The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, March 15, 1850, Image 2
MR. WEBSTER'S SPEECH.
Unable to give a full report of Mr. Webster's
speech on the Southern question, we make such
extracts as we think most important for the present
temper of the public mind, omitting those
oi a more abstract nature. We may say that
the speech, as a whole, breathes harmony and
forbearance; and, if the same spirit prevails
over otliers, the very best results may follow its
delivery. The danger, however, is not over
.for the South; and it becomes her people to
maintain their position with unflinching firmness,
until their rights are not only acknowledged,
but until they are secure in her own
keeping.
Extracts from Mr. Webster's Speech.
He alluded at sonic length to the conscientious
belief, pervading a large portion of the
community, tliat slavery is a sin, and incompatible
with the christian sentiments of brotherly
kindness. lie expressed Ms own conviction mat;
there was an honest belief of this character.?
But there were also men in the community, who
in the too hot pursuit of one duty, forget that
there are many others which they overlook :
there were men who supposed that they could
distinguish between right and wrong, with the
certainty of an algebraic equation ; men who ,
thought nothing good that is not perfect; those,
who if they see a spot upon the sun, consider
that good reason for striking the sun from heaven
; there were men too impatient to wait for
the slow aud gradual working of great and
moral causes; they forget that the miracles of
Christ in 1800 years have converted but a small
portion of the world. It was this state of feeling
which had done much toward creating the
present difficulties.
Returning to the admission of Texas, he ad
verted to his own position tlicrcon,quoting iroin
his speeches and acts to show tiiat he had always
been opposed to it, because he knew that
whoever possessed Texas, it would be slave
territory, and he was unwilling to extend that
institution. He had time and again expressed
himself strongly opposed to the introduction of
any new slave States or the acquisition of slave
territory. Upon that poi ithe knew no change
in his sentiments at the present time. [Sensation.]
He had on one occasion, he believed,
expressed himself against the acquisition of anjT
more territory?north, south, east or west He
had expressed his belief in the Spartan Maxim:
" Improve, adorn what you have; seek no fur- j
ther." But what was our present condition i?
Texas had been admitted with all her territory,
with the institution of slavery and an irrepealable
law, by which, if new States arc erected out
of any portion of her territory, they shall be
slave States. AndJie wished it to be distinctly
understood that he considered this government
solemnly bound by law to create new slave
States out of Texas, wheneverher territory shall
contain a population sufficient therefor.
Slavery was excluded from California and
New Mexico by the law of nature, which had
erected impassable barriers to its introduction.
This he considered as a fixed Tact that that
country was to be free. That was settled by
the arrangements of Providence, and could not
he changed.
Regarding tliis as n fixed fact, he would say
that he could not vote for the insertion into any
bill, giving territorial governments to the territories,
any provision prohibiting slavery there
?any re-enactment of the will of Cod.
He would put into it no Wilinot Proviso, nothing
that was so useless and nugatory, lie
roeaut to stand or fall upon the proposition, that
every foot of the territory in this country has a
character fixed and irrepealable, and which cannot
be changed in any way. In this connection
he said that the proviso in the case of Oregon
was nugatory and senseless, and observed,
that if there were any of the Northern democracy,
who now desired to put a Wilmot Proviso
into an act, giving government to California, lie
supposed the same men would feel it necessary
to assert the same principle, for the purpose of
saving the snow clad hills of Canada from the
foot ol the slave, in case she should be annexed, i
In the next place Mr. Webster proceeded to
consider the complaint made by each section of
the Union against the other, beginning with the
complaints of the South, and passing over that
in relation to the manner of collecting and disbursing
the revenue. He alluded to the difficulty
arising from the failure of the North to
give proper aid in the capture and delivering up
of fugitive slaves. In this he thought the North
was in the wrong, and the South right. It was
a cause of complaint upon the part of the South,
and one which the North ought to remove.?
