ence by Mr. W. to some letters upon the subject, (for no names are given in the memorandum) were to be sent to Mr. J. Black, No. 71, Walnut-street, Philadelphia. The face and back of the left hand of this man, were burnt to a crisp ; but he was nowhere scalded, nor was his hair singed.. His face was perfectly black, and probably his nearest friend would not have been able to recognize his features.

The following persons were sent to the Hospital, viz; Thos. Braden, of Wilmington, Delaware, and Michael Eckfelt of Philadelphia, both of whom we learn are likely to recoverand dangerously wounded, Joseph Stevens, a native of Ireland. Also, of the crew, dangerously wounded; John Winter of Philadelphia, fireman; John Gibbons of Philadelphia, fireman; Ann Thomas of Philadelphia; Alexander Cromwell of Jamaica, waiter. Margaret Cole, cook, wound. ed, not considered dangerous, was carried to a private house. One of these we learn is since dead, and there is little proba. bility that four others will recover. Young Mr. Morrison, mentioned above, but who had not yesterday been heard of, we have just learnt, is lying in Frankfort street, very badly scalded. Mr. Eckfelt, when the coroner last visited him in the hospital, mentioned a lad from Philadelphia, who has not been heard from. A young lad about 13 years of age, who was at the time of the explosion, sleeping on the covering of the boiler, was thrown into the air, and fell into the vacuum, caused by the removal of the machinery, and received no injury Mr. Myers, mate of the Etna, jumped overboard, and was uninjured.

Mr. John Pearce, and Mr. Ryers, both of Philadelphia, escaped without injury, being on deck and near the bow. Jonathan Case, of Schenectady; Benedict Arnold, merchant, of Amsterdam, N. Y.; Mr. Heacock and lady, are also among those saved. A boatman lived at Bergen Point, whose was the first row boat along side the Etna, after the explo sion, states, that he picked up 4 hats, one of which contained a bill of lading of goods on board of Thomas H. Smith's ship, at Amboy, from Canton. He also picked up a paper which was part of a contract, for making part of a canal in Ohio. [One of these hats it is ascertained, belonged to Mr. Myers; the hat with bills of lading, we hear belonged to Mr. Heacock.]

The steam boat United States, Capt. Beecher, was on the way from New Brunswick at the time, and after rendering all the assistance in her power, towed the Etna to this city.

We yesterday viewed in company with the Coroner, the dead and the dying-and such a heart-rending spectacle we never before witnessed. The scalds of the dead were deep, and notwithstanding their clothes, they extended over the whole body. But the survivors presented pictures of unut. terable suffering. If prepared for the great event, how well might they have envied those whom death had relieved from bodily anguish.

The name of the man killed on board the Etna, and whose dress is described above, was Mordecai C. Peters, of Phila. delphia.

The following letter giving an account of the explosion of the Etna, was written by an eye witness of the dreadful scene, a passenger, to his friends in Philadelphia :—

NEW YORK, MAY 16.

It is with pain I inform you of an awful occurrence that took place at 7 o'clock last evening on board the Steam Boat Etna, Captain Thomas Robinson, when about seven miles from, and in sight of this city, her boilers bursting with a noise like thunder, and throwing the pieces upon the quarter deck where I had the minute before been standing. I had walked to the bows when the explosion took place; and thanks be to the Almighty that I am one of the few that esca. ped unhurt. Oh! the awfulness of the scene! My situation I can scarcely describe. It pleased the Almighty to give me a command of myself at this horrid moment when every one on board thought it his last, and some in despair jumped over. board and were drowned. A man standing by me was jump. ing, when I told him he had better remain quiet, and if the boat should be burned up, we could throw off the cover for the cables, (a large round box at the bows,) that we stood by, and might save ourselves in this way. He stopped, and a man crying in the water, we threw him a rope and drew him upon deck. He was one of the firemen who had been blown overboard. This served to compose him a little, or he would have jumped over the side of the boat. The smoke disap. pearing, the horrors of the sight increased, when we beheld the bodies of those who had been struck by pieces of the boiler, weltering in their blood on the deck.-I now attempt. ed to make my way aft, and succeeded after getting through the smoke and broken parts of the wreck, in assisting Captain Robinson and others to clear the companion-way to get into the ladies' cabin. The Captain went down and handed up

five ladies whom I took from him, and placing them upon deck, they expired. One little girl, about the age of Mary, entreated me to throw water upon her, her agonies were so great. They were all of one family, and had been on board but a few minutes, being on their return from the funeral of a sister at Elizabethtown Point. In this situation we were discovered by two boats at the Quarantine Ground, which put off to our assistance, and brought us up to the city; and a steam boat passing by brought the wreck with the dead and wounded on board, to the wharf. What rendered my situa tion more singular was, that my baggage was blown up, but fell upon the wreck again. My trunk, previously to my being taken off, I found in the place from which the boilers had blown. Last night, at 12 o'clock, I went to search for my writing desk. Two friends accompanied me, but they were not permitted to go on board, as the Coroner had just held an inquest, and had gone on shore to give his verdict. I therefore went on board alone, and getting a light, commenced searching for, and succeeded in getting the desk, &c. and discovering a hand under some of the rubbish, I called one of the watchmen, and moving the timber away, it led to the discovery of another corpse.

