Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-06-27
From the Daily Advertiser.
AWFUL EXPLOSION !

Our city was yesterday shocked by
the most terrible and mournful acciden
that has ever occurred in its vicinity
Yesterday morning. the Steamboat Gen
Vance, Capt. s. ID. Wood worth, left tn,
wharf OF j. N. Ebert, at IL o'clock
with full load of passengers and freight
for Toledo. She proceeded across the
river TO Windsor, and just as she stopped
at the wharf, and was letting off steam
the boiler exploded. The sound was like
the report of a cannon, and was heard
with fearful distinctness OH this side
The fore part of the boat Immediately
sank, and the aft soon followed. But
this was of little consequence. compared
iih the melancholy loss of life.
Four persons at least, are supposed to
have lost their lives. Mr.. Samuel d..
Woodwork, the captain of the boat, the
eldest son of Mr.. Benjamin Woodwork,
the late we'll known proprietor of the
Steamboat Hotel, was thrown into the air
and killed. His body was found some
hours afterwards, in the river. The bo.
dy of George Sweeney, of Chatham, U.
c. formerly employed on the Kent, has
also been found. Robert MotherwilI, en-.
gineer of the ferry boat United, who had
Just stepped on board the Vance. is also
supposed to be killed, though his body has
moi been found. Major A. c. Truax. Of
Truago. one of our oldest and most re-
spectacle citizens. was frightfully and
MORALLY wounded, and though living
at the moment of writing. cannot survive.
MIR. Gaylord, the engineer of The Vance,
was severely but not dangerously injured.
and also two of the 6remen, whose
names we have not learned. Some 80 or
40 passengers were Oh board, and their
il almost miraculous.
The boat is of course an utter wreck,
and her cargo all ornearly all lost. 1t is
of course, too early to judge calmly of
The cause of the explosion, but it is due to
Mr.. Gaylord to say, that he is an engi-
neer of skill, experience, ard of the high
est integrity and fidelity, in whom our
citizens repose entire confidence. The
statement by him has been fur
nished to US for publication
Mr. Gaylord, the engineer, says. her
steam was low, and not so as to blow off,
when she left the wharf on this side, but
is usual on leaving port, he caused the
Tres TO be replenished. not knowing that
he boat was to land on the other side
But on coming 10 the dock, he had her fire
loor opened, and himself raised the safety
'alve and tied it up, so as to blow offfree.
y. AT the moment of the explosion he
vas standing upon the rail, with his hand
having hold of.he shroud, saying to Capt.
t" that he should have given
lin notice of his intention to land there,
hat the steam was making fast, and he
must not stop long," that instant, the ex.
'losion took place Mr.. Gaylord was
lown from the rail where he was stand
ng, on TO the forward deck of the Ferry
Boat United, and was badly bruised, and
omewhat scalded. but not dangerously.
P. s. Major Truax has since died.
Young Hickory. 1.-The " Heaven born
AMOS" in his paper of the 4th instant,
avs that " no widow or orphans weep
he loss of husband and father slain un-
er his (Polk's) counsels, as in the case
+ CIlley and the Wing candidate. Mr..
ok will never do to stand in old Hicko.
Us shoes. if Kendall's account of him is
orrect. old Hickory made more than
ne widow, as the voracious Amos has
imseIf chronicled, and unless II can oe
that "young Hickory has kill.
ed his man, we are at an utter loss to
efceive the propriety of the appellatIon.
The title will better apply to brother of
fr. P. who shot down or butchered a
entIeman in Columbia, Tennessee some
ears ago. The gentleman left no wild
W, We believe, but that was no fault of
le murderer. He was " treading in the
footsteps of his il,ustrious predecessor"
oubtless. Wing Standard.
State Electaons.-The following list
loWS the time of hoIding elections for