The New Hampshire Gazette

ANOTHER EXPLOSION!

CHARLESTON, (S. C.) Sept. 16.--Between 6 and 7 o'clock last evening, the steam boat Enterprise put off from Sullivan's Island, on her passage to town. When about 100 yards from the shore, when most of the passengers were crowded in the cabin to avoid the rain, which was heavily falling at the time, the boiler exploded! The noise of the explosion was so slight as not to have immediately excited the attention of those in the cabin, until the hissing of the boiling water, and the cries of the wounded occasioned a general consternation.

There were on board about seventy passengers--but, providentially, very few females or children. Eight persons were the unfortunate victims of this accident. Three whites--two of them since dead, and the third, a Mr. Bibbs, a cooper, so dreadfully scalded, that he is not expected to outlive this day. Two blacks were also killed, and three more dangerously burnt. The escape of the boiling water also injured several others, in a slighter degree. Assistance was immediately afforded by boats from the island, and the wounded and other passengers relanded.

It is said to be the opinion of Capt. Howard, master of the Steam Boat--and we have conversed with some passengers, who also state it as their opinion, that the above accident was occasioned by lightning. It is, however, on the other hand believed that on account of salt water being used for creating the steam, the explosion of the boiler, which was iron, instead of copper, was an inevitable result.

We are not prepared to give any opinion upon this point, but most sincerely regret the recurrence of these accidents, by which so many lives have been lost, and a very natural prejudice raised against a great and useful invention. The steam boat has just arrived.--Southern Pat.