her fastened that she could not go under
the wheel This order was disregarded
and in lowering her she slipped out OF our
hands and went under the wheel. All this
time the engine was working and the fire
was burning through the upper deck and
making rapid Roadway round the boat.
AFTER thus loosing the life boat, we found
some buckets, and commenced throwing
water to keep The flames off from u.s. Some
persons who could not get buckets, stove in
the heads OF specie casks and used them in
stead, drawing the water over the side OF the
boat. Some persons knocked off the flag
staff and bulwarks and tried 10 lash them
together for raft We assisted them by
emptying four baggage cars, and throwing
them over. dashed together The engine
had no0 entirely stopped From the first
alarm this was about 20 mnutes-and the
strokes of the engiae had gradually become
slower all that time. About this time the
main deck fell in as far as the capslan, and
several passengers got over the sides and
endeavored to get on the raft or 10 the bag
gage cars but were drowned in the attempt
1.-The boat soon goi on fire and the flames
under us began TO pour oul of the forecastlt
hatch, & we were so cornered by them as tc
be obliged to cease throwing water. A
first there was as many as 80 persons or
the forecastle deck. then took piece o.
lanyard, and tied it round my waist, lashec
myselfto piece of timber and jumped over
board on to the raft, There were two or thres
others on tile raft. and it sank under us. Or
rising again. shortly got upon bale o
cotton, where another man was sitting. The
bale was made fast 10 part of the railing O
the boat which had been thrown overheard
and took my knife and cut il loose, when
some one jumped upon the bale and knock
ed the man off who was sitting beside me
and. loosing his balance. also fell off himself
This person. when he rose. returned to the
piece Of railing, and assisted the olhe
TO get upon the bale again then caugh
piece of board and showed the bale cleal
ofihe wreck, and we drifted down the Sound
in hopes of making shore at Crane Neck
Point. We could not gain,the shore, how
ever. and continued to use the board as q
paddle and for exercise, as could.
IL looked at my watch as we left tn,
wreck II was just midnight. When
looked again it was just lcock. The mar
who was upon the bale with me said hi
name was Mckinney. He died about day
light next morning. Tle seemed to hav,
given up all hopes after being knocked OF
The bale | encouraged him all | could
and told him to keep shaking his hand
about his body He did so at first Whei
he died. be fell back helpless upon the bale
and as was unable 10 assist him, the frs
sea washed him off, and he sank without
struggle AT this time my hands were fro
zen and useless judged it was about
o'clock when McKenney died, but | coul'
not get my watch out. and of course did no
know the exact time.
g. = Il. IL. i =.