The Madisonian., 1840-01-18
From The Journal of Commerce.
AWFUL CALAMITY.

AWFUL CALAMITY.
Loss Of Steamboat Lexington Capt. Chids with
nearly every soul on board, in number from $50 10
200 persons.
Our community has been thrown into great ex-
cement and grief, in consequence Of the news Of
the loss OF the steamboat Lexington, which left here
on Monday afternoon for Providence, and nearly
all the persons on board pershed.
A letter from Norwalk, received some hours
since announced the fact that a steamboat had been
burnt off that port, and that it was supposed TO be the
Lexington.
But the full extent of the calamity was not known,
nor scarcely anticipated until half an hour since on
the arrival Of the Nimrod, Capt. Brooks, from New.
port
Among the passengers we understand were
Bobert Blake Of Wrentham; MIR. Fowler of this
city.
dence; Samuel Henry, of Boston; Chas. II Phelps,
Stonington R. w Dow, firm OF Dow Co. New
York; Capt. Vanderbilt.
Office of the Republican Standard
BRipdePoar, Tuesday evening. Jan. IA, lSi0. -
APPALLING CALAMITY.
STEAMBOT LEXINGTON DES rROYED BY
FIRE, AND NEARLY TWO HUNDRED
LIVES LOST;
The Lexington left New York for Sonington on
Monday, 3 o'clock, p. M, having, 1t is believed,
quantity Of Cotton was placed upon her decks. Al
7o'clock when about two miles from Eaton's Neck,
the cotton took fire near the smoke pipe.
The boat headed for the shore the ef-
forts to exngush the fire proved unsuccessful She
provided with three boats-yet such the panic
which took possession Of all minds, that they
hosed while the boat still under headway and
Immediately s,camped The engine few minutes af-
ter gave way, leaving her utterly unmanageabe The
which then ensued, is described most appal-
ling.
Captain Chester Hillard, of Norwich, passenger on
board from whom Rve gathered these few partcu-
lars. states that after the engine stopped the pas
sengers began 10 leave the boat boxes bales, &c
In company with Of the Fremcn he fortu-
nate to cotton bale, to which he lashed him
self He renamed upon this bale, the wind blowing
off Long Island Shore until II O'Clock this morning,
when he taken up by the sloop Merchant Of South
| port.
His companion in the meantime had been released by
death from his sntierIngs Two others taken up
| by the soop, fireman aud the Pilot of the boat
Both nearly lnsensble II is surprising that any
should have survived the exposure There is TOO much
fear that the three the only survivors II
however possible, that others may have been saved
The Boat drfed up the Sound with the tide and
off this harbor about midnight Capt II states
that she sank three o'clock, as he marked the lne
by his watch
The efforts which last night made in this vci-
nifty and at Southport to go in aid Of the sufferers
proved owing TO the ice in the harbors. and to other
untoward circumstances, entirely unavaIling.
| We learn that Boat which succeeded III getting out
Of Southport harbor, after reachsg the middle OF the
Sound compelled to return.
The account which we have given of this awful ca
tastrophe, is exceedingly imperfect 1t may be well
imagined that informant is hardly in situation to
furnish many details
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The editors of The Journal of Commerce have
been favored with the following letter from Captain
Brooks, OF the Steamer Nimrod, dated
STEAMER NMRoD
Jan. Is 1870 I
| have seen Capt Chester Hillard one of the
survivors from the destruction of the steamer Lex
ington on Monday night last BY fire, and from him
gather the following particulars. The boat LETT New
York al 8 o'c ck-he thinks with about $50 paSsen-
gers and full freight
About hafpas, in the evening heard the cry OF
FIRE, he ran on deck and saw the fire bursting through
the wood work round the chimney. All was con-
fusion and terror in a moment He ran up TO the
wheel TO advise running for the shore, which Capt.
ChildS 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 fire engine
on board, but did not succeed. They rushed for the
boats, and jumped in, 10 the number he thinks oi 20
| in each, and lowered them down while the boat was
under iull headway, and they we're filled immedi-
ately and he is Of opinion that not OF them es-
capped.
The Life Boat was thrown over, bui caught the
! water.wheel and was lost. He saw several floating
with lite-preservers, but Capt r. thinks none
vived until morning. He advised to tumbIing over
the cotton bales, and assisted he thinks, in getting
over 10 or IL, and lashed himself to one.
| When the steamboat stopped, which she did from
some cause 10 him unknown man by the name oi
Cox, employed on board, got with him about
O'Clock, and the braces under the guards we're full
OF persons, having gained that position the last
resort.
| He remained on The bale of cotton, and was taken
on by Captain Meeker, OF sloop Merchant Of South
port They discovered the FIRE soon af er il broke
out and attempted to get of the harbor but be-
ing shallow, and the tide falling, they caught
| aground, and did not get out until morning tide
! Cox died about o'clock on the bale with him.