Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-15

FRreHrrrL AND HoRsrBLE ScENE.-The Gin
cinnati Commercial has the following account
O: the frightful scene on board the A. N. johnson
after the explosion
The explosion blew away the boilers. leaving
the furnaces and fire partly exposed and NUN
of the cabin fell in. Passengers when they oper-
ed their state room door, rushed TO where the
cabin had been sunk amidst the flames, when
had seized on the fallen timbers Of the cabi.'.
Mr. S S. Sanders, Of this city, who was, on ac''
count of the crowded state of the cabin, lying on
the goor Of the social hail. at the time Of the ex-
plosion, fell with the cabin on the deck, and in
the fall the tubers Of the cabin fell on his legs.
which prevented him from rising or doing any
thing.
The boa, took fire, which was momentari'y
approaching him, and while lying in this cond'-
ton he saw several perish in the flames, their
hands extended for aid and shriekng with agony
and despair but there were none to help them.
As the fire approached the horses tied on the
forecastle became wild with alright, and COM
menced kicking. rearing and plunsing In this
wild excitement the timbers which held Mr..
Sanders were so removed as to lberate him,
wher he arose and approached the side Of the
boat next 20 the stream, and seeing the river full
Of ice he caught up wet blanket, threw it ound
himself and rushed through the flames TO the op-
posi:e side, and made his escape to the shore.
which was overlooked by high and perpendicu-
lar bank. After walking some distance along
shore he reached a place where he gained the
summit and seeing house he proceeded TO It.
When he got in he was going 10 throw himself
upon the bed. but was prevented by the woman
of the house. Immediately DIR. Gillespie came
in, and attempted to throw himself on the bed,
but was prevented also. He sunk on the floor
almost lfeless, and expired soon after being ia
ken to Maysville. ... ....
We will here state that the irightfui appear.
snce of Mr. Sanders and DR.. Gillespie SO alarmed
the woman that she hardly knew what she was
doing aud there were two children in the bed.
As soon as her senses rallied, she removed the
children, made up good FIRE, and CONT buted to
the extent Of her power 10 the relief oi the suf-
! ferers brought these. The scene of heart. .rend-
ing agony on board the boat was in6escribaba
There were the dead and dying--thr flames
bursting from every part of the boat--,he shfieks
of men as they sank into the flames TO rise
more--the wild fright OF the horses--all conspi-
led TO render the scene beyond the power of Ian.
guage to depict, but the agony OF those who pc.
rished instantly by the explosion, sunk into the
| flames and were thrown into the water 10 rise no
more, were short and their fate could almost
/ say preferable TO some who survived-ther flesh
burnt 10 coal and peelng from their bones In
the midst Of suffering the most acute that the hu-
man frame can endure men in the depth OF their
agony were begging TO be shot, calling for axes
and other instruments by which they might end
! their sutIerings On the shore and in the adm
cent cornfed were 10 be seen the most frish,fui
spectacles. Heads, trunks, limbs and every part
Of the human frame, torn from the other parts
and in fragments scattered around.