EXPLOSION OF TIIE ^TNA. 457 
breakfast-table in the cabin, and had it not been obstructed by 
the iron post, must have made a clear sweep of those who were 
seated at the table. 
To render any satisfactory account of the cause which pro- 
duced the explosion can hardly be expected from one who 
possesses no scientific or practical knowledge on the subject, 
and who, previously thereto, ^vas paying no attention to the 
management of the boat. The Captain appeared to be very 
active and diligent in attending to his duty. He was on the 
boiler-deck when the explosion occurred ; was materially m- 
jured by that event, and must have been ignorant of the mis- 
management, if any there w^as. 
From the engineer alone could the true explanation be af- 
forded ; and, if indeed it was really attributable to negligence, 
it can scarcely be supposed he wall lay the blame on himself. 
If I might venture a suggestion in relation thereto, I would 
assign the following causes : — That the water in the starboard 
boilers had become low in consequence of that side of the 
boat resting upon the ground during our stay at Memphis ; 
that the fires were kept up some time before we shoved 
ofi'; that the head which burst had been cracked for a con- 
siderable time ; that the boiler was extremely heated, and 
the water, thrown in when the boat was again in motion, was 
at once converted into steam, and the flues not being suffi- 
ciently lar^e to carry it off as quickly as it was generated, 
nor the boiler head of a strength capable of resisting its action, 
the explosion was a natural result. 
I assume this proposition to be correct — that, in every case 
where a boiler bursts, it is fair to infer that it proceeded from 
neglect, until the contrary shall be proved. 
EXPLOSION OF THE STEAM-BOAT iETNA, IN 
NEW-YORK HARBOR, MAY 15, 1824. 
The following account was published on Monday the 17th. 
On Saturday evening, about 7 o'clock, as the steam-boat 
^tna, Captain Robinson, was on the way to this city, from 
Washington, N. J. with the passengers from Philadelphia by 
what is called the " Citizens' Line," and a number of way 
passengers, when in sight of, and about 4 1-2 miles from the 
city, in the neighborhood of Gibbet Island, the boiler gave way, 
and blew up with a tremendous and deadly explosion. The 
39 