This duty was imposed by the constitution, and
it was not consistent with morality for northern
men and legislators to attempt to evade this
provision. Congress ought to pass some law
removing the evil; for one,he designed supporting
the bill. Measures were now j (ending in
the Senate having that object in view.
In connection with this point he made some
remarksupon the propriety of legislative instructions,
objecting to them, and saying in effect,
that ifinstruclions should be sent to him in relation
to any matter affecting the interests of
the country, he should pay no more regard to
them than he would if .appointed an arbiter to
decide some matter in dispute between individuals'to
the instructions of him who appointed
him.
Considering, in the next place, the agitation
in the North, complained of by the South, he
said he had no doubt that during the last twenty
years, money enough had been subscribed in
the North for abolition presses, societies, and
1 a. iVii/wlnm nf nvnrv wltlVf*
ircturca, iu juuuiiaor mv uwuvm v? v .v.j w.?.v
in the land; but, unfortunately,he believed, the
sympathies of these societies had never been
extended in that direction. lie valued highly
the freedom of the press, yet it was unfortunately
true that the press was frequently prostituted to
<eviL Articles were frequently found iu the papers
having a mischievous, irritating tendency,
,as there were such expressions in many speeches
.made in the Houses of Congress. Indeed,
he must say, that the vernacular of the country
had been greatly vitiated and depraved by the
character of the speeches in Congress. [Laughter.]
? After administering a rebuke to persons for
having compared the absolute ignorance of slavery
with the inde|>endent, educated, free labor
of the North, he eloquently considered the question
of dissolution of the Union, scouting (lie
idea of peaceful secession. Could any man, lie
asked, be so foolish as to expect such a miracle.
Could anyone dream of the breaking up of this
great country without convulsions ? How could
the upheaving of the waters of the mighty deep
take place without disturbing the surface? But
what was to be the result of disunion ? Where
and how was the line to be drawn ? What was
to become of the States? What to become of
him? Where was the Hag to remain?where
the eagle to soar? or was it to shrink and fall
to the ground ? The spirits of our ancestors,
our very children and grand-children would cry
"SI1AMK," if we allowed these ensigns of our
national glory to trail in the dust! For one,he
would rather hear of national blast and mildew,
of war, pestilence and famine, than to hear men
talk of secession.
He alluded, also, to the Southern Convention.
T-T*a uvio Itnnn/i i*\ Iwiliuvu nranfloinan ^ucnriwt/]
such assembly for the purpose of considering
matters for the safety, perpetuity and prosperity
of the Republic. If they had any design of.
considering any projects of secession he would
only say, that they lyive been inappropriate in
their choice of a place of meeting when they
selected Nashville.
It was said once, that if King William ''could
have heard of the conclusion of the peace of
Amiens, he would have turned in his 0011111."?
The same expression might well be applied to
the proposition of secession, talked of over the
grave of Andrew Jackson!
From F.rskine Minccllanp
THE SABBATH AND RAIL ROADS.
What right have the stockholders of our rail
roads to run their cars, and carry passengers
and produce on the Sabbath, while the farmers
and are others forbidden to employ their hands
or their teams on the same day for the same
purpose i ? nat fairness or equality in tins (
As a general thing, those M'ho take stock in
rail roads, are among the wealthy of tlie laud,
and if any class of citizens should be prohibited
from running macliinery aud making money
on that day, they are the class. If any man
should bo allowed to violate the Sabbath, it is
the inan who is too poor to take stock in the
rail road?the man who is compelled to work
hard all the time to sustain liis family. But
such a man must stop hi3 plough aud hoe, his
cart and sickle, and rest 011 the Sabbath, wliilc
the rich and religious of the land roll tlieir ponderous
wagons, carrying freight and passengers,
una uius autuugio their weaun by oabuaiu
desecration.
If cars run on the Sabbath, why may not
gins or mills run on that day? Why should
the manufacturer bo required to stop his spindles
and lose tho work of tifty-two days in they war)
A christian brother invests live thousand dollars
in a rail road; he, or the company, employs
hands every Sabbath lading and unlading and
running the cars, and for what I not to as commodate
the travelling public, but to make money.
