Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-10-29

/ hurst her boilers, thai, Lieuts. Higgins and
Berry, Of The 4th Infantry, With some otn'
ers, were killed, and many horribly scala
| ed. The Dayton left this on the morning
of The 18th for ST. Joseph's Island, having
on board Capt. Crossman, A. 6. NJ,
Lieuls. Graham, Higgins and Woods, OF
the 4,h, Lieut.. Gordon OF the 3D., and
ASST. Surgeon Cri,tenden; besides these
there were several soldiers aud citizens on
board. AT 90 minutes past IL, being op-
pos,e Magloue's Bluff, she burst her boil
ers, scattering death on every side. IL.
Higgins, just before The explosion, was
talking 10 DR.. c., and Lieuts. b. and W..
we-o lying down near them asleep, all be.
| ing in the small cabin aft Of the social
hall. Capt. c., Lieuts. Graham and
Gorpon, with many others standing around
them, were seated on the boiler deck
Lieut. II. was Immediately killed by a
piece of:iron striking him on the head,
DR.. C. aud 1t. w. escaped any material
injury, III. b. was killed and his body
no. found until The next day. All on the
boiler deck were blown high in the air,
and fell in the water some distance from
the boat. Lieut.. Gordon was unlEjured,
Capt. c. veSy slightly, and Lieut.. Graham
badly, although not dangerously scalded.
There were eight killed and seventeen
wounded. The scene battles description.
Alter the first boiler burst the second was
thrown into the water aud exploded with
a crash of thunder, throwing volumes OF
water high in the air. The scene in the
wafer was TERRIBLE; it was deep enough
to swim any one; aud there they lay, poor
mangled fellows, clinsius 10 pieces OF the
wreck, until fortunately they were allpick.
ed up by The yawl, which was enerseti-
ly employed under The immediate direc-
tion of Lieut.. Gordon. As they were
brought on shore, it was horrible in The
extreme 10 look al them ; some with near
y all the flesh off, one with his leg broken
aud all, more or less mutilated; some per-
fectly blackened, and Que negro not only
scaldcd, bu, his flesh burnt to a crisp
Every aid that an experienced and talent
euled medical officer could render, was
freely and promptly given. The General
Hospital was placed at the disposal of all
soldiers and cliZens-and The amount OF
terrible suffering that is undergoing there,
would rend the heart Of The most indifier-
enl. The boat is complete and utter
wreck, literally blown into atoms-it was
an old hulk of thing, totally unified to
carry passengers. 1t was our only choice
in the absence of proper transportation.
and in ain evil hour she was chartered, not
only to carry freight, but TO be the means
of sending eigh, souls, and possibly more
at one moment into eternity. 1t is strange,
she had filled her contract and was ON her
way down to be discharged. How 10 it,
that these terrible accidents cannot be
stopped? Ii is all folly to enact laws
about the inspection Of machinery, &c.
&c. Pass law making it death, anstan-
tuaeoas death, to the Captain Of vessel,
and I'll warrant you'll hear of few disas-
,ers. In this instance it was gross care
lessness. The Cd engineer had charge ol
the engine, The lst engineer was asleep,
the effects of dissipation the night before,
and the Captain was asleep directly over
the boilers, and strange To- relate, neither
were hurl of any consequence. In the
name of God, why should they, the res.
ponsible ones, be saved and The innocent
hurled into eternity!