Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-01
,, If the Steamer North Carolina

,.,;on of the Steamer NORTH Carohna.
,,,bl;. will doubtless be surprised and
~, - hear of the loss by fire of the
i' ''i,,iI steamer North Carolina of the line
'l',' ,I nv the Baltimore Steam Packet Com
'N'. or5 in counexion with the steamer
,;,;ano, Capt. George W. Russell, and the
,.qmcr Georgia, Capt solomon Person,
"n;or between Baltimore, Norfolk and
y -,.m9uth. Yesterday morning whilst the
dent of the Company. Col. M. n. Falls
,,r.rarinc for church. he received let
W. ,r.m Capt Lloyd Il. Parks, purser of the
r,h ,,roiina. informing him that the boat
fr,. If Smiths Point. near the mouth of
a. p.t,mar. about two o'clock, on Saturday
.' ming and that she burned to the water 8
~. The dispatch further stated that all
.rcy and passengers were saved with
49,, .xception Of the Rev Mr.. Curtis of Cam
j.o south Carolina, principal of large fe-
,.,I.. academy at Limestone Springs, and one
-, The stewards of the steamer, colored
n,p. A second dispatch received in the
,ur,e of the day from the same officer stated
.,,, all we're saved with the exception of the
Rev. Mr.. Curtis.
Di.patches were also received from Mr. l..
p Parks by Mrs. James Brownwell. wife of
~. second engineer, and Mrs. William
PARKS whose husband was formerly a mate of
he line, all confirming the original commu-
riraton but giving no further particulars.
The North Carolina left here shortly after
i've o'clock or Friday afternoon for her usual
,rip with about scventy-tive persons on board
including her crew, which numbered forty
persons. viz: Capt. James Cannon, in COM
maud. Capt. Lloyd b. Parks. purser, Mr..
Noah Bratt. chef engineer, Mr.. Brownwell.
assistant engineer, Mr.. Isaac Wilson, acting
[ : mail agent, Mr. James Marshall, first
mate and Mr.. Francis A. Watts, second mate.
The rest of the crew were mostly deck hands
and stewards. Among the passengers were
Nr. Henry Fitzgerald, formerly of this city
Ll, now an oyster exporter Of Norfolk, Mr..
john 4 Green. Mr. Denby, architect of Nor
t,lk. and his sister of the same place. The
whole number of passengers was not over
,hirty-fve whilst the freight was light one,
q. it generally is on return trips, during the
winter season. The usual quantity OF mail
matter was in the mail room at the time OF
The disaster. and it is not likely that it was
saved Messrs. Adams Co. had their car on
board, which probably contained matter OF
value.
The place where the occurrence transpired
is opposite the Virginia side of the Potomac
river. and near Smiths Point Light Boat
The steamer was provided with four large
Francis life boats. capable of carrying twice
the number of persons on board, aud 1t IL like
" all hands took to these as soon AZ il
was found impossible to save the boat. They
were carried ait on the main deck, and very
easily shipped. For some time past the
North Carolina has been running in connex-
ION with the Georgia, which boat LETT Nor
folk Al the same hour that the North Carolina
left Baltimore. Captain Pierson upon the
arrival Of the Georgia here on Saturday morn
ing, informed Captain Russell that the night
was very ioggy in the Chesapeake On gett-
ing near to what he suppose was the Point
Look Out Light House, he passed steamer
which he took for the North Carolina and
on firing the usual signal with steamer whis-
lie. heard it promptly returned. As that is
the point on the Bay where the steamers Of
the line usually meet il is quite likely that
IT was the i'll -fated boat The distance from
this place to that reported where the vessel
Was burned is about twenty miles.
The North Carolina was built at this port
tx Messrs Cooper 4 Abrams, of the best ma
tsrials, and finished and furnished in splen-
did style without regard to cost Her keel
WAS laid in the early part of the spring OF
1852, and in the month of July 1853, she
made her first trip South. Her engine was
constructed by Messrs. Murray 4 Ilazlehurst.
and il was powerful upright beam engine,
with stroke of IL feet, and cylinder 81
inches in diameter. She was of about 900 tons
measurement. and it is reported had made
one Of the quickest trips on record. She was
deliycrad into the hands of the Company all
ready for travelling, at a cost of SllO,OUu.-
Nearly two years ago, she underwent an inn
pruvemcnt. which cost about Sd, O00.-
This consisted in the construction of an up
per saloon upon the hurricane deck, nearly
her entire length, and the addition of large
number Of elegantly finished State-rooms.-
The Carolina was always regarded a. tavo-
rit" boat by the travelling community, and IT
will he rccollcctcd that she carried down t.
Norfolk the Western guests on their recent
visit 10 Baltimore. and several hundred of our
own citizens Fortunately the Company
have several policies of insurance, effected by
Col Falls. in Marine offices. amounting to
$4,000. The steamer was fitted up IN al
respects according to the Law OF Congress
whilst her officers are all men OF experience
Capt. Cannon has been iii command OF steam
cr, On the route for - years. The most per
fee, order must have prevailed on board OF
all could not have escaped under the circum,
stances baltimore .1mericdn.