Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-16
From The Savannah Morning News.
MEL "A NCHOI " Ms CrnED


Explosion of the u. s. Mail Steamer Magsioli1i-
Loss of Captain 1fcNelty, and Eleven Hands &C.
longing 10 the Steamer! Total destruction Of tn
boat.
From passenger who arrived in this city on Sun
day morning, from Darien, placed in posses
SION Of the melancholy intelligence OF the explosion
the y 5. Mail Steamer Magnolia, Capt. P. McNelty
on frldny afternoon last, at o'clock, While lying in
me stream ST. Simon's Island. opposite The planta
ton of Mr. J. P. Cooper, taking in quantity ofCot
ton from fiat. The Magnolia one OF the regula
mall boats which ply between this city and Florida
and has always been considered OF the finest and
fastest boats on our waters. She was quite new
boat, and had teen lately thoroughly repaired and
new boiler placed in T, actured the foundry
OF Mr.. A NJ Miller. OF this city. We are told by
slnteresed individuals who were employed in con.
structlng the boiler, that il was manufactured oil t e
best material, and pans or expense spared 10
make it superior piece of workmanship.
The explosion truly terrific. The mainmast
was broken into three pieces and some bales cot
ton on deck were thrown one hundred and fifty yards
from the steamer. The whole OF the forward part oil
the boat was blown out, and she sunk in five ten
minutes after the accident. By great exertons the
passengers saved with the exception OF two on
deck, who were killed by the explosion.
A letter received in this city from gentleman in
Dsrlen, who derived his information from a paesen-
ger states that the Magnolia is complete wreck, be
Ing entirely broken into fragments. Capt McNeity.
we are sorry 10 relate, blown overheard and has
not been found the supposton is that he nstsnt
.ly killed. The barkeeper Mr.. Thomas Cody, OF this
M TO- The boat
John Austin,a native OF the city q New York, and
ten others (saYs the same letter. less inur
ed Nothing was snyed from the wreck
Great edit is due TO the frat stewart OF the boat
Samuel Wheey, colored m n, BY whose exertions,
the lives OF several ladies. passengers, saved.
passenger who was on the boat at the time of tho
exp tslon informs US that the total numt OF
on noard as far as could be ascerianed including pas
sengers and crew, amounted to sixty three liter the
passengers succeeded in getting Shore an effort
mace TO ASCERTAIN how many lost, and il be
neved hat only eleven were missing. All the ladies'. il,
sald, WIRE saved The passengers got the fiat
which was alongside al the steamer at the time OF her
explosion, and landed at Mr. Coopers plantation where
they were kindly treated and where every possible at.
teptl0n was gwen 10 the wounded.
The Magnolia parted at The shaft, and the bow oated
on and capsized The stern gradually settled but did
not Sink entirely, having quantity OF cotton deck.
Marty al the passengers wee in the cabin at the
time OF the explosion. Mr.. Thomas Cody was taken
on shore, and in about fifteen minutes alter wards ex-
pred.
St. Simon's Island is about fifteen miles from OAR
Zen. Mr. Joseph Ross OF this city, passenger imme
diately lett The Island for Daren and came to this city
yesterday morning bringing letter containing the
sad intelligence. Mr. Ross rowed across the river
which divides the Island from the main land, and
saw the bow OF the Magnolia floating down the ri
yer, nearly five miles distant from the place of the dis
aster.
Lapt McNety aud Mr. Ross were on the upper deck
OF Inc BOAT 10 conversation, not more than five min
was Walking forward at the time OF the disaster
The Magnolia belonged to a company in this city,
OF which Mr.. M, A. Cohen was the agent. The first
engineer, Mr.. Ausiio, ekiIiu in his business and
had the reputation of being first rate engineer aud
machnst. file was for time employed on the steam
ship Alabama second or third e. gineer.
What was the immediate cause of he accident is
not known, and probably will never be found out
Z letter from Dairen to gentleman in this city
says. "Gen. James G. Cooper, of Florida, pass-n
ger on board the Magnolia, at the time OF her expIo-
sion, has ,st arrived here with portion of the u S.
NJ all, taken from the steamer in a damaged asesa-
The whole OF the forward part of the boat was shown
out, and she sunk in ivs minutes afterwards. ha We
awarded hive mail rags in charge OF Mr.. Joseph
Rose, resident Of Savannah, and passenger on
board OF the Magnolia
Capt. McNelW was amiab'e man and careful
and experienced officer and greatly esteemed by
the travelling public He leaves wife and largafa.
mily oil children in this city TO mourn their rrepafGble
loss.
AT O'clock Yesterday afternoon, the agents OF the
Magnoa the steame J. Stone 10 the place of he
disaster with physician on board, TO render such
assistance TO the wounded they required and TO bring
the passengers to this city.
The Magnolia IN her return trip from Florida to
this CITY, aud was due on Saturday morning Very lit
Il anxisiy however was elt act of her
rival at the usual hour, the high winds on Friday, it
though, had detained her. When the intelligence
of the da.er reach the city, it produc very gene
raj sensation a. large number Of our cit zens were
supposed have been board. No list OF the passan-
gers board was forward d, ard No further 10 ell-
eence from her be ceived until the Wei ka ar
rives which steamer is due to- day at noon, or till the
return Of the J. Stone.