Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1845-10-02
Late from Corpus Christie. Disastrous Steam boat
Explosion....Important Texan Ordinance.

Late from Corpus Christie. Disastrous Steamboat
Explosion....Inportant Texan Ordinance.
The steamship Alabama arrived at early hour
this morning, says the N. o. Picayune Of the 18th
ult., having sailed from Aransas on the 18TH
We make an extract from private letter from an
officer OF the 9Th Infantry, dated at Corpus Christi,
Sept IL
The steamer Dayton while on her way from this to
Arkansas, to-day, burst her boiler when about fifteen
miles from here, and sunk in about eight feet water.
Seventeen persons were killed and seventeen in
jured Among the killed were Lieutenants Higgins
and Berry, of the 4th Infantry. The other names |
do not know, of the bodies not yet having been
found. These, though, were all the officers
The explosion took place at half past IL o'clock,
in day time, and DR. Crittenden, who was on board,
slightly nlured informs me that she sunk in fifteen
minutes AFTER, and as she went down. covered by the
-water another bniler exploded with most terrific
report"
Letters of subsequent day inform us that the
bodies of all those lost had been decovered. One of
the wounded IA coored deck handy died the next day;
the other sixteen were less injured than at first
apprehended and fears entertained for them.
We trust that the number killed will not exceed
eight The steamboat itself is utter loss
Bearers of dispatches from Gen. Taylor were on
their way to Washngton-the object of the dis
patches had not transpired.
On the 18th company of traders arrived at Gen.
Tayors camp. They reported that they had seen,
within two days march of the camp about two hun
dred LappanS and as many CamancheS on their way
to Metamoras 10y invitation from Mexico) to join the
forces to be directed against Gen. Taylor. The re-
port of the traders was but half credited.
Gen. Taylor sent out Lieut.. Scarritt, with an es-
cort of forty Dragons to reconnore for 30 or 40
miles about, to ascertain everything possible, and he
no doubt has spies pushed further ahead.
We have received an entire copy of the State
Constitution of Texas adopted by the Conven-
ton. Attached 10 it is ordinance of vast import
anre in regard to grants of Texas lands 1t will be
submitted othe people at the same time as the Con-
stitution.
ORDINANCE.
Whereas various contracts have been entered into by the
President of the Republic of Texas with divers individuals
Will the expressed intention OF colonzng an enormous
of the public domain of Texas and Whereas is
believed that said unconstitutional and there
fore void from the beginning and if carried out would ope
rate monopoly OF upwards of million of of the
public domain OF Texas, in the hands of few ndviduals
whcn in TRUTH the citizen soldiers and creditors of the Re-
public of Texas had by the laws and constitution of said
Republic, clear and indpuabe previously subsisting
right locate upon public domain thus attempted be
signed to said contractors.
SIC l. Therefore is hereby ordained and declared
That shall be the duty of the Attorney General Of the State
the District Attorney of the District in which any portion OF
the colonies be situate the organization OF the
State shall be completed institute legal proceedings against
all colony contractors &c. &c The bill provides for the
protection of actual settlers
SEC 9. BE it further ordained, That the Legislature
hereby restrained from extending any contract for settling
colony and from relieving contractor from the failure OF the
conditions, the forfeiture accuing from noncompliance will
the contract
SEC. 3. And be il further enacted That this ordinance
shall be presented to the people for their adoption rejection
ath time this Constitution shall be presented 10 them
and the of the taken this ordinance, etc., etc
Adopted in Convention, 18th August 1915.
THOMAS J. RUSk, President.
JAMES H. RAYMOND Secretary