Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-02-15

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From the New York Gazette OF Thursday.
MOST APPALLING CAIAMITY!l
The City was thrown yesterday into an tx-
element and CONSERVATION which we have never
seen equaIled, by the heart-rendng intelligence OF
the loss of the Steamboat Lexington, Capt Chds
IN Long Island Sound on Monday night last on
her way to Providence. The LeSnton left New
York al three O'clock z. NJ, and about seven
the same evening she caught fire and burned tll
she sunk. BY this lrgLtlu disaster, very
great number Of lives were losl--Nhut number
it's impossible to ascertain and will remain IN
known for long time, perhaps forever. The
number Of those on board is yarlously stated
from II to rs. We hope the lowest number
exaggerated as SO frequently happens in such ca
>es, but it is yeiy much to be feared thal as ma
ny as one hundred and fifty persons were IN the
unfortunate vessel. Only three individuals me
kao'ra to be saved though il is not unreasonable
to believe others reached the shore,
From the Republican Farmer
Bridgeport, Jan, 10Th
STEAMBOAT LEXINGTON BURNT
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY LiN Els
LOST.
Our citizens were alarmed on Monday eve.
nng, by the appearance OF a great IIaht al some
a 4
believed to be a steamboat on fire Nothing con
elusive, however, was heard in regard to tt TIL
the arrival Of our bMt from New York, on Tues.
day afternoon, which brought the melancholy M
>eligence that the light was occasoned by the
conAagrauon Of the steamboat Lexington, which
was entirely destroyed, and that all on board ex
cep three persisted. One Of the survivors. Can.
tam Hllard, Of Norwich, this state, whom we
have seen and conyersed with, came on here in
tho boat
The Lexington left New York at o'clock,
?. NJ, for Stonlnglon, About half past 7
O'Clock, when off Eaton's Neck, l.. l., the wood
work, castings, &C., about the dues, was discov-
cred to be on fire.
An alarm was lmmedInlly gwen, and all Efforts
to subdue the flames proving unayaihg the pilot
headed the boat directly for Long Island shore
In about ID minutes It was found the tiIler.ropes
were burnt in two, and the ropes consequently
uamanageable.
The engine, however, kept in OPERATION under
heavy head Of steam. The three small boats
were got out with all possible haste, but they were
swamped soon after they struck The water, in
consequence Of the speed at which the steamer
vas going towards the shore.
A life boat, which was aboard, was also Iaunch
ed, but by some means was in few minutes IN.
fortunately lost No relief, therefore, was oh.
tanned from either of the boats.
When the lexington had got w..,oin abou, loco
niles Of the shore, her enp,.,o suddenly STONED
All hopes Of escape to those on board. eycent 10
clnging to such articles of freight as would sus.
tain them, we're cut off.
The freight Of the Lexington consisted prnc;.
pally Of cotton, on which some Of the passengers
uIed to save themselves, but none succeeded ex
cept Captain EIard and fellow passenger, both
Of whom got astride of cotton bale, which the,
kept together u o'clock in the morning uher
the strength Of Captain Hillard's companion fall
ed him, and he fell of and was drowed
Capt H. continued upon his bale of cotton til
l O'Clock 4. H. Tuesday, when he was take,
IF b. soop which went from Southport hayin,
Jeen thus exposed about Il hours. Two other,
ciinging TO a fragment Of the boat were also res
cued by this sloop--onc the engineer the other
G-~a.ar u the unfortunate boat
The bodies Of two others, one colored wo
nan, were likewise taken from a part Of III,
wreck, on which they had persisted with cold.
The number on board, Captain II. thinks, VA
not less than l57, Of whom $50 were passen
gers, out Of which, be believes himself 10 b,
Tie only one saved Among the number weu
HVe or SIX women and two or three children
The scene on board was awful b, yond dis
-rpaon. The fire being midway of The boat
cut OIL all communication from one end 10 III,
aher The passengers crowded together in III,
DOW and stern, moaning aud bewang their fate
W compelled to cast themselves into the water,
-eep, 70 escape the flames.
Inc boat drlted with the tide, and sunk at
eclocke
Inc CAusE.-Since writing the above -,
learn from a gentleman who came from Boston
t'i week in this iIl-siarfed steamer that the caus
p mas dreadful calamity is entirely free from mys
eFy and that IT is doubtless TO be attributed to b
'"c' mat means had not been employed 10 afFor
uie machinery, &c. closely connected with tn
i0'nanee any greater protection from the intens
seat OF the coal fires used IN the fumance thai
vas provided for the boat when she was built, o
nan was necessary so long as the uel was wood
During The trip, cur informant, who has travelled
much N steamers 10 every par: Of Tie Union, an,
Of Europe, also, while standing by the furnace
80, became aware Of the fact that coal was use,