474 EXPLOSION OF THE NEW-ENGLAND. 
news of four deaths, and that eight or ten more must die with 
their wounds, and perhaps more. The upper works of this 
unfortunate boat is the most extraordinary wreck I ever be- 
held, and if the event had occurred in the day-time, when the 
passengers are generally upon the decks, not a person could 
have escaped injury. I believe I wrote you that I early dis- 
covered that there was an imperfection in the working of the 
machinery of this boat ; that, however, I considered of no 
importance, as regarded safety ; but when she found it neces- 
sary to lay to, to fix her steering ropes, which required some 
time, I at once became astonished that she did not throw off 
steam, as is usually the case when stops are made, and from 
this time to the explosion there were several stops made, and 
at the different stoppages of the engine 1 could perceive but 
a faint sound of the discharge of steam. 
I became early impressed with the suspicion that something 
was wrong, and from my own reasoning on the subject did 
not consider ourselves in a condition of safety, and so con- 
firmed was I in this impression, that I came to the conclusion 
of remaining where I was, in preference to changing my po- 
sition. At three o'clock the explosion was most terrific, and 
for many minutes every thing around seemed like chaos. I 
found myself unhurt, and, some how, entirely free from ex- 
citement or extraordinary alarm. I got on my clothes, and 
while dressing, one or two persons rushed to the front cabin 
where I was. I asked them some questions, but they were 
so horror stricken that the power of utterance had ceased, 
and when they began to utter, it was in whispers, a word at a 
time, and long intermissions. I went above, where all was 
darkness. I returned, got a lamp, and then began my explo- 
ration. The decks were covered with broken timbers — the 
baggage all thrown into the river — the cries and shouts of 
misery, and the moaning of the dying, was for a moment with 
me a paralysis ; I then felt like helping what I could. I visit- 
ed the different scenes of distress among the passengers, 
found nothing could be done for them but get the boat to the 
shore as speedily as possible, and in about 30 minutes we lay 
alongside of the dock ; the good people of Essex were all 
up with the first report of the explosion, supposing it was an 
rarthquake. The news was soon spread, the inhabitants 
came down Avith great energy ; prompt and efficient services 
were rendered by the male and female citizens ; their oil, 
their cotton, their meal, their rags, and every thing they pos- 
sessed was promptly furnished and applied, and every thing 
