Litchfield enquirer., 1840-02-06
inv RHOURSr.l

"a wears of age. Ireside at Port Ann, N. Y.
Have followed the sea eight years.. First
;.,,-ert before The mast. then made voyage
es second mate. Then as chief mate of the
mississippi. Have since made voyage in
her as Captain to New. Orleans. Arrived
here in her from that port about weeks
since come Saturday. Went on board the
Lexington week ago last Monday, the 18th
instant. Went on board about o'clock, p.
NJ, to go to Stonington. was bound to
Norwich.
By Mr.. Wheeler-Have no family. Have
brothers and sisters. No parents living
Do not know the number of passengers that
were on board the Lexington. Heard there
that this estimate is large. Paid no attention
20 the stowage ofthe boat. Think the great
er pant of the freight consisted of cotton. 1t
was slowed under the promenade deck
Did not observe any other particular K!no
of freight. There was space left to pass De-
side the wheelhouse. but can't say If more
than one person could pass ut a time. Ahe
cotton was slowed up against the wheel
house. Went forward on the forecastle.-,
Three baggage cars were on II. ooservso
nothing more, The life boat was on the
promenade deck, Just forward OF the wheel
house on the starboard side. Saw tnem
clearing her away. Before this time look
M notice of her. She was covered with can
vass. I suppose fitted for the purpose. pa"
il torn off her. Saw both quarter boats low
cred away. Did not take particular noIice
of them before. We took supper at about o
o,ciock p M. Can't make an estimate OF
the cabin. Three tables were set that went
half the length of the cabin. Near the CEN
ire of the cabin were stoves. The tables
were fill-some had to wait until they set q
second table. Observed nothing wrong IN
the arrangements of the boat. She was go
ing l6 or II knots. The tables had oeen
cleared, probably an hour, before the alarm
The berths were taken up in the usual H!an-
ner. Was Just on the point OF turning lMo
INV berth when the alarm was given. dao
nv coat and boots of. My berth was the
third length aft from the stairs OF the com,
Think the No. 49. AT nrst L
did not apprehend any thing serious. lsllP-
ped my cap, coat and boots on, and threw
my overcoat over my arm and ran up inc
When l got ON deck dls-
Covered the edging of the smoke pipe on fire,
and should think the promenade deck over
head. was also on fire. The general Dody
If passengers were making rush Tor the
boats. The after part Of the casing was en-,
tirely in flames. The wind blew att and
carried the flames that way. The casing
might have taken fire in front, but cannot
Nv a Juror. Don't know where the boat
took fire. Don't know if the fire was below
the main deck. The fire might have taken
over the boilers, and run up to the chimney
casing. .,:
Bv MIR. Wheeler. Don't know any thing
about the steam chimney spoken OF oy for-
mer witnesses. There might have been sucn
a thing, but cannot say. At TINS time !
did not see any thing Of Captain Chllds. AT
The time I first discovered the tire saw no
appearances ofthe buckets having been USED.
saw buckets on board, but could NOT say
how many. Think they did not get the nre
engine nj work. NV attention, when first
came on. deck, was turned to the quarter
boats. They were then full of passengers.
The passengers seemed frenzied, and deter
mined by stupid obstinacy to destroy them.
selves. / went to the starboard boat wnicn
.hey were about to lower away, and winch
Lhey did lower away. When near the water,
think the stern touched the water. some one
cut the bow tackle. don't think IL could
nave been unlocked. The boat then rum
ming IL or IA knots an hour would have pre-
Vented IL. The starboard boat Immediately
filed with water. She was full OF people
about 20 persons were in her. Inc ooat
went astern very quick and went down.
ran over to the other boat which they lower
ed and which went down pretty much IN the
same way, only she was not so full OF water.
Don't know il there were any OF the oWcers
or crew about this boat. There was not
nsinter atfnched 10 the boat, or if SO, it had
Darted. By this time the fire had got such
Roadway / had pretty much made up my
mind the boat was gone case, and thought
The only chance was to run her ashore.-
Went for this purpose to the wheelhouse in
hopes of seeing Capt. Childs, as supposed
nal would be there. Saw Captain Chiids
here. Told him the best thing ne could DO
vas 10 run the boat ashore as fast as possible.
CaDt. C. said |" the boat already headed for
land." By this time the fire began to come
no tho sides and through the promenade
deck. The wheelhouse was hiied wnn
smoke. could not see who was IN the
or who was not. There We're
two or three persons in the vicinity OF the
lifa.boat. Their attention was then directed
10 her. I said "if you mean to do any thing
with her, you must do 1t very quick"
was apprehensive the promenade deck would
soon fall in. helped tear the tarpaulin OIL
her. but had no intention Of going in her,
for knew as soon as she touched the main
deck rail. that they would crowd into her
and swamp her, as they had done the other
boats. What became Of her cannot say:
Z think they launched her. / then quilted
the promenade deck as the fire commenced
bursting up around the wheelhouse. Went
at and descended to the main deck. Saw
them at work there with the hose, think of
her force pump. Ibid not know before this
that she had force pump on board. 1t was
90 thick with smoke that could scarcely
Gee what they were about, and they were
soon forced TO leave off work. BY this time
the communication was entirely cut of be-
tween the fore and aft part ofthe steamboat.
Up to this time, twenty minutes had pro-
bahiy elapsed. The steam engine had stop
ped. lido not think the engine ran more than
Is or 20 minutes from the first alalm. re-
commended the deck hands to throw the