New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-11-15

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Explosion OF n Propeller and Loss OF Life.
From the sandusky Register of the ss, instant
we extract the following account of disaster On
the lake between Buffalo and Cleveland:
The propeller Ohio, belonging to the American
Transportation Company, was completely wrecked
on Sunday morning last, BY explosion Of her boil
ers, when on her trip from Buffalo to Cleveland.
From her Captain, Nickerson, who was picksd.up
by the propeller Equator, Of the Buffalo and San
dusky Line, and Brought to this city, gathev the
following particulars:
The OHIO left Buffalo on Friday morning, at ID
o'clock, bound for Cleveland, with a cargo Of so
lay till Saturday ) z. NJ, when she pursued her
course toward Cleveland. At II =. NJ. she waa
abreast Long Point, weather good. At about a
quarter Of O'Clock, Sunday morning Captain
Nicksrson went below 10 the engine-roon, and
found about 90 lbs head of steam. At that time
he calculated the propeller was about thirty miles
above Long Point, and about ten miles from land
She carried her fOresa jb, and was making about
eleven miles per hour. The captain then went to
his rooIa and removing his coat, hat and boots,
lay down on his bed to rest. Lie had lain there
about ten minutes, awake, when he was startled
Dy a crashing report like the explosion of heavy
ordnance. be aprang from his bed, and without
stopping to put on the clothing he had removed,
fastened upon deck.
An awful scene met his view. There was moth
ing OF the propeller above water but the hurricane
crew were clinging to pieces of the wreck, and
crying plaintiveiy for help. Luckily one of
the yawls struck in the water right side up,
into which the Captain had just time to- step and
push oil before the wreck went down.. He was
the last to leave the propeller. The other yawl
was capsizea.
There were seventeen persons on board, all told
VI these, fifteen were saved The other two,
Thomas CoEyett, the second mate. and Michael
Danegan, wheelsman, are missing. The former
was seen running aft after the explosion occurred.
1t is thought he got tangled in the wreck and went
/ down. The wheelsmen was not after the ac-
cldent. The captains son, lad of about fourteen
/ years of age, was on board and was saved with
difficulty. He had but just recovered from an at.
tack of fever, and wasweak, and consequently but
lily able to take care Of himself. He was eaugh
under the cabin as it topped over, and would have
| been drowned had nos the engineer reached unile
the wreck and pulled him out.
Into this single yawl the fifteen survivors hud
died, and having nothing for oars but pieces of TIN
wreck, they were almost entirely at the mercy 0
wind and waves. They drifted up the lake. an,
saw two vessels before daylight bound down
| which passedno over ten rods from the yawl. Al
efforts to attract the attention of those on boar'
| We're in vain. A propeller and sail vessel wer
seen during the day, but they veered off toward
land, and soon passed out of sight.
The condition Of the shipwrecked men now be
came desperate They were scantily clad, not on
Of them having either hat or shoes: cold north
east gale was blowing, and the seas were rolling
terlifcaly. Many of the poor fellows, considern,
their case hopeless, abandoned themselves to des
pair. But their brave captain, undaunted, an
workng with the energy of several men, wit
words OF hope and encouragement, stimulate
them TO renewed eXertion, and all labored wit
their impromptu oars to keep their frail bark ror
swanpng,
Darkness now began to gather upon the horizon
and tile stoutest hearted Of the devoted little ere,
began to give way before the almost certain pro:
pect Of watery grave which stared them in til
face. But propeller is seen in the distance beal
ing towards them 1t nears them their signal {
distress is seen, and they are picked up, at abou
) z. NJ off Madison Dock, l5 miles below Gran
river, and about l5 miles from land. The prt
peller proved to be the Equator.
With the promptness and humanity of true an
noblehearted sailors, Capt Hines and his officer
and crew did everything in their power to admin
ter to the comfort of their shipwrecked bretbrei
They supplied them with clothing, and recruite
their wasted powers with the best refreshlnen
the Equator could afford For this disintereste
/ and humane kindness the officers and crew of til
Equator have the unfeigned thanks of those who's
, wants they so promptly relieved.
That common yawl-boat, in which were tftee
persons, should ride out the gale of Sunday, seen
almost miracle. Capt. Nickerson, who is an o
sailor, says he never more terrific sea tha
that which ran between twelve and two o'clocl
He thought every surge would carry them dow
/ When the Equator stopped to pick them up, 81
rolled SO tremendously that it was feared 81
would go to pieces.