The Lexington was a paddlewheel steamboat operating along the Northeastern coast of the United States from 1835 to 1840. Commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, it was one of the fastest and most luxurious steamers in operation. On 13 January 1840, en route from New York City to Boston, the casing around the ship's smokestack caught fire, igniting nearly 150 bales of cotton and causing the passengers and crew to attempt to abandon ship. Of the estimated 143 people on board, only four survived. The fire had been caused by overheating, due to faulty work on converting the engine for coal-burning. This was compounded by serious errors by the crew, including violation of safety regulations, and the failure of a nearby vessel to come to the aid of the survivors. Specifications and route The Lexington was commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt in early 1834. The ship's keel was laid down at the Bishop and Simonson Shipyards in New York in September 1834. Unlike later steamboats, no detailed plans of the ship were made. Instead, a wooden model of the hull was carved and altered according to Vanderbilt's satisfaction. Using the model as a guide, full-sized outlines were then drawn in chalk on the timber to be used for the hull, which was then cut and assembled by carpenters. The engine of the Lexington was constructed at the West Point Foundry. Making use of a "walking beam" connection mechanism, activated by a steam cylinder with an stroke, the ship's engine was one of the most efficient of its time. Measuring in length and weighing , the Lexington was also one of the most luxuriously outfitted steamers on its route, incorporating ornate teak deck railings, cabin doors, staircases, and panelling; a large cabin including both a lounge and a dining saloon; and elegant deck lighting, curtains, and furniture. The Lexington began service as a day boat between New York City and Providence, Rhode Island in 1835. The ship began service to Stonington, Connecticut, the terminus of the newly built railroad from Boston, in 1837. She was sold to the New Jersey Steamship Navigation and Transportation Company in December 1838 for around US$60,000. From 1835 to 1840, the Lexington was the fastest vessel en route from New York City to Boston. Fire and wreck The Lexington left its pier on Manhattan's East River at 4:00 p.m. on January 13, 1840 bound for Stonington, Connecticut, the terminus