Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-16


Steamboat Lsxington.---Over 100 Lives
Lost.
Our CITY was thrown into fearful state Of excite
ent Yesterday afternoon about three o'clock by the
news brought by the steamer Nimrod, Capt Brooks
from Bridgeport, that the steamboat Lexington had
been destroyed by fire in Long Island Sound. The
Lexington left New York at 3 o'clock on Monday
afternoon, with about 20 passengers, and ~ persons
connected with the boat She had heavy deck
load of co ton, and when about two miles from Ea
tons Neck, and not far from Huntingdon, Long
Island, the cotton and wood work round the fues
were discovered to be fire; and in one hour she
was burnt the waters edge, and all but three per-
sons persisted, viz; - Hampstead, engineer, OF
the boat; chas. Smith, fireman, and Capt. Chester
Hard, passenger.
Since we issued our extra yesterday afternoon, we
have received the following letter from Captain
Brooks, giving the particulars Of the catastrophe
detailed by Capt HlIard:
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN Books.
To the Editor of ths Herald
STEAMER NIMRop, Jan. Is, 1910.
Sir: have seen Capt Chester billiard, one Of the
survivors from the destruction OF the steamer Lex
gather the following particulars The boat left New
York at o cieck-he thinks with about $50 passen-
gers. and full freight
About half past Z in the evening, heard the cry Of
II
the wood work roundthe chimney. All was confu-
sion and terror in moment. He ran up 10 the wheel
to ad wise running for the shore, which Captain Chids
informed him they were doing, he being up at the
wheel He then ran down on deck.
An attempt had been made To rig the fre engine
board, but did not succeed. They rushe1 for the
boats, and jumped in 10 the number, he thinks, Of ~
in each, and lowered them down, while the boat
under full Roadway, and they were filled immediate
w. and he is Of opinion that of then escaped
The Life Boat was thrown over, but caught the
water wheel, and was lost. He saw several floating
with life preservers, but Capt FL thinks none sur.
vlved until morning. He advised tumblng over
the cotton bales, and assisted he thinks, in getting
over 10 or IL, and dashed himself to one.
When tie steamboat stopped, which she did from
some cause to him unknown, man by the name OF
Cox, employed on board, got on with him about 8
o'clock, and the braces under the guards full
of persons, having gained that position as the last
resort.
He remained on the bale Of cotton, and taken off
by Captain Meeker OF sloop Merchant, OF Southport
The sloop the fire soon after II broke out, and
attempted to get out OF the harbor, but being shall
low, and the tide falling, they caught aground, and
did not get out until morning tide. Cox died about
s o'clock, on the sale with billiard.
- Hampstead, LIST en- Ter, and Charles Smith,
boat hand and Capt billiard, supposed to be ali
that saved. Two bodies were found, sup.
posed to be the steward, and Cox mentioned above
and were taken to Southport. Capt Hilliard is now
ON board, from Bridgeport to New York.
Your obedient servant,
In addition TO the above, give the following,
received in an extra from Bridgeport paper:
Our citizens were alarmed on Monday evening, by
the OF great hit at some distance west,
on the Sound, which was generally believed TO be
steamboat fire. Nothing conclusive, however,
was heard in regard TO il till the arrival of boat
from New York, Tuesday afternoon, which
brought the melancholy intelligence that the light
was occasioned by the cou6agration Of the Steam
boat Lexington, which was entirely destroyed, and
that all board except three persisted One Of the
survivors, Capt. Hilliard, Of Norwich, this State,
whom have seen and conversed with, came on
here in the boat.
The Lexington left New York at 3 O'Clock, p. M.
for Stonin cton About half past o'clock, when of
Eaton's Neck, l.. L., the wood work, castings, &C.
about the fues, was discovered TO be on fire. An
alarm Immediately given and all efforts to sub
due the flames poving unavailing, the pilst headed
the directly for Long Island shore. In about Is
minutes IL found the tiller ropes were burnt IN
two and the boat consequently manageable The
engine, however, kept IN operation, under a heavy
head OF steam. The three small boats were rot oui
with all possible haste but they swamped soon after
they struck the water in consequence OF the speed
at which the ste amer gong towards the shore.
life boat, which aboard was also aun he'd, but
by some means was IN few minutes unfortunately
lost Ne relief therefore, obtained from eli her
Of the boats. When the Lexington had got thin
about two miles OF the shore her engine sud- emily
stopped All hopes Of escape TO those on board, ex-
cept by clinging 10 such articles OF freight would
sustain them, were now cut If. The freight Of the
Lexington consisted principally OF cotton, which
some Of the tried TO save themselves but
none succeeded except Capt. billiard and fellow
passenger, both Of whom got a.tride OF single bale
on which they kept together till o'clock in the
morning. when the strength Of Capt billiards com
panion failed him, and he fell oil and was drowned
Capt n. continued upon his bale ef cotton till 1
o'clock A. NJ. Tuesday, when he was taken of by a
sloop which went out from Southport, having been
thus exposed about Is hours. Two others, cnging
10 fragment of the boat were also rescsed by this
sloop one the engineer, the other fireman Of the
unfortunate boat. 4 he bodies sf two others, one
colored woman, were likewise taken from part OF
the wreck On which they had persisted from cold
The number on board, Capt. H. thinks, was not less
than u.s. Of whom 100 were passengers out OF which,
he believes himself TO be the only one saved. Amoag
the number five or six women, and two or three
children The scene on board was awful beyond de-
scnptiln. The fire being midway Of the boat cut
of all communication from end 20 the other
The passengers crowded together IA the bow and
stern moaning and bewailing their fate, tall compe
ed cast themselves into the watery Deep TO escape
the flames.
We have taken immense pains To get all the names
Of the sufferers. aud have collected the following:
r.stseEns srsAsrH LErfsoros
Henry Yum, e Newport Johs Brs~n, Boston.
Robert Bl.s. President &c the - Mckinney. New York
Blk ofWrsutham. Wrenth'~ A Mason. Goucsstsr.
WIN A Green. Providence. - Phillips, Of View YORK
samuel Henry Of the firm Of Jane, Brown lady Semd,
Ass Henry, Manchester, NsN Orls.na
Euelepd - Cray Nev York
Charles u rbsip., Director q Isaac D.,is Bo'iob
hs Transportation Go, and John Lev, DO
r.,hsw s,onipcton. John Cory. Forboro', Mas
Rehsrd Dow of the firm Philo tyson, Erren ont Mass
ofDovs Co, New forA. Lsn1h,oh ssous'"a MAS
- rowler do Or folen, Boston
Ns,harisl hobart. Boston - shglir, New YORK..
w wesley. and sir chill Charles Lee tcsion.
dren. Boston. John L,mi.t, Boston.
Waterbury q bs Of Cart child, brother Of Capt