The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-01-28
FURTHER PAR TICULARs OF The
BURNING OF THE LEXINGTON.

The scenes of distress exhibited soon a'lef
tho passengers abandoned me pou'' auo com,
mittet- themselves TO the different articles Of
freight exceed amy thing WhIch mas neen re.
lated in fable or history. INC struggles ana
cries ofnssi.tance. the exclamaons of despair
and the screams of agony are described by Capt.
Hilnrd as infinitely surprising III horror amy
thing that he could have previously imagined.
Among the passengers were MIS- JARVIS, wife OF
Russell jarvis, Esq. late OF Philadelphia, J with
her two children. Captain H. Mrs Jarvis,
with one of her children in her arms, floating
on II bale of cotton; the other eaped overheard
rs also had great many other passengers
some twenty of whom had lite preservers on.
When observed by Capt. H., Mrs Jarvis ives
franticy calling upon persons in the water 70
preserve her child and bring it TO her on
the bale Mother, children, passengers and
all, however, sank to II common grave.
There were five or six Indies Oh board OF the
Lexington one of whom was afterwards seen
in the water with dead infant ut her breast
Many passengers who did not leave the steam
boat were last seen, the flames drove them
from the higher part Of the vessel, clngng in
clusters from the guard braces where they
hung till all went down together.
A fireman, who of the three or
four that were rescued, says that soon after the
fire was discovered, he sought refuge on the
rudder expecting the boiler would burst, but
whilst there two boys who could not swim, en-
treated him to give them his place, which he
him bale of cotton, which they did, and to
which he swan. The boat then drifted some
distance ahead ofhin,, but when heru upper works
wer burning he again fioaed near her, and saw
several of the passengers and crew on pieces of
wreck. They, however, all gradually became
exhausted, and fell Off
The crates on board were all unoaded and
the boxes specie for the Merchant Bank Bos'
ton, were broken open and emplied to throw
water with, as they had but one bucket!
Pieces of wreck and fragments Of baggage
&c. were to he met with mt short intervals all
along the shore. Among other things was Ia
dys hat.
Mr. Dow speaks in high terms of the conduct of
Capt John Woosey, the wreck master, and his
brother rs well as Of the inhabitants generally,
who appeared to be doing every thing in their
power to save the property which came aShoie.
There were many Individuals, however, that
needed looking fter. Properly, and espee tally
bodies may continue TO come ashore for some
days TO come.
The following is Captain Comstock's report
of his cruise in the Statesman
We are now returning 10 New York having
searched ihe shore Of Long Island from Hunt
ngion to Fresh Pond Landing, distance, taking
into consideration the depth of the bays and in
let's Of nearly 30 miles, every rod of which, |
think, has been thoroughly examined by the
persons on board the boat, with myself and 9th.
ers Oh shore who came down by land. We have
been able, however to regain but five hodies-
one is Unidentified us being that of Mr. Stephen
Waterbury, Of the firm OF Waterbury and Mead
of New York city, upon another was found
IL memorandum book with the name Of Phi.o
Epson, South Egremont, Mass. One "A little boy
probably a or years old.
From the appearance of The others they were
probably deck hands Of The boat
We have 30 packages Of baggage, and the life
boat of the Lexington. These with tie bodies
we are now conveying to New York. From
Cranes Neck Light to Ola Mans Landing l2 or
II miles east, including The deep bays adjacent.
the coasts is covered with pieces OF the wreck
among which noticed the name upon the ST.
ding, nearly in full length, also large pieces of
her guard: Sand portions Of almost every part of
lhe boat, most of which are burnt to ii coal. We
found one of her quarters boats, from which
hose OF the bodies now in our possession We're
tken. 1t is very slightly damaged. The boat
was thrown up at Il place called Millers landing
and here we learned that Il man had come ashore
on bale of cotton. alive, ID miles eastward Of
this place,;n which Immediately repaired. Here
] could not effect landing, owing to tie large
quantities OF ice, ditted in by the strong norther
" wind. We however crowded. the steamer i'm
near enough to the shore TO converse with per-
sons drawn 10 the beach by our signals aud from
them learned the fact that Mr. David Cowey,
2l mate had driited ashore near there upon
bale of cotton on Wednesday night ut O'Clock
having been forty eight hours to the severity Of
the weather, after which he made his way
through large quantities Of ice and snow be.
fore gaining the beach, and then walked three
quarters of mile toIle house where he nowis.
His hands are little frozen his feet and legs con-
sderably so. He is not able, however, to be
moved at present. This have been told hy
persons who saw him to day. 1t appears next
to an mpossibiliry, considering the severity Of
the weather, but it is undoubtedly true.
Since leaving New York we have had severe
cold her, and the ice had completely block
ed w the shores. The northeriy winds Keep
driving the ice to leeward and every thing not
floating very lightly, would naturally he. buried
beneath this constant accumulation of ice. In
consequence Of this think we have been pre-
vented from procuring many bodies that in
more moderate weather would have been seen.
Capt VIM Terrell, master of the sloop I'm.
Provement, was with his vessel, within four or
i've miles Of the Lexington at the time she com
menced burning, & thinks ifhe had Immediately
gone 10 her assistance he cOnld have saved ma.