Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-02-03
CONGRESS-

The Senate, "wednesday, alter dhposing OF tho usua
morning business resumed the consideration Of the Ques
ton presented by Mr. Phelps hs right retain h
seat upon which question Mr.. Williams and Mr. Bay
ard addressed the Senate. An adjournment then took
place. .... i, s.t,ggt $50. 49,. q.
The House Of Representatives wss engaged for the first
hours Of its sitting Ia the discussion OF bill reported
several days ego from The Committee on the Poet Office
and Post Roads to SECURE the safo transmission of the
mails oi the United States upon railroads. Tho debate
somewhat carucs between members from Ohio and Penn
syan principally In reference to the Eric railroad
troubles The bill Is to DO considered In Committee
tho Whole. g - }-' lH- @. NEu
The remainder Of the day was spent In committee upon
tho Deficiency Bill tho items for completing custom
houses being contested at every step. The committee
rose without dtsposing Of tho subject.
TuRiLLiso AND MELANCHOLY CAsuALrr.-A corrcspon
dent Of the Lexington Gazette gives the particulars OF
fearful occurrence on James River at Balcony rals ON
Saturday, the est of January. The canal boat Clinton
Capt. Wood. with about fly persons on board prncpaI
negro hands on their way to the Central Railroad at
tempted 10 proceed up the river to buchanan just AZ
ter passing the North River Bridge tho tow line broke
and the boat driftcd down the stream Tho river helms
very much swollen, the bottom could not DO reached win
polcs and consequently tho boa, cornplary ut tho
mercy OF the current. About hundred yards above tho
Mountain dam, Eve persons jumped Off aud attempted 10
swim ashore but three Of the lumber were drowned-a
MT Paine, ofFredercksburg and two negroes. BY tho
knui management OF the Captain who held tho "tlcr
the boat espsd the dam in safety, and rapidly approach
ell tho White Rock, the Little and Great BALCONY Eals
anu the Tobacco Hills places which the writer says for.
eumstances As IL passed within foot of the Wbi,e
Rock the Captain and four five persons jumped out
ana were leit on tho rock in the middle of the river with
tue wafer raging around them. Tho boat hurried by and
Tobacco Hills t
Persons on shore undertook to rescue tho Eve or
SIX men eHngpg to the White Rock. batteau was
some distance and launched In the river the
water sti rising and the wind blowing
through the gap Of the mountain Frank Padcet an cI
PeHenced ooatman, and MesSs Matthews and McCollo.
gan aud two negrtes embarked in the bate,u and a,
risk succeeded in bringing the party safely
by this time, tho water had risen enough 10 AZ, ,ho
ooat again, which carried headlony tbs
Looaeco hiis aud caught n small island below On
one OF tho negroes board had eaped upon
nat rock, where no stood without his coat Wet win
spray and shiverng with cold imploring help Tao b,
teau under command Of Padge could not reach him ana
proceeded on towards thu Others all Of whom were rcs
eued. ~ "''' 'ss-
could be saved The brave hearted Palrct thonch, h"
could, and the came and two more embark I'd win
MIN TO make the attempt Just they reached ii roe
ana the man had jumped board the hatteaux strpck
anu was crushed hEe an egg she'll Five of the party
ieaped upon the rock, eung to an oar and d0ed 10
land but Psdgot and the they had gone to
were drowned. " 's''u'
Some time elapsed before another ba ueaux coId bs
eu' AZ last II arrived and was launched but negro
suffered It to be carried off and was dashed to peces
upon the rocks ~ "a ~ w P''e'
lt~Aa nav dark aud no other boat was at hand Tim,
'oe hfe nen on the rock were necessarily cf there all
night exposed TO the drenchng spray and freezing weah
or. during the night third buttcaux was hron,h, a.,
and placed under the command of an old ferryman
sam Evans Next morning. contrary TO the
OF all the men were found TO DO alive though several nj
them were badly frost bitten, and all them were brought
TO land, amid the shouts 81 lie spectators go
IL this trlthiul narrative which we have no reason
10 Doubt the incidents thrilling Ga auy NO have ev
CT seen Observation-Disclosures Sp,e !aior