The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-01-28

The AccfDESr on NORTH RrvKR.--The Lynch
burg Express says that after the towline of the
nal boat Citation broke, and she was carried TO-
wards the dam, Messrs. Reuben Payne, of Frede-
rieksburg, +. r. Flasg, of Caroline, and sydnor
Royal, of Lynchburg Ieaped into the water; follow
ed by several negroes. Mr.. Payne and two Of the
negroes were drowned. The others succeeded in
reaching the shore. We copy the account given
BY correspondent of the Express, of the circum-
stances which subsequently transpired:
"Capt. Wood, by advice OF Mr.. ] F. Xix, remain
ed on board until the boat had leaped the DAM and
was unharned, but for fear of misfortune at Bal
cony Falls, the Captain and several negroes picked
their chance and jumped to large rock as the
boat passed. The boat ran through the tails and
struck rock just below, called Boiling rock that
being about so go feet above what Is famiiiarly
known as the Velvet rock Here negro man.
(the property of j. w. Norris contractor or the
Central railroad, J by the name of Edmond, leaped
off alone, the rest remained unharmed on board
until the boat ran aground on the point of Grassy
Island, about half mile below the Velvet rock,
where she still remains- The next thing was to
hberate those people from the rocks and rapids. In
which matter Captain E. Echols and NJ. j. F. Hix,
took very active part, assisted by some two or
three hundred persons, white and black
The first movement was to launch a batteau and
get experienced head man. with helpers, to Ebe-
rate Captain Wood and hands from the first rock.
which was successfully done The same old head
man. well known in this neighborhood by the name
OF Frank Padgett, again called on to extricate
the negro from the rock, between Balcony Falls
and the Velvet rock Frank selected Mr.. Mathews,
carpenter in the employ of the james River and
Kanawha Company, together with VIM. McColgan
and Thomas Oney, and three negroes; they were
successful in reaching the fatal rock when the boat
ran upon the rocks and received the negroes; and
as quick thought the boat was shivered against
the rock by the rapid pillows, produced from the
fall OF the majestic Balcony, sweeping off Frank,
the negro that was taken from the rock, and one
other belonging to the said Mathews. Frank and
Edmond were both drowned, and the other succeed
ed in reaching the shore.
Mathews, McColgan aud Oney. and two negroes
were on the rock, and as we feared to perish be-
cause it was very difficult to reach and quite late,
though we did not lose any time in procuring
another tatteau, which escaped from our hands aid
hoated off as soon as she was launched. 1t was
then out OF the power of humans to reach them un-
til morning. did not suppose that it possible
for human life to survive in such time and place,
yet to our great surprise they were all alive when
we reached them next morning. Another expe-
rienced waterman, by the name of Samuel Evans,
was provided with helpers and sent out with ropes
and pig iron, to let themselves down the rapids aud
relieve the prisoners, which proved to be the most
practicable plan. The result was, they were all
taken to the shore once more amid the shouts of
several hundred witnesses OF welcoming safe home
again.