At the moderate rate of 7 per cent, his live
thousand dollars would bring liim fifty dollars
for the tifty-two Sabbaths in the year. A nice
little sum! If the poor man was ullowed to lalabor
on that, and realize that sum, it would
procure him ju6t as much as the christian stockholder
procures with his fifty dollars made on
the railroad.
Many christian stockholders, we know, are
AnnAQpH tit runnintr nn fhn I<>1 +l.?>m
W ? U1HIIII0 VII MIV UIIUIMIU y Itl LliHU
combine and cause their influence to be felt
Kail road companies are suspending operations
on the Sabbath in various sections of the country,
why should it not be so in South Carolina ?
H.
From tlie Columbia Telegraph.
Presentment of the Gkand Jury of
Richland District?Spring Tkrm. ? The
Stale of South Carolina.?Wo, the Grand Jury
for Richland District in State aforesaid at Snriiur
Term, 1850, do hereby make the following
presentments:
1st. We present the Jail as being too small
and in an improper location, and recommend
that the Commissioners of Public Buildings for
tins District should sell the present Lot and Jail,
and the proceeds be applied to the erecction of
a new Jail on some other Lot selected for that
purpose; and in the meantime the present Jail
to he thoroughly whitewashed inside, and the
leaks on t.'.'C roof repaired.
2nd. We present the Road known as " Iticc
Creek Spring Ro.'.'d" as in very had order, particularly
that portion from the Asylum Branch,
to Bay Branch, and requiring to be attended
a 1! .A1__
io nnmemuieiy.
3rd. We present the practice of Treating at j
Elections as corrupt and demoralizing, and suggest
to the people of our District to refuse their
support to all Candidates who use those means
to promote their Election.
[Signed] Ricii'd O'Xeale, Foreman.
Judo.e McLean against the Proviso.?
Gen. Ca$s, in some remarks the other day,
stated that he had recently held a conversation
with Judge McLean, of the supreme court, as
to the Wihnot Proviso, and the power of Congress,
under that instrument, to legislate on the
question of slavery, in connection with the territories.
Gen. (.'. said that kludge McLean fully
coincided with liiin in opinion on that point, and
further, that he had full liberty from the distinguished
jurist to refer to him in the manner he
did. Ju^ge McLean is talked of as the free
soil candidate for President.
We leani from the National Intelligencer that
Mr. Robert Mills, architect of that city, has
been appointed by the Governor of Virginia
architect and superintendent of the Washingfnn
Mnnnnionf oKnnt tn !??? * W!?li
w.. uwvmv i*/ i/u uitxivu at nitu*
niond. Mr. Crawford, the eminent sculptor,
and author of the design of the monument, is
about-to proceed to Italy to execute the statues,
for the work.
Tiif Indians.?The Florida Republican of
the 7th inst., says:?"Major Markland, Agent
of the Indian Department has just reached this
place from Tampa, with the gratifying intelligence
that, on the 28th February, 74 Indians
sailed from FortHanna, in the Fashion, for New
Orleans. Major M. conveys despatches from
Gen. Twiggs to the Department.
It is confidently believed that all the Indians
will soon be out of the country, although Sam
Jones has not yet stated his willingness to leave.
T1SLM JIOTOHAILo
CAMDEN,~S.~C.~
FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1850.
TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.
Reported Expressly for tlie Journal.
Charleston, March 14?9 p. m.
No change since receiving of the Canada's letters,
and the market remains dull with prices irregular.
Four hundred bales have been sold at 10?
tollf. Sales of the week are 3500. Receipts
84. W.
Nkw Yoiik, March 12, G p. in.
The Cotton market was dull to-day, the sales
amounting to 1000 bales, at a decline of 3-8 a
1-2 since the receipt of the steamer's news.?