CONFLAGRATION OF THE STEAM-BOAT PHOE.

NIX,

On Lake Champlain, September 5th, 1819.

THE steam-boat left Burlington about 12 o'clock at night, and had proceeded as far as Providence Island, (about half way between Burlington and Plattsburgh,) when the alarm of fire was given, about one o'clock at night; there being two small boats attached to the Phoenix, they were immediately filled with passengers; but the wind blowing violently from the north-west, the passengers were not all enabled to embark, and some of them were obliged to jump overboard.

Captain Johnson Sherman, who has formerly commanded this boat, was unfortunately sick with a fever at Vergennes; the boat was commanded by his son, Richard W. Sherman, a young gentleman of about 22 years of age; but who in the

difficulties and distresses of this conflagration, displayed the coolness of riper years. Much credit is due to Mr. John Howard, steward of the boat, for his coolness and honesty in the hour of difficulty. I understand Captain Sherman and himself saved themselves by articles thrown overboard after the boat had left. The wreck of the boat drifted into Colchester Reef.

Another Account of the Conflagration of the Steamboat Phoenix.

The following description of this terrific scene was written by one of the passengers.-I awoke at the time of the alarm, but whether aroused by the cry of fire, the noise of feet trampling on deck, or by that restlessness common to persons who sleep in a strange place, with a mind filled with sorrow and anxiety, I am unable to tell. I thought I heard a faint cry of fire, and after a short interval it seemed to be renewed. But it came so weakly upon my ear, and seemed to be flung by so careless a voice, that I concluded it was an unmeaning sound uttered by some of the sailors in their sports on deck. Soon, however, a hasty footstep was heard passing through the cabin, but without a word being uttered. As I approach. ed the top of the cabin stairs, an uncommon brilliancy at once dispelled all doubts. Instantly the flames and sparks began to meet my eyes, and the thought struck me that no other way of escape was left but to plunge half naked through the blaze into the water. One or two more steps assured me that this dreadful alternative was not yet arrived; I hastily stepped aft; a lurid light illuminated every object, beyond the splendor of a noon-day sun; I fancied it was the torch of death, to point me and my fellow-travelers to the tomb. I saw no person on deck, but on casting my eyes toward the boat, which was still hanging on the larboard quarter, I perceived that she was filled, and that her stern-sheets were occupied with ladies. I flew to the gangway and assisted in lowering the boat into the water. I then descended the steps, with an intention of entering the boat; but perceiving that she was loaded deep, and that there was a strong breeze and a high sea, I desisted. The painter was soon cut, and the boat drop. ped astern. I ascended the steps with the design of submit. ting myself to the water upon a plank; for I had great confi. dence in my skill in swimming, and I acted under an impres sion that the shore was only a few rods, certainly not half a mile distant. Judge of what would have been my astonish

ment, and probably also my fate, had I done as I contempla. ted; when the fact was, that the steam-boat at this period was in the broadest part of Lake Champlain, and at least three miles from any land. I had left the deck about two hours before, and this change had occurred in the meantime. I looked round upon the deck to find a suitable board, or something of sufficient buoyancy that I could trust to amid such waves as I saw were running. There was nothing large enough to deserve such confidence; I looked aft over the taffrail,—every thing there looked gloomy and forbidding; I cast my eyes forward,-the wind was directly ahead, and the flames were forced, in the most terrific manner, toward the stern, threatening every thing in its range with instant destruction. I then thought if I could pass the middle of the boat, which seemed also to be the centre of the fire, I might find security in standing to windward on the bowsprit. I made the attempt. It was vain. The flames were an insurmountable barrier. I was obliged to return toward the stern. There was then no one in sight, I stepped over upon the starboard side of the quarter-deck. I thought all was gone with me. At that moment I saw a lady come up to the cabin door, lean her hands against the side of it, and look with a stedfast, silent gaze, and distracted air toward the flames; she turned and disappeared in the cabin. It was Mrs. Wilson, the poor unfortunate lady, who afterward, with the captain's assistance, as he informed me, committed herself, with many piercing shrieks and agonizing exclamations, to the treache rous support of a small bench, on the troublesome bosom of the lake. I then looked over the starboard quarter to know whether the other boat was indeed gone. I had the happiness to see her; she seemed to be full, or nearly so; one or two passengers were standing on the lower steps of the accom. modation ladder, apparently with the design of entering the boat when she came within reach. I was determined to enter her at all risks, and instantly leaped over the quarter and descended into her. I found her knocking under the counter, and in danger of foundering. The steam vessel still continued to advance through the water: the waves dashed the boat with considerable violence against her, and most of those who had sought safety in the boat, being unacquainted with water scenes, were much alarmed, and by their ill directed efforts were adding to the risk. Under these circumstances it became necessary to cut the fast, which was done, and the boat, and those that were in it, were instantly secure. All