Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-03
The Great EAaterne

FATAL Accident OK BoARD-r"o hhN ksLbLp- IhL
PADpLEwuEEL CHARACTERIZATION PROM THE
cRET.
Since the giant steamer Great Eastern took up
her position at the head Of the Hammond street
wharf. there have been considerable manifesto
tions Of discomfort among portion o her crew be.
cause they did not receive all the "shore leave
they desired Las, evening q few Of them OBJ
tanned raler more than their rr"per allowance OF
grog. and one OF their number. named Thomas
Lenvitt. ATTEMPTED to leave the ship by climbing
down the larb.ard paddle wheel. Tie had just
commenced his descent, when he misseJ his foot
ing and came .tumbling down among the iron
braces, u distance OF upwards oil fifty feet, into
the watcr. lie Wis soUn taken out and got on
board again, when II was found thnt h,r skuii was
broken, and that lie was otherwise badly bruised
and manglcd. The accident occurred about half
past ten o'clock and Lrayitt died at two o'clock
this morning.
Only about three quarters of an hour after Lea
Wits fall anolcr oi the c-ew walking or sitting
on the starbonrd railing. suddenly lost his bal-
ance unbeI into the North river was drowned.
His body not recovered, and there is no means
Of ascertaining his name. inasmuch as ten or n
dnzrn Of the crew have deserted since the arrival
of the shin.
Yesterday afternoon n sudden gust Of wind
from he west striking full upon tho steamers in'.
mensc broadsidc. drove her with force against the
pier An iron lighter had been Ilared between
her AMI tho WHAT to make u stage fr painting
her Wheels AMI it WA -tupidiy left until the
wind drove III por. pal --Ieel fall against it,
breaking the hoatsripping out the rivers, cnl ben
ding the arms 40 rs to require repairs which VIII
Gust several thousand dollars. The iron boat still
remains immo,nblv wedged in ctwccn the great
steamer and the dock
Gangs of mon are bu.ly Mt w,rk to-day scrap
ing and painting and putting the shig III IL pro-
per condition 20 receive company, whl"h she IL
expected to do abnut Tuesday or Wednesday.
Meanwhile from early morn to dewy eve" crowd
Of people congregate nbnut tho wharf and reSale
their visions aud sense of the marvellous hy sur-
yeying the ships e"llosal proportions ir,m differ
ent points I view. The speculative mania ha.
full sway about the pier. Shanties OF all kinds
are building and Tor one cent. federal currency;
Won may either try your weight. "tcst your lungs
try your strength or have a glass Of iced lemon
adr"
Small steam tugs from various parts of the city,
and suburbs constantly lowering nrnnnd the
gnnt laden wit, excurtinnists. and vocal with
brazen music. The North river steamers. ns they
came down this morning, ran in very near to the
ship. and the rush ol pa gers to that side was
general that the off GERS had t. nterpose in Ter
to keep the boats trim and prevent IL catastro-
phe.
The ships bottom. Judging from much MS can
be seen below the water line, must indeed he rx-
tremey foul 1t is stated TINT Mr.. James Mich
olson, agent Of the New York Balance Dry Dock,
il confident of his ability to raise the G. Eastern
out of water by Il conjunction Of the great balance
and the sectional dry dock Should thi, be done, II
magnificent view will be Afforded.