476 EXPLOSION OF THE NEW-ENGLAND. 
raging above them. The steam filled the ladies' cabin and 
extinguished the lights. A child, in the most remote berth 
from the boiler, and next the stern, was so scalded as to die. 
A lady, in the berth next it, also died. Her clothes were so 
hot as to scald the hands of those that removed them. This 
must have been forty feet from the boiler, stating from im- 
pression. Letters exposed to the steam, were charred or re- 
duced to coal in places. Such facts indicate the extreme high 
temperature of the steam — far beyond ordinary steam. Per- 
kins, inventor of the steam-gun, claims that he can so heat 
steam that it shall fall, in atmospheric air, in flakes of snow. 
In counting the peril of steam explosions, let it be taken into 
the account, that the steam is frequently many times hotter 
than ordinary steam of boiling water. The ladies' cabin so 
shattered and filled with steam, is the upper ladies' cabin. It 
has sixteen berths, all occupied, and some settees. The la- 
dies who kept their berths were least burnt. Exposure pro- 
duced scald. The ladies' cabin under this was occupied by 
gentlemen. All below deck were unhurt, and prompt to give 
their aid to the suflferers above deck. Had one boiler been 
in the centre, or had either projected over the deck a single 
foot, certain death to all below deck must have followed. At 
the first groan heard from the boat, a gentleman ashore start- 
ed for three surgeons, who were soon on the spot. All was 
done that woman, then and ever ministering angel, man, skill 
and untiring devotion could do. In result, fifteen have died, 
and seven are in a critical but hopeful state. 
The starboard boiler doubtless sunk through the opening in 
the wing where it stood, made by its own blast. It lies near 
the spot. The larboard boiler was scattered into fragments, 
its top, bottom, sides and back being torn away and lost, leav- 
ing the flues and front only. The flues were thrown forward 
from a horizontal to a perpendicular position, and lodged upon 
the wood, some six feet forward. 
jt 
The Board of Examiners in their report, thus describe the 
appearances presented on their examination. On the 7th of 
November they met at the borough of Essex, and proceeded 
to examine the state of said boat, and the remains of the boil- 
ers. On visiting the steam-boat, they found that those portions 
of the guards and railing, on which the boilers had been plac- 
ed, together with the boiler-houses, railings, and the other 
contiguous wood-w^ork, had been entirely destroyed by the ef- 
fects of the explosion. The front of the ladies' cabin upon 
the quarter deck had also been forced inward, and partially 
