The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-01-22

F.. HEa ~ n
of the day for Tuesday next. and the House az
%iourned. .--- 49,
Terrible Steamboat Explosion.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE STEAM
BOAT "BLUE RIDGE" TWENTY Oh
THIRTY LIVES SUPPOSED TO BE LOST
-GREAT SUFFERING. i.".' "-''
The steamer "Fairmount," Capt
Poe, arrived here yesterday mornings
to his clerk we are indebted for an ex
ira OF the Gallipolis Journal, which
gives the particulars Of the explosion o
the Blue Ridge, a steamer running il
the Cincinnati and KenhEwa trade
1t occurred on Sunday morning, be.
tween / and 8 o'clock, while a severe
storm of snow was raging. The extra
says:-- '..'@ ="'
She blew up while under way, with
a tremendous explosion, reducing TO a
perfect wreck all OF the cabin immedi.
ately over her boilers. She commenc.
ed sinking almost Immediately, and in
a few minutes the hull sunk-leavins
the cabin afoat-to the top of which
such of the passengers as were saved
retreated for security. As fast as pos.
sible, they were conveyed TO the shore
in the yawl; but before they wore all
relieved from their perilous situation,
the cabin had 1oated some six or eight
miles. The passengers were taken to
the farm houses in the immediate vicin-
ity, where every possible attention was
rendered to the sufferers by the hospi-
table occupants.
Information of the disaster was i'm.
mediately sent to town, and a number
Of our citizens lost no time in repairing
to the scene, to render what assistance
they could.
The captain, VIM. Summers, Of this
place, was M Of the last TO leave the
the wreck, although quite severely
wounded by a fracture of the knee.
The owner of the boat, Jas. Paine,
ESD, was the last n to leave the float
ing wreck, and indeed did not leave I'M
til he had it safely moored at Eighteen
creek, thus saving most Of the baggage
which the extent and suddenness Of the
explosion had compelled the passengers
to leave in their state rooms.
Many of the passengers and crew,
who had escaped unhurt, were compel.
ed to swim ashore, and then wander in
the cold, through the fields; in search
Of shelter. Some were one and two
hours thus exposed.
AS to the number lost, we have not
been able to arrive at any very just con.
clusion. Say those who know best,
not over twenty. We think, from the
best information we can gather, there
must have been near seventy persons
ON board.
There were fifteen deck passengers
fate not known. t.fz.al.ya d1uM|
The "Lelia,' lying at PIT, Pleasant,
Immediately repaired TO the scene Of the
disaster, as 500 as she received the in.
formation, and Sunday evening brought
to this place all ofthe wounded and dis.
abled but two. % % gi8 jsiass tdnim.5a
2 Along the shore, in the vicinity of.he
the explosion, were found scattered
trunks, boxes, hats, caps, coats. pants,
together with large portions Of The
all presenting a most melancho.
Iy sight dii g. .ae a.I 5agi9s .n. aGiI
, Few Of the passengers saved any
thing-having to 60 ashore in their
night clothes. There were six ladies
on board, all Of whom were saved ex-
cept n 90 ".- az! h,.5.ai ''-eaA s,a
The boat caught fire twice, but hap.
PLY it was speedily subdued.. .hsqc9I
a The second pilot, sleeping, in his
room, was thrown on shore, a distance
of about one hundred yards, and es.
with but some slight bruises
The second clerk, James Summers.
was thrown into the river, and swan
escaping without the least
scratch,
There were three horses on board,
,ne of which was found on shore after
he explosion The other two were
Missing. n0,Gd3Gia1 ssre- ,hIulHa1J iol
The explosion was undoubtedly caus
ID by defective boilers, together with
in,suficicncy Of water. The boil.
RS had been in use nine years last fall
Capt.. Keys informs usthat Mr.. G obby
he cnginee,, toldhim, two months ago.,
hat the boilers were unsafe, andhs was
q men, 6saoiniai oh .aoosqs