This sad event took place on the first day of April, 1830, at wheeling, Va., on the Ohio river. rhe captain, second engineer, and thirteen passengers, were killed. Four persons were wounded. The first engineer, who escaped unhurt, gives the following account. When the boat stopped at Wheeling to land passengers, he had the fires damped down, and was sure that there was a good supply of water in the boilers. He then went to his breakfast, but before be had finished this meal, the Captain came to the door and informed him that the steam was up, and he wished to start. The engineer arose from the table, went out, and found that the steam was very high, and the fire burning briskly.
The men were then employed in pushing out the boat from the wharf, but before the bell gave the signal to go ahead, the boilers bursted with the usual horrid effects. The engineer, who gives this account, ascribes the accident to the imprudent conduct of the captain; who ordered the men to supply the fires with fuel, without notifying the engineer that this had been done. It appears that captains of steamboats were, at that time, too apt to interfere with the engineer’s duties, affecting to be more familiar with the operation of the steam-engine than the men who were presumed to have the exclusive management thereof. The names of tho killed and wounded are not given. Six persons were killed.