Middling Uplands, 11 1-4, Middling Orleans,
11 1-2.
4000 bags of Rio Coffee were offered at auction
to-day, of which 100 bags, fair tots were
sold at 13 1-2, and the balance was withdrawn.
The article is very dull, at a decline of 1-2 cent.
New York, March 13, Op. m.
The Cotton market is drooping; the sales today
amounted to 3000 bales, 11 3-4 a 12 for
(iood to Fair Uplands, and 12 a 12 1-2 for
Good to Fuir Orleans.? Mercury.
New York, MuJch 14.
Cotton was firmer to day, and the sales 2,000
hales, at an advance of 1-8 a 1-4 on yesterday's
quotations.
New Orleans, March 14.
Our cotton market was active to-day, with a
general demand. The sales of yesterday amounted
to fully 12,000 bales; prices closing
firmer. Middling 10 3-8 to 10 5-8.
South Carolinian.
12 M. TO-DAY.
We have a storm in the most sublime sense of
the expression?wind, rain, thunder, lightning
and hail; all forcibly recalling Byron's
u Storm and darkness, ye are wondrous strong,
Yet lovely in your strength, as is the light
Of atlark eye in woman"!"
On Monday evening the 11th inst, the Kershaw
Section Cadets of Temperance celebrated the anniversary
of said Section. At" an early hour the
Baptist Church was crowded to overflowing. Soon
the Cadets, with their tasty Regalia, came in, followed
by the " older Boys," the Sons. An appropriate
prayer was ofTered by the Rev. Mr. Lee,?a
few explanatory remarks by W. Thurlow Caston,
Esq., Worthy Patron?and then followed addresses
by Masters McDowall, Kennedy, Lee, Burr, Emmons,.
Johnson and Depas*. Of these we shall
only say that all of their Parents who were present,
had reason to be proud of their Boys?and
those who were absent, should be sorry they were
not there. After these, Mr. Lee, the Worthy Dep
uty, addressed the audience. Master Walker, of
Columbia^ contributed much to (he interest of the
meeting by. his One performance on the Melodeon,
while the Glee Club made us wonder what kind of
music there was above, when wt had such on
Earth. We wish the Cadets success in getting every
youth in Camden into their order. Methinks
the parent who sends his son to join the Cadets
will never weep to see his manhood years devoted
to dissipation and crime.
LAURIE TODD.
We have been handed a communication from
Mr. Grant Thorbum, as the first of a series of letters
entitled "Men and Manners of South Carolina.?To
the people of New York." We have declined
publishing it, for several reasons. Not only
that it contains several things to which we c<?uld
not subscribe, but because we consider it none of
our business to enlighten the North on this question.
We have no great anxiety whether they
are enlightened at all: certainly not enough to
give the use of our columns to it, which might be
so much better engaged in interesting our own
subscribers. He calls upon the Northern men to
come South and see the institution of slavery for
themselves?" that the report prevalent there that
Northern men, when they come South are watched,
is untrue." Here we beg leave to differ: they
are watched; and the fault is, they are not watched
close enough. We are quite able enough to
take care oi our own institutions, without superi
visors from the North. What man would not re
sist it, as an insult, were his neighbor to make it
his business to call upon him for an account of his
family affairs, to see whether or not he was conducting
them rightly? Besides, we think that Mr.
T. has made out the condition of our negroes a
little too good. They are now the happiest beings
on earth, and there is 110 necessity for making
them out any better than they really are. It is
with all deference to Mr. Thorburn that we make
these remarks. If he will furnish 11s with any of
his interesting reminiscences, &c., we will willingly
publish them.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun of
the 8th instant, signing himself "X." says:
" I do not think Mr. Webster ever delivered a
more powerful speech than the present, nor one
which will be moro highly prized by posterity.
