Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-02
ExuIoSiOn Ofam Ice Boat.

One of the boilers of the Baltimore ice
boat Chesapeake. owned by the State of
MARYLAND and city Jointly, exploded on
Saturday evening about Cd oclock ut Sandy
Point. in the Chesapeake Bay, and about an
hour after taking fire was burned to the water 5
edge. involving a loss of Sl3O,0O0 or $l4o,On
1.-THE cost of her construction), less the amount
of policies in various insurance companies aggrc-
eating 1000
On Saturday the Chesapeake lowed the brig
Chattanooga (which was on the previous day
cleared for st. Johns Porto Rlco,) down the
bay, off Sandy Point, where the brig was /! tSo
When between Magothy river and Sandy
Point. and while on the return to Baltimore, IN
the evening at Cd o'clock. about half an hour
after leaving the brig the centre one tthe after
boilers. three in number, suddenly exploded,
from some callSc not known. The port side OF
the hurricane deck was completely torn away by
the force OF the explosion. The hot water from
the boiler fell on and it is supposed instantly
killed one of the tirrmen, named (eOrgc AyrcS,
and badly >cllded three other iiremcn, whose
naincS were not aSccrtalned, one OF them being
injured so that he is not expected to recover
Capt. HriggS and crew, consisting OF eighteen
men. were ON deck at the time, and Immediately
went To- a parts Of the boat, cxtinguislling the
fires in the furnaces. and, carefully examining,
could not observe amy trace Of fire on the steamer.
About IN hour after the explosion discovery
WAS madc OF fire in the coal bunker in the fire
room. and in the space Of five minutes the
fumes had spread throughout the boat. The
Captain and crew on the discovery nl fire
sought to cxiig,lish the flames, but their el-
forts were rnavaiing. and they We're at last
compelled tn take to the two small boats,
lavin. first recovered the bodies OF Ayrcs and
the three other tiremcn- In these boats they
were enabled to reach Sandy Point about 10
or lnl % clock ut night.
TIE NATHAN MURDER. In the New York
Sun of Saturday is published Il long sensational
story from the lnnnr George. the Count ,JnahncS,
wherein he sets forth how. after many weary
months, he has tracked the murderer Of Mr.
Benjamin Nathan of New York The state
ment is. that the only true and original murder
cr Of Nathan is already in ,iail in New York, he
having been placed therein latterly for some
offence against the laws; and that the evidence
aifving the crime upon this person WIS ttIrnSheI
lv nnnthrr nliri.l-.l, also in jail. who has told
the story Of the Others guilt. The sworn aill-
dayit Of the nlormer is published in the article.
although nonanes either ofiuformer or accused,
are given According to Che informer' $ expose
the plot to rob Nathan was formed long before
the murder and the killing OF the Old man was
DONE not prcmc,litatcdly, but in scf.delence, at
the mnnlent of this discovery of the attempt to
rob him. The dog wherewith the murder
was committed. WAS brought by the murderer
from Camp McDcvit. Nevada, in May. 1863,
and WAS therefore in his possession at the time
fthc intended robbery and subsequent murder
of Nathan. last July. 1t is proper to state that
the Counts story is deemed a hoax
in the office of the Superintendent of
Police of the city; but while the revelation may
only be choice sensation it has the merit OF
being we'll invented.
DESTRUCTION OF HENRY CLAYS BIRTH
pLACE-'rhe telegraph briefly mentioned the
destruction by fire Of the house wherein Hen
ry Clay was born, April II. iii. ...
1t was situated on Il small tract of ordinary
land near the old Slash church. in the county
of Hanover about five miles distant from Ash
land 1t WAS IN od-tashoned, onc-Story framed
house. with sloping roof had large chimney
NJ either end. which. according to the fashion
of the times i'll which they We're built. had ma
tcrfal enough in it for three modern chimneys.
| At one end is 4 shcd7room built over the
chimney. The shed had from age settled and
separated from the main building, thus leaving
q gap ipto which dry leaves and other comb,lst-
ible matter had from time to time fallen. A
spark dropping upon them otcslsioned the fire
which resulted in the destruction of the hum
hle birthplace Of the great American COM