Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-01-12
Explosion of the steamer A. N.
johnson.
EIGHTY LIVES LOST.

and sucb as we hope never to see again. The
steamer A. N. Johnson, Capt. Abraham Ben
nett. the splendid new Wheeling and cincinna-
Ii packet, on her first trip up last night, when
about ten miles above this city, at o'clock
blew up with tremendous explosion, reducing
to wreck the whole boat forward OF the wheel
house. The boat took fire. Immediately, and
burned to the waters eige.
The news of the disaster was brought to
Maysville by three passengers In skim, at an
early hour this morning. As soon as the stea-
mer Daniel Boone, which had just come up
through the ice, with nearly all her buckets
broke, could be sufficiently repaired, about 100
of our citizens-committees from the Masons,
2 lodges of Odd Fellows 3 Divisions of Sons
of Temperance, Oriental Evanics, and on the
part of the ciiizens-as many as it was thought
would be usefnl-repaired on board, and reached
the scene of destruction about half past twelve
O'Clock this morning. All han been done be-
fore that could be done. by Messrs. Gran
vile DYE, George F. Wilson, Andrew and T..
Wilson, at whose houses the sufferers lay, as
well as by the neigbbors. and by dozen or
more from Maysvie who had gone up on horse-
back Every preparation was made for their
comfort and relief that could be, and Drs. Adj
amson, Tobbs. Sharpe, Frazee, Davis, Paddock
and Sutherland were active IN applying reme-
dies. The patients were removed to the boat,
which reached the CITY by half past four o'clock.
Nothing had been omitted by our citizens, which
human foresight could suggest or human agen-
CIV accomplish, and they will ever feel proud at
the remembrance of such duty done. eri
AS well as can be ascertained there were near
one hundred and ninety persons aboard, oi whom
ITO are known to be saved. si .es,. saa-sg
Some idea of the force Of the explosion may
be gathered from the fact that one of the boilers
was thrown $50 yards up through part of the
cabin and struck in field, then rebounded some
thirty feet, another was broken in two, and part
thrown more than 900 wards in another direc-
ton. The boat was literally wrecked by the
explosion, and the aft part of the cabin soon de-
stroved by fire. 80
Few of the passengers saved any thing. and
several lost large sums of money. Tie ladies',
of whom there were FIVE only on the boat, es-
capped unhurt. but without even their Clothes
One mother pitched her three children in sue
cession to Mr.. Jno. III. Jones. of Montgomery
CO., Tennessee, who stood in the water and
caught them safely.
Capt. Bennett is worn out in body, and ex-
ceedinglv distressed in mind. The testimony
taken before, Esq. Nash, showed that all her.
officers were on duty. and that the engineer had
lust tried the guage, aud found plenty ct water
in the bnilers--and the dying words Of the en-
Cineer this morning were that there plenty
of water. River men. however, who were on
deck, insist that he was 6eeeiyed, while the best
ndges ascr;be the explosion 10 the defective
boilers.
Several dead bodies were picked up and buri-
ed. and the bodies of the FIRST clerk and several
others, who died this morning, were brought
down on the beat Several Of the wounded
cannot survive till morning.
The boat was insured, we learn, for S12,-
onO
There were 2. horses on board. of which on
" FIVE or six were taken of, ana them Of several
were horribly scalded.
AT least sixty persons in The cabin were
blown into the air or overheard by the expl0-
sion, the largest mart Of whom are missing.
Breret Rams correspondent enquiries,
"who would be in command of Gen. SCOTS
army in the event CT his deatf' This of course
has reference to the Brevet Rank q. General
Worth: but that question could not possibly
arise with either Gen. Patterson or Gen. But
Ter, in that army. Both Patterson and Butler,
bear commissions of Mai. Gems. of older date
than Worths Brccet. Pillow however, is a
Mai. Gen. whose commission is of more recent
date than Worth's Breret: and according to
the Rules and Articles of War, which are the
law of land. Worth would take command in pre-
ference to Pillow but according to decision
=
ago by President Polk, Piifo,c ranks Worth.-
The decision of the President, who is the COM
mander-in-chief. is, the case referred to, para
mount to law, because Congress has virtually
acqniesced in the construction of the law given
by Mr.. Polk.
In the event of SCOTS death, Patterson or
Butler, the senior of the two present, would sue
coed to the command.
FIGHTING TEAcHERs.-There is a College in
Virginia, of which Messrs. jefferson, Madison
and Monroe, were once visters. 1t is called
William and Mary. The present visiters chose
Mr.. Peachy to teach the youth there sthe
way they should CO. on which the President,
Mr.. Saunders, took the pet and resigned. A
paper war, tart, bitter, and scalding hot follow
ed. At length Prof. Peachv boiled. over, and
boldly challenged Principal Saunders TO settle
the matter as our Government are settling with
unfortunate Mexico-the best shot to be con-
sidered in the right and the weaker party to 90
The wall, or kingdom eome, just as the duello
might chance to decide. Saunders accented,
Friends, who had little more common sense
than these two sblind leaders of the tlind., In
terposed-the loaded pistols we're put aside, po-
lite explanations and notes were exchanged,an
Messrs. Peachy and Saunders once more stand
ready, we presume, to instruct children what
themselves don't know-and that is. how to be-
have so as to travel creditably thro' the cheek
cred journey of lfe.-Tribuae.
RATTLING TELEGR APH.-An elderly pentle-.
man, apparently bit title versed in the WAYS
of the world took his seat in the omnibus which
runso ver the Milldam to Brighton. He was par
tcularl, interested in the telegraphic wires.
WEIGH are PLACID along the road over the milldanA
and cross the railroad-bridge near the ship-yard.
Just as the omnibus reached the bridge, il so
happened that long train of freieht cars came
laundering along under the BRIDGE The attenr.
ton of the old gentleman, however, was entirely
engrossed with the mystic wires over head, he,
heard the noise but saw not the cars, and as tho
heavy trains went laundering and rafting along,
with looks of wonder and establishment fixed on
the wires the good man exclaimed: g Well the
news makes great rafting along them are
wires. any how; but can't understand il no
howl, Boston Traveller. s,az es
GF The Editor of the Maine Farmer. inti-
mates that the design of our government in send
ing an expedition to the Dead Sea, may be to
fish up Sodom and Gomorrah and annex them
to the United States" !5
O. Have MT we got enough of that sort of