"At the close, Mr. Calhoun rose and attempted
1 1* - ? !<!? Mm Knf Air WoKatnr tlin'
IU uruith rt lailLU Willi mm j > vmw?v., M.v
having immeasurably the advantage over hie antagonist,
magnanimously forbore; merely making
a few passes at him, to convince him that he could
lead him off a prisoner, if the southern Cidelcamjteador
should insist upon the combat."
Without wishing to detract an iota from the deserved
reputation of the great Northern statesman,
we would have this gentleman to know
that Mr. Calhoun does not attempt to do any thing
without generally succeeding. The word attempted
was not made to be used in the place where "X."
(iltempls to apply it 31 r. Calhoun, like General
Jackson, in one particular at least, does what he
attempts to do.
if" We clip the following extract from the N.
Orleans Crescent. If the editors endorse the sentiments
therein contained, we think they arc on
the wrong track: that's all. To use the words of 1
the paragraph itself, with a slight alteration, we
think "there is' great "occasion for a special t
?jjiaa??
movement at tlie South for the protection of her
rights; and we therefore hope that the project of
holding a Southern Convention will" not "be
abandoned
Nasiivillf. Convention.?The Baltimore Clipper
of the 26th ult. contains the following relative
to the proposed Convention at Nashville:
"In New York and Philadelphia the proceedings
of the abolitionists have been condemned?the
Wilmot Proviso has been dropped by common
consent in Congress, and there seems to tie a ftir
prospect that all the compromises and guarantees
of the Constitution will be observed and enforced
?there is, then, 110 occasion for any special movement
at the South for the protection of her rights,
and we therefore hope that the project of holding
a Southern Convention will be abandoned."
COL BENTON'S COURSE APPROVED.
St. Louis. March 9.?A verv large meeting
was held here last night. A series of resolutions
were passed, approving of the course of CoL Ben- j
ton in the United States Senate, and repudiating ;
Mr. Calhoun's speech on the slavery question, and
the threats of disunion. They also agreed to
make " Bentonisin" a test vote on the Democratic
candidates, at the municipal election.
The above is an index to a certain class of Mi.^
souri Yankees, who acknowledge Benton as their
leader. Mr. Webster's recent speech has been
warmly applauded by Benton and Clay, and has
already had the effect of lukewartningsome of the
Whig presses South. From the apparent Southern
face which it bears, it is calculated to deceive.
But remember Webster is one man?not. the
North?and even he has left untouched the main
iviii. \r. /*vn.? i i: r<_i:
I'UIUU if lill ifU. V^cilllUUU, WC U^IICVC IJIUl Vyfilllfornia
is the test question. Let us have full and
entire security for our rights, or at once draw a
line which will stop the insidious engrafting of
Abolitionism in our border States, as is now the
case in Missouri.
O* We are requested to state that the Concert
of the iGolian Minstrels advertised for this evening
has been postponed till next week.?Due notice
will be given of the time and place.
From our new and very welcome contemporary
the Erskinc Miscellany, of the 2d inst., we copy
the following Capital Hints:
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
We licg leave to remind all who may furnish j
us with communication*, that the first charac- |
teristic of a newspaper article is brevity, and the j
second is brevity, and the third is brevity.? |
Whatever merits of demerits, it may have, it
should be short.
1. Short articles requiro more care and labor
in preparing, and are, for this reason, likely to
contain more valuable thouirht. and more forci
O '
ble expression.
2. They arc more certainly read.
3. The man who cannot write a short article,
cannot write a long one that is readable.
4. A writer, who says' every thing that he
knows on a subject, calculates largely on the
ignorance of his readers.
5. Only short articles are extracted into other
papers.
6. They give room for greater variety in the !
paper, which is a necessary qualification.
7. As a matter of economy, they save ink
and papor for the writer, and time and good humor
for the reader and editor.
Unless a subject possesses more than ordinary
interest, the writer should condense.
A series of articles on the same subject slwuld
be avoided as much as jwssible.
