Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-05-26

ing to the cabin, and talking to Mr.. Shell
ton, when he felt the tremor before alluded
to- Familiar with such accidents on the
Mississippi river, aud knowing what it por-
tended, even before he heard The explosion.
aud simultaneously with the gushing up of
the steam, with extraordinary presence Of
mnd he jerked apart the fastenIugs about
his neck Of heavy cloak he had on, threw
it entirely over his head, wrapped il and his
hands IN the folds, aud Frustrated hlmselfto
the deck The furious volume of steam
rushed over and around him, but he lay with
his hand casped over his mouth aud held
his breath. This he did as long as he could
when he made a grasp 10 recover himself
and again held his breath Even through
the thick folds Of his cloak through has
hand low down on the deck--half min
ute after the explosion, the air was painful
ly hot In a little more than a minute, he
raised his cloak to see If he could breathe
found II still too hot aud covered himself up
again. In two minutes he uncovered, COM
petely unhurt-he had not even been sing
ed HIS cloak was burnt aud almost drop
ped to pieces. Beside HIM lay poor Shelton,
to whom he had just been talking, fearfully
scalded internally aud externally. and now,
poor fellow, dying. He was the only man
of that whole crowd around him, who rose
up. HIS escape, under Providence, is due
to his presence of mind alone.
As soon as the CONSERVATION had in a
measure subsidized, those who escaped rush.
ed to The assistance Of the sufferers. they
were brought up Oh deck aud laid out, some
of them on mattresses, others on the bare
lplanks-Aith the carcasses of a number of
hogs ranged on deck, as pillows. Their
cries OF PAIN were Troublesome lost their
senses aud rayed-others were seen stagger-
ing blIudly about, with The skin hanging IN
shreds from Their bodies -irom their hands
like gloves turned inside out Many had
all Their clothes bowed off them, and shV-
cred ia the cold-whIle burning internally
they cried for water. Many were literally
scaped-theIr hair was melted off, as 1t
we're, by the steam, and they were left bald.
The kind and generous hearts of some of
those on board who escaped we're filled with
compassion. and they did all that men could
do, to alleviate the sulierngs of the pound-
ed until assistance could reach them
Some who were rushing around irantc with
pain, haG 10 be seized To prevent them from
Jumping overheard. Their clothes were
stripped from them as soon as possible, but
horrible To relate, the skin from their bod
les peeled off with them
Que man, covered with a large cloak,
standing in the gangway before spoken of
between the oahu aud he ratings, had his
back to one OF the cabin windows; the
steam burst out of this window, struck him
IN the back, and Knocked him, stunned, o.
yer the ratings into the water he toated a,
a friend stopped, selzed hOld of his cloak,
and held hm up until he recovered his SEN
ses, when he succeeded in getting on board
but slightly scalded
Mr.. Marx was III front OF the companion
way to The CABIN; he heard the explosion
aud leaped forward amIdships as rapidly as
he could he escaped with only scalded
hand, which was caught by the steam as 1t
rushed past HIM.
Some one went TO assist the poor fireman
who was scalded SO terribly IN front He
SAID to them" Leave me and go to some
one to whom YOU can do some good-pm a
dead man u and IN few minutes after ex-
pred.
A German was blown overheard and was
floating senseless. Mr. Peter Smith, most
esilmable fellow, who is well known ON the
wharf as d fisherman, launched a canoe and
succeeded in picking hln up. Three 9th
ers were known TO lave been blown over at
tins polut, aud It is supposed several others
from the other side OF The boat, all OF whom
A a - 4. 4.
canoe aud padded towards the shore for as
s:slance; he got INTO the tules aud marsh,
left his boat, aud waded for three quarters
Of mile through the mud, up to his waist
III parts, swan slough, came near drown
lug, threw of his clothes, swan three or four
other sloughs aud creeks, aud arrived max
ed at a store on Pulgas rancho. Here as
slstance was procured; the kind people a.
round furnished on, lint, aud such other
things as they thought might be useful -
went on board the schooner Milwaukee, ly-
Jug near, aud with Mr.. Smith started 10 The
relief OF The sufferers.
Que man named Murphy, who was also
dreadiully scalded, crawled 10 one side OF
the deck, and lay down between two bales /;
a dog, that was also scalded ran bowling a.
round, aud al last got upon Murphy and
lad down on him. Murphy thought It was
a man, and cried to han TO get oil. Mr. To-
bn went 10 his assistance, took hold of the
dog by the neck to liil him off, when the
hair, ski. aud all came off IN his hand, slip
ping of at all points as II II had been soap
ed. He had actually to push hun oil. We
hear on all hands warm COMMUNICATION of
Mr.. Tobin for his ceaseless exerllons TO re-
lIese the sufferers, particularly the ladies
aud children. He aud others, whose names
we do not know, went around like good Sa-
marItans, plllowed the heads OF the dying IN
their arms, covered their wounds with OIL 4,
which relieved them greatly, coniorIed aud
cheered the sufferers, aud did all that men
could do in their situation.
We wish we could do justice TO the dis
lnierestedness, the unceasing attention aud
devotion to the sufferers manifested on all
hands. Mr.. Edward Gallagher, formerly
our Coroner, furnished all sorts OF material
aud resioralyes for the use Of the sui-
lerers, aud was particularly active. MIR.
johnson, OF the Prices Current, was indie
laiigable. lie oblalned the services of a
number of physicians. procured drugs, Int,
OIL, everything, IN fact, needed went down
on the X lie kearuy, aud mlnislered To the
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