Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-11-06
i a | EST NEWS.


mont nc sdent ON Long g-ia MI N ~,
IL was mentioned unler our ttlegrapie bend
yesterday that the steamer B,v stnte captain
j"w't which left New lnik for Fall River on
iiduy evening with about $50 passengers met
III serious accident little af pr six o'clock
when of Huntington aud just rs the passengers
had lett the supper table. The Boston Traveller
stat the alarm was first created by a terrible
crash which occurred in consequence of the
great iron walking beam weighed from twelve to
fourteen tons. having suddenly snapped in two in
the centre crashing through the hurricane deck,
the SALOON deck the saloon straits to the gentle
mems cabin. IL a'sn broke the mun after
guard beam,a very heavy piece at tia,ber. This
broke the blow and saved the hull frnm injury or
otherwise the ma~s Of ir"a might have gone
through the hu'ton of the boat OF ecu So this
startling accident created great confusion among
the passengers and it WAS certainly fortunate
that 1t dil not occur a few moments before when
large numbers Of passengers were ascending the
straits from the supper table. The Traveller Of
Saturday afternoon further say:
Some of the male passengers in ithtr fright
crowded into the boats hanging upon the cranes
which we've soen filled with people hut they
immediately ordered out a.,aia by the officers of
the boat. The ladies, at first, were a good deal
alarmed, but on the whole behaved with common
dahle GOODNESS. The most serious result of the
accident was in consequence of II fragment of the
walking beam as 1t went up tearing oil The top of
the cylinder, which caused the steam to escape
III large quantities into the forward saloon. In
this saloon was seen sitting, just previous to the
accident, girl Of MAE Years. named Blanchard,
daughter If Mr.. i,'anohard, shoe dealer of Brook
lyn, \. \. She was, apparently, looking al the
machinery at the eogine. As the escaped steam
rushed in, she, probably. in her fright. inhaled it
IN large quantities, causing almost instant death
from interim burns. Her face and hands were
also badly ds6gured with the steam Medical
aid was procured AS soon rs possible. but she was
beyond their help. Others in the saloon rushed
out, and escaped without injury
Mr.. j. b. Fagg. formerly of Exeter, now Of
Saux city, Iowa. who was III his state rom, open
ed the door when the accident occurred, and was
enveloped in tho steam, by which he very
badly scalded
Mr.. A. }. Baldwin, of Yarmouth Port, was
also in the state room, which was instantly filled
with steam He forced open his door;threw him
self upon the floor, crawled along The saloon and
slid down the ladder to the lnnn deck. As he
went down with his hands the ropes the scald-
ed flesh was torn os'. lie is seriously injured.
but if his life is saved it will be ia consequence of
his presence of Rind in The face of danger.
The great fear was that tn. boat had taken fire
in consequence of the orerturning of the stove in
the after saloon. The dense steam, however. pre-
vented any spread of the fire, and in few mo-
ments passengers rushed in with buckets of wa
ter, thus doing away with all danger from that
source The prompt action of the steward of the
hoat. Mr.. Tilton and Of the clerk, Mr.. Simons in
breaking the other Windows Of the state room so
: TO allow the steam TO escape, probably saved
others of the passengers from injury. Mr. Tilton
had his hands badly cut.-Capt. Jewett was also
active in behalf of the passengers.
The steaper City Of Hartford, which in
sight, came up and offered assistance, as did also
the steamer Worcester. THE passengers were
placed Oh board the latter boat and taken to Nor
wich. They arrived in this city at | TVS fore
noon. The dead body of Miss Blanchard, and
also Messrs. Flsgg and Baldwin,the njated men
were brought on in charge Of the officers Of the
Fall River boat. The two latter are now at the
L. S. Hotel, where they are receiving every at
tentOn.