The morning comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-1856, 1856-04-03
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Pasidc, p,ctable casse Of her loss, &C.
Baynx1ts tossss no hoar-fenry Wa,d
Beecher, his Lecf~rss-O wv Co,respon-
denn opinion Of hi~,--Sf Potrirk'.
tay--.dmxsen,enfs
PHILADELPHIA, March Gath.
Dear Comet 1T was our intention Ia
have given you letter last week v it'll the
account Of the loss Of the steam ferry boat
New Jersey" which was burnt on the
Delaware a week ago, but have delayed
doing so for the especial purpose Of getting
The particulars more complete, sc that,
there would he no exaggnrallops nc t, the
number OF lives lost. we notice some Of
The papers have the loss, in the largest
letters that they could geether together
giving the people an impression That thara
were 300 " lives lost &c. which state.
ments would do very we'll for papers out
west, but they would not silt the
"Co,uetu
The facts concerning the loss of the
steasnhoat are as follows AT half-past
nine o'clock r NJ, on the 18th o, the
present mouth The ferry boat above tnen
toned left Philadelphia for Camden, N. J.
distance of neatly one mile; being the
last boat, she was, of course, crowded 10
| her utmost capacity with passengers.-
There is an island opposite the city through
which kind of Of u canal is cut SO that the
| teny boats can take more direct course.
The 'New Jerseyn got into this canal, but
it was found that on account ofthe ice, such
an old boat could not force her way
through, in trying, however, the boat was
broke amidships, and afterwards backed
out. Just az this last operation was eHec-
ted, the distressing cry Of" fire " was rails
ell by the passengers One of TIE witness
es present at I've coroner's inquest states
that when the cry Of fire was raised. the
captain was entreated TO run her aground
on Smiths Island, hut the captain ordered
the pilot to head the boat for the nearest
warf on the city. which was Immediately
done. the boat and the fire both proceeded
rapidly, it was anx'ously hoped that the
warf might be gained but Paving no pump
OF buckets the fire proceeded without the
impeachment, and drove the engineer from
his post, Just before they reached place
in reach of the fire engines Of this city
The burning boat was now out Of mans
control, and Aoated along with the tide
The scene was truly heart rendering
ropes were thrown but to nolpurpese. A
young lady, miss Csrman) could be dis
tinctly seen, bein devoursd by the flames
Others were precipitating themselves head
ong into the icy river, holding on to the
cakes of ice, until benuned by the cold
hey sank beneath the surface. Boats
we're got out, as soon as possible, and sue
'eeded in rescuing al males and females :,
rom watery grave. Since the accident
~ men and women have been fisbed nm
md conveyed to the Cherry Street Station
House. The number still missing is 81;
otal LOT on board; 81 lives lost. =
This accident was the result of careless
less and meanness on the part Of the Com
amy and inexperience, foolhardiness and
bst'n'cy, on thespart of the Captain-this
= the general impression
To this add the. loss Of the Pacific, which u
'akes the loss lac lives more, together 81
'i,h valuable cargoand we have shock
" picture. IT is currently reported lard d
We do not doubt it, that Capt Eldredge, o
'ho commanded the Pacific, made very a
lrge bet in Liverpool, that he would reach n
I'nenca before the Persia, or as soon, and
is supposed that in order to effect this. he
robablylput his steam to too great test. Ii
he gentleman who recently arrived here ?
ON Liverpool, informed us that the crews in
the Ocean steamships are made up of "
zen totally unfit Tor arduous sea-service. Il
Noticing paragraph going the rounds cl
the press, the substance of which is to a
lie effect that Barnum is 'playing possum," W
e take the liberty say that if the per- at
'trators of these squbs, could see Phineas,
ey would think very differently. He =,
not the same man that he was. Some n
'mpathizing person has rendered him a II
AN of $500 for the purpose Of helping of
re poor fellow out of his difficulty. The "a