A contributor is less excusable for writing a
1 * t _ 1 ^ at _ .Jli iL. a
lung urucic uian an euuur; uie lunnur writes
at his leisure, the hitter often in haste, and often
with the exclamation sounding in his ears:
" more copy, sir," " half a column to fill yet," j
icords are the things he needs at such a time.
Editorial Gleanings.
Gen. Sam Houston was in New Orleans on the
27th ult., the severe illness of his family making
his presence at home highly desirable.
Why is a trader who uses false weights, like a
soldier in ambush ? Because he lies in weight.
What is the best motive for riding a man on a
rail 1 Locomotive, to be sure.
A Post Office has been established at Mineral
Springs, Anderson District, S.C. and Win. Milwec
appointed Post Master.
Among the List ofPatents, issued from the Patent
Office ou the 5th inst., we observe that one has
been granted to George S. Hacker, of Charleston,
S/C., for improvements in Rail Road Cars.?Cmir.
The Sunday Times says that the Grand Jury
have indicted Bennett, of the Herald, for a libel on
Major Noah, in reference to the jewels of the Princess
of Orange.
The Governor of Massachusetts has appointed
Thursday the 11th day of April, to lie observed as
a day of public fasting, humiliation and prayer.
Ginger pulverized and made into a strong tea,
is said to relieve the severest attack of dyspepsia.
An English judge being asked, what contributed
most to success at the bar? replied, "Some succeed
by talent, some by a miracle, but the majority
by commencing without a shilling."
Hon. R. B. Warden, who has lately been appointed
a Judge of the Common Pleas at Cincinnati,
was not many years ago a journeyman printer,
from which position he has risen by his own
persevering exertions.
Some of the prominent educationists in NewYork
propose, as an incentive to study, that at the
annual examinations of the common schools, a cer
tain number of the best scholars shall be selected
to have their daguerreotype likenesses taken and
hung up in the school room afi a lasting testimonial
of their good conduct.
Nottingham presents the most crowded population
of England. In one particular part 4200 people
dwell in a space not measuring 220 yards
square.
John P. IIale.?The Elyria (0.) Courier places (
the name of Senator Hale at the head of its col- i
umns as a candidate for the Presidency. <
Douglass Jerrold says that dogmatism is puppyism
come to its full growth. Well said, Douglass. '
Fossil apes have been found in the principal ter- '
liary strata of Western Europe, that is, in all those
strata where the bones of mammalia are found. If
man had existed when these strata were formed,
why have not his fossil bones l>een also discovered?
The inference is irresistible that he is of in- '
ferior antiquity.
The faster you read the following the more
amusement you will have: "I saw five brave
maids, sitting on five broad beds, braiding broad
braids. I said to those five brave maids, sittingot!
five broad beds,braiding broad braids?braid broad
braids, brave maids." - .
A Miser's Advice.?An old miser, residing not a
thousand miles distant, advised his son to get
money. 44 That is not scripture doctrine," replied
the hopeful boy, " for the Bible lells ug that in all
thy gettings get wisdom." "The scripture is right
and I am right," rejoined the old miser, "it is wisdom
to get money."
Maryland.?The legislature of Maryland hag
increased the salary of their Governor from $*J,
000 to ?3,000. i
Pennsylvania.?It is stated that the hill introduced
in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, to
do away with all the restrictions in the way of
preventing the recovery of fugitive slaves, U
certain to pass both branches of the Legislature
and will soon become a law. The light spirit j
is up.
Death of Chancellor Caldwell-?W?
regret to announce the death of this highly esteemed
gentleman. He diet! at his residence <
near this place 011 Monday night His remains
were ncconnauicd to the grave yesterday, by
a large number of our citizens, and by the members
of the Masonic fraternity, and the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He was a
member of both Institutions. .<
Carolinian, of Wednesday.
Camfouxm.?The Tackson Mississippian, of ^
the 1st March, contains the following advertisement
:
" Citizens of the Slave States tlesirons of emigrating
to California with their slave property, 4
are requested to send their names, number of
slaves, and period of contemplated departure, to
the address of" Southern Slave Colony," Jackson,
Mississippi. All letters, to meet with attention,
nuist he post paid.
