Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-21
From the ". Y. Journal Of Commerce.
hIyEJ-I CAL NIFTY

IL
Loss of Steamboat Lexington, Capt. Childs, with
nearly every soul board, i'll number from 100 to 200
persons.
Orr community has been thrown into great excite
mcnt and grief consequence the news of the loss
of the steamboat Lexington which left here on Monday
afternoon for Providence, and nearly all the persons
on board pcrished
letter from Norwak received some hours since,
announced the fact that steamboat had been burnt of
that port and that it supposed to be the Lexington
But the full extent ofthe calamity not known,
nor scarcely anticipated, until half an hour since, on
the arrival of the Nmrod, Capt Brooks, from Newport
Among the passengers, we understand, were Robert
Blake of Wrenlham, MIR. Fowler of this city
VIM A. Green firm of Allen d. Green, Providence;
Samuel Henry, of Boston; Chas. H. Phelps, Stonng.
ton: r. w Dow firm of Dow q Co., n. York. Capt
Vanderbilt
Office of Mc Republican Standard,
BRrDc EroRT, Tuesday evening, Jan. IA, l640.
APPALLING CALAMITY.
Steamboat Lcrngton destroyed by Fire, and nearly 7co
Hundred Lires Lost!
The Lexington left New York for Stonington on
Monday, 3 clock P NJ having, it is believed, about
one hundred and ffty passengers. a large quantity OF
Cotton was placed upon her decks. At o'clock
when about Two miles from Eaton's Neck, the cotton
took fire near the smoke pipe
The boat was headed for the shore as the eff
forts to extingush the fire proved unsuccessful She
was provided with three boats-yet such was the panic
which took possession of all minds that they were
hosted out while the boat was still. under Roadway
and Immediately sacamped. The engine few min
utes after gave way leaving her utterly manageable
The scene which then ensucd is described as most ap-
palling.
Capt. Chester Hilliard, of Norwich passenger on
board from whom have gathered these few partcu-
lars states that after the engine stopped, the pas
sengers began to leave the boat boxes, bales, &c
In company with one of the firemen he SO fortu-
nate as to cotton bale to which he dashed HIM
self He remained upon this bale, the wind blowing
off Long Island shore, until IL o'clock this morning,
when he taken up by the soop Merchant of South
port.
His companion in the mean time had been released
by death from his suferngs Two others were taken
up by the sloop fireman and the Pilot OF the boat
Both were nearly insensible It'll surprising that any
should have survived the exposure There is too much
reason to fear that the three the only survivors 1t
u.s. however, possible that others may have been saved
The Boat drifted up the Sound with the tide, and
was off this harbor about midnight. Capt. H. states
that she sank at three o'clock, he marked the time
by his watch
The efforts which last night made, in this vci-
nifty and at Southport to 60 in aid of the sufferers
proved owing to the ice in the harbors, and to other
untoward circumstances, entirely unavailing.
of Southport harbor, after reaching the middle OF the
Sound was compelled to return.
The account which we have given of this awful ca.
tastrophe is exceedingly imperfect. 1t may be vel
imagined that informant is hardly in situation te
furnish many details
Farther Partieulers.-The Editors Of the Journal Of