Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-18

The PHILADELPHIA ACCIDENT is a promi-
nent topic of conversation, for it seems hardly
credible that such a fearful calamity could
have occurred within gun-shot of the Phila
delphia wharves. One of those on board SAYS ::
" Returning from Philadelphia to Camden
on Saturday evening, L took the steamboat
New jersey at 81 o'clock from Walnut street
wharf, and was an eye witness Of the most Sc
rious disaster that has ever happened on the
Delaware. When the boat started she at
tempted to reach Camden by way Of the chan
mel which divides Windmill island, but ind
ing the eastern end much blocked with ice,
she was backed out and headed up the stream
with view to circumnavigate the island
When opposite Market street, I observed
flames bursting out around the smoke stack,
and raised the cry of " fire." An unusually
large number of passengers we're on board,
many of them women and children. The fire
origin ated in the freroom during the absence
of the fireman, and spread with fearful rap
idity. 1t soon wrapped the entire after part
of the boat in flames and drove the passengers
forward. The strong ebb tide setting up the
river convinced me it was impossible to run
the boat aground upon the northern part of
the island, and L was glad to see the pilst
head for the Philadelphia shore The captain
at this time was in the pilot house giving or
midst of wild heart-rending scene Of terror
crowd of at least one hundred persons. in
GLIDING twenty or twenty five ladies, were
clustered together in the smallest possible
space to AVOID the intense heat Of the flames
some clinging to the guards, others frantic
ally endeavoring to wrench loose the stan
chions which were yet free from the devour-
ing element, while some stood horror stricken,
gazing upon the fast approaching flames be-
hind, or the icy current before them. There
was nothing on board save bench or two
that could be made available as float or life
preserver. As the volume of the flames in
creased it caught the dresses of the women,
whose shrieks for assistance were appalling
Not until their clothing was burnt from their
persons did the passengers seem willing to
seek a chance of safety in the bosom of the
other element One by one, sometimes five or
six at time, they made the fearful leap from
the burning deck. The boat had been forced
to distance of not more than ten feet from
the wharf when the pilot house fell-the
government Of the helm was lost, and tho
vessel sheered off again into the river.
Some on the upper deck, however, had a
chance to leap ashore others fell short, and
were crushed by the paddlewheels. Every
hope of running into the wharves was now
dashed, and turned to Mr.. Musch amp, late
conductor on the Camden and Am boy Rail-
road, and asked him if he could swim. He
replied that he could not 1 advised him to
take bench which was near him, and Jump
overheard with me. The engine was still
going, and L took care to jump clear of the
| wheels. believe my friend followed me, but
fear he did not take the like precaution.
swan about one hundred yards when L provi-
dentially reached the bow of clipper ship,
and was rescued by the promptness of those
on board ~