Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-07-03

nitrogen absorbed from the atmosphere, the
richest crops every year. By adopting
system Of rotation Of crops, every town and
farm might thus supply itself with the ma
nure which, besides containing the most
nitrogen, contains also the most phosphates.
The increasing necessity of attending to
this subject Is shown every day, and no
doubt further inquiries aud experiments wall
materially improve the plans above sus-
gested.
The GREAT EAsTERN-HER FIRST AccI-
DENT IN AMERlcA.--The principal feature
of Friday was an accident to her wheel.
whereby several of her buckets were either
warped or fractured number of the iron
braces bent and their connecting rlyets bro
ken. 1t appears that large iron scow had
been moored between the steamer and dock
to prevent her from being forced against the
latter by any approaching storm: but she
was run in SO far that when the tide rose IN
the afternoon, the strong breeze blowing
from the westward forced the steamer against
the scow in such Il manner rs TO tightly COM
press the latter in gigantic grippe, and be.
ing likewise of iron, the framework OF the
wheel was damaged in the manner above IN
dicated. The danger was discovered IN time
to have it ayerted by Capt. Seabring, OF the
Ninth precinct police, who sent word to one
of the officers of the ship but owing to some
misunderstanding no steps were taken for
its prevention until too late. During the al
ternoon some seventy men from the engl-
neer's department came tumbing down
through the May intricac!es of the wheel.
and under the personal supervision OF Capt.
Hall and the Engineer, cndeayored to GET
the ship off, but without success, and the
work was abandoned. Yankee winds and
English iron proved TOO strong for even Brl-
fish muscle. To prevent further injury,
however, several heavy beams were inter.
posed between the sides Of the steamer and
the barge, and thus they remained when our
reporter left the place.
Regret has been expressed that the ship
was not anchored at greater distance from
the shore. Whatever may be the objections
to her present position, however, the splen-
did manner in which she was brought along
side the dock has demonstrated the entire
practicability of the undertaking, and salts
fed all connected with the enterprise that
she may be handled with ease and safety
wherever she has the room 10 move. Ii is
probable that she will be warped out into
the stream to-day and anchored stern and
stem, 80 as to prevent future collisions, like
that of Friday.
At one o'clock on Friday, meeting of the
directors was held at the Office of Messrs.
Grinncll, Minturn & Co., the consignees, and
it was decided to admit no persons on board
until she is put in complete Orderly. J.
Herold.
There have been considerable manifesto
tons of discomfort among portions OF her
crew, because they did not receive all the
'shore leave" they desired. On Friday
evening few OF them obtained rather more
than their proper allowance OF grog, and
one of their number, named Thos. Leavi,t,
attempted to leave the ship by climbing down
the arboard paddle wheel. lie had just
commenced his descent, when he missed his
footing and came tumblng down among the
iron braces, distance Of upwards of fifty
feet into the water. He was soon taken out
and got on board again, when it was found
that his skull was broken. The accident oc.
Cured at about half-past ten o'clock, and
Leayitt died at two o'clock this morning.
Only about three-quartcrS OF ar hour al
ter Leavitt's fall, another of the crew, walk
ing or sitting on the starboard railing, sud
denly lost his balance, tumblod into the
North river and was drowned His body
was not recovered, and there is no means OF
ascertaning his name, in as much as ten or
a dozen of the crew have deserted since the
arrival of tha shin