" It is the desire of the friends of this enterprise
to settle in the richest mining and agricul-'
tur?' oortions of California, and to secure tlife
uninterruntcd eniovment of slave nronertv. It
is estimated that by the 1st of May next, the
members of the Slfve Colony will amount to
about five thousand, and the sLives to about tea
thousand. The mode of effecting the organiza- i
tion, &e. will be privately transmitted to aetual
members.
Hon. A. Burt.?The Carolinian says: *Thi* (
gentleman has, during the present session of
Congress, proved himself true to the South and
to the interest of his constituents, and we are
pleased to learn that he has consented to serve
another term if elected. He has been a faithful
Representative."
TKLL IT TO OUK NoRTIIKRN Ol'PONKNT*.?
The Report of the Committee on Federal Relations,
making provisions for the representstation
of Mississippi, ill the Nashville Conven, 1
tion. after havinsr been suitablv amended.vosmd
the House of Representatives without a dissent*
ing voire.
The North will be satisfied that the South is
in earnest.?'Mississipinn, vCol.
Fremont, United States Senator from
California, arrived in the Georgia, from Chagres
accompanied by his lady (daughter of Colonel
Benton) and daughter. Mrs. Fremont has recovered
from her late illness. Not so with
Col. Fremont; he is just able to walk about,
having had an attack of Intermittent fever,?
When sufficiently rested the party will proceed
to Washington.
Col. Fremont, before leaving California, proseated
to the State a small library of valuable
cointion ' J
A- law has been reported to the Legislature,
requiring the surveyor general to survey and
map the State.
From tlie Alabama Jrmrnnl. in'
\ THE STE\MBOAT DISASTER.
BniDGKronT, Ala, March G, 1850.
To the Editors of the Journal:
The Steamboat Orline St. John, Capt T.
Mealier, left Mobile on Monday evening, for
Montgomery ami when about four miles above
this place, was discovered to be on fire on the
larboard side, near the toilers. I was sitting
directly above it when it made its appearance.
We had just taken 011 board about 50 cords of
pine wood, and my opinion is, that in less than ,
three minutes from the time it was first discovered,
the cabbin was an entire sheet of fiame. 1
'lliere was about 120 souls 011 board at die time,
and I have not seen more titan 50 persons since
I came ashore. As soon as the fire was discovered,
die pilot steered her towards die shore^
which she reached I>0fore her wheel ropes burnt" )
off. She ran ashore in a very dense cane brake,. -1
her bows 011 and her stern standing out in the ?
river. Those who were 011 the front part of die
boat got ashore, who were hut few?the greater
part of the passangers ran to the stern of the
boat to got in the yawl, fxit the deck hands and <
firemen had taken possession of it, and iiad left
the boat; to go forward was now impossible,
as the boat was one sheet of fire, and there wa?
great danger of t!ie?cabins' falling ?u them. As
the fire spread aft, the scene was terrible: ladies
and children had gathered in the extreme after
" .i -i?i
pari 01 liIc uoai, aiiu uicir cries mr neip can never
he erased from my memory. If the yawl
had been brought back, they might all have
been saved, but the deck hands who had taken,
it, ran it ashore in the cane brake and before
the Captain and his brother, the 1st mate, could''
return with it to the burning wreck, they wero
all burned or drowned without an exception*
The Captain did all he could to rescue the passengers,
and lie did succed in taking those off
who were on the rudder. Those who were for
tuuate enough to get ashore, were taken to the
the house of .Mr. Mark H. Pettiway, where oWry
thing was done for them that lay in his power.
Several were sadly burned, but Dr. Caldwell,
of Camden, was among the passengers,
und he did all in his power to alleviate their conJition,
although he was severely injured by the
tire.
The Captain bad been pushing the boat in
J