The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-27

Explosion and Destruction by Fire OF tho
steamer Marlborough at Charleston.
foUHTKBk PERSONS KILLKD-rHRRg INJUnED.
from the Charleston Courlsr Dsc 2sl
It is our painful duty to record this morning .
most fearful destruction If life arising from the ex
ploson OF the boilers OF the steamer Marbor ,ugh,
Capt VIM. M. Sun all wood. which took place shortly
after eight O'Clock yesterday morning, as she WAS
backing cut from Atlantic wharf to proceed ON her
voyage to Cheraw and the landings on the Pee Dee
river.
including the ca2.aa, officers, and crew, comprised
twenty-five thirteen Of whom HAYS been killed, the
majority having been either burnt ~ with the hull,
or rave met q wsiery grave.
The body OF Capt. VIM. NJ Smallwood who, We
are told. he'd the bellrope In his hand at the time,
has been recovered has also the body OF tha Chef
Engineer. Warren B. Stone. The mate. Capt. N.
Bnlien, formerly Of the Sannac, is missing.
Or the nine saved several received severe cOntu-
sions-oDe, deck bard, white man, had ore of
bis arms ampuraied yesterday. in consequence Of
injuries sustained
A snail negro boy who was standing on the wharf
a. the time Of the explosion was struck the head
by piece Of iron and Instantly killed.
One Of the boilers, weighing about two tons aud o
bali, was propelled about two hurdSed yards. cut
ting 10 its progress three bags of cotton IN half and
knocking down SIX brick pillars sustaining the east
err portion OF cotton shed on Atlantic wharf uti-
mately being deposited among the cotton IN the
shed.
The steam drum passed over the deck Of the
schooner J. [. Fardy-whose officers and men uero
fortunately below st the time, st their breakfast-
slightly mjuring the foremost, and lodged on the
whsrf.
The captain of the ship Delaware. belonging to
Bath, Me-, lying at the same wharf, and his officers
were 1T breakfast and the table at which they
seated YVES filed with fragments from the wrsc ok
Shortly after the explosion, fire broke out on
board en6angsgiDg the Della ware, but the hull was
promptly taken in tow by the steamer Col. Myers,
Capt Paine, and carried into the stream, where it
lodged ca bank in front of the city, and vas con-
auIned.
One of the interests Of the Marlborough was in.
sured for LOCO in the South Carolina Insurance
CompaDy-$400 Oh the cargo, which cons sted of 275
sacks salt, bhds. molasses ~ bis sugar, As bags
eofiee, 81 hnds and bbs. liquors, and 427 packages
Derchandse-in the same Office an0 $3.50 in tho
agency u the Augusta Insurance and Banking Com.
pany.
The cause Of tho catastrophe is not, nor probably
ever VIII be, definitely known; We trust. no veeer,
,hal this occurrence the second withia five or SIX
weeks, will cause the owners aud captains of our
river hoats 10 neglect no precaut,on that can co.,
dee to the safety Of hose who trnst themselves on
board them.
There wsTs many painful incidents Of this cstas.
trot he, which IN coming upon the ground We were
compelled to WI ness In tho dock, 3nd ciinging to
portion Of tie wreck, was a boat hand go0 was
badly scalded and could scarce support himself IN
til sssi s.snce cams. Upon North Atlantic wssrf,
beneath the bales of cotton ,laya coored nan, whose
face WIS chsued aud toangled, and who, thoogh
breeshiDg was beyond the help OF any hu nan kind.
Further on the same wharf lay the 10 ate, mangted
and dead There WAS shouting aud hurry iass 90 aud
fro ABOUT him, nut, with his face covered, and the
ccoi morning air upon him, he Sss tranquil as though
wrapped IL tie most peaceful s!uDber. The captain
lsy IN the stamer Marion, with macy friends around
him, bnt hh roo was cQd and dead. rel isiou aud
sp old and At ached' ffisnd strained through she
crowd 10 reach him, bp. the sighs VA 200 much
he staggered sNo fel into the Of those who had
followed him. iits,e distance from the tain lay
poor negro, whose Clothes aud esa hsd been strip.
ped from him 10 permit the treatment OF his wonnds
Further on lay another. Hs moaueG most plteonsiy,
a16 those who he ra him needed no other assurance
oil tie 10 elsiiy Of his suffering. Through all this
scene of suGtriDg md death tue fire still rage1, End
find pg IL IMPOSSIBLE to subdue toe flames, the beat
was fastened 10 steamboats, and dragged gay from
the Shipping into tie stream The escape Of the
clerk, Mr.. Holmes, was truly wonderful. lie stood
npon the upper deck-ths deck was shattered into
fragments, but sprineing towards the water he
caught upon its utmost edge, SWING under 1.-THE
e0ge alone remained AID when the smoke subsidized
he effected his escape.