Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-08-24
Horrible Disastcr:i-Fan Of the Draw Of the
state sire a Canal Basin Bridge at Albany.

u.t AS the steamboats, were eparting for New York,
and when hundreds Of people were crossing the
bridge over the Canal Basin, the aw broke, and
preciptated from seventy to eighty persons, and
three or four horses and carts into the basin They
fell about twenty feet into twelve feet water The
struggle for life, among the sufferers was brief but
awful We shudder at the horrid recollection oft
Hundreds of citizens, with dozen boats, sprang to
the relief OF their drowning feiow-citizens. AT 2
o'clock Is dead bodies had been recovered, ofwhich
we can only learn the names oil the following =
James Human, constable, OF this city.
Mr. Dliscsll, merchant, Of Palmyra.
Charles LYONS, tobacco pedlar, of this city.
A son Of Jacob Henderer, Of Columbia street, Ia
years old.
son of Sybrant Kettle, Of this city, Is years old
2oderck Davidson, an interesting and promising
youth. employed in this office, 10 years old.
- Groesbeck, boy belonging to the boat Mo-
hawk.
Mr.. Cavener, an insane man from Westmoreland
Oneida county, under the charge OF Mr.. Stevens
and Grin l. Fuller Of Rome, on his way to Hudson
Cavener and Fuller were lost and Stevens saved.
James Van Buren,, Of Gernal Flats a canal dri-
yer, who was assisting Fuller to get Cavsner to the
boat.
Samuel Fisher, lampli lighter, of this city.
Francis Royce, Iaborer, Of this city.
- Wood a boy about II years old, OF this city
Thomas Mcdowell, of this city.
William l.. MOrey, of Vermont.
- Jones, OF this city.
II. l.. Hoffman, OF Fultonvie.
Smith Matthews, Of Troy.
A part Of the draw fell after most Of the sufferers
were in the water, from which many were injured
Others were wounded by the struggling horses. The
body Of Mr.. Human and that of boy show severe
wounds.
Captain Jacobs, Of the boat Col Little John, who
was assisting with the insane man, though in the
midst of this destructive scene, was saved
James Henry, book seller, fell outside Of the
crowd, and saved himself
Among the hats recovered, was with letter
directed to 81 nathan Hart"
Mr.. Carr, of the Pearl street House, slightly
injured but saved himself
Thomas Greene, of the firm of Rathbone, Chaplin
& Greene, who was surrounded by struggling men
and horses swan out.
A young MAJ (Samuel II Ransom,) saved himself
and old man who was exhausted and sinking
Mr.. Wilson, OF j ulet, Illinois, son OF j. " Will
son, of this city, swan out.
Capt. Morgan, of a canal boat, saved himself.
A man, whose name VIC could not learn, saved
with a broken arm.
Daniel Gavit, Engravcr, swan out.
Several cartmcn, among HON recognised
David Terry. John W. Butler, Charles Rock, John
Stackpole and Peter Simonds, saved themselves and
horses.
This dreadful loss Of life was occasioned by the
refractory conduct Of the insane man who was re-
nsing to go with his keeper. His resistance drew
crowd which blocked up the passage until the mass
of people and carts became too heavy for the draw
Officer HIM an, the moment the draw gave way was
endeavoring to dispense the crowd
A large number of citizens continued their search
for the bodies until dark Several missing persons
supposed to be numbered among the dead.
Medical gentlemen continued their efforts to re-
store life until hope expired. All their exertions
were unavailipg
Several bodies were recovered within five mi
mites after the fall, and only account for the
abortiveness of every effort TO resuscitate hfe by
supposng that the persons lost were inJarsd by the
fall or wounded before they sunk.
Our Medical men, ng whom We noticed DSc-
tors Coggswel, Armssy, Van Olinda, M'Nanghton,
Hinckley and Starts) were prompt and unti'ing IN
their efforts to restore life In two or three ~
stances spiration was slightly effected, but all Il
nally suck.
The Mayor, who was early the spot. assisted to
save two boys who were nearly exhausted.
Among the citizens who made praiseworthy efforts
to save lives and recover bodies, were Col Groes-
heck, Rnbt. l.. Kearncy, John McCardle, Edward
Brinkerhof. $. NJ Fish, j. T.. Gsvit, David Terry.
r Elijah Brainsrd, and several etaers whose names
do not occur TO
FURTHER PARricuLARs.-We are informed by a
gentleman who came from Albany in the boat last
evening, that ten additional bodies had been re
covered making an aggregate Of twenty-eight
deaths by this shocking accident. This will seem
almost an incredible number tn those whs are un-
acqua ned it'll the localities, and the circumstances
connected with the fall of the draw. The length at
the bridge is some fifteen eighteen rods. IL
spans the entire width Of the basin aud connects
State street. the prime pal avenue of the city Of Al
bany, with the pier where the steamboats, and most
Of the other vessels lie. The draw y from twenty
i've to thirty feet wide, in two parts and support
ed by chains. These chains were Inadequate 10 sus-
tain the great weight Of the persons and carts
that crowded upon the draw. They parted,
aud all that were standing ON one half Of the
draw, were precipi,ated into the basin together
The other part of the draw thrown up by the
weight. attached TO it, Tor the purpose Of raising it,
to allow canal boats TO pass through and the persons
on that par, were thrown back upon the bridge
without injury. The accident occurred few mo
ens before the hour for the boats to leave, aud al
tirue when the rush Of persons scross the bridge
Is always great and the usual number was augmented
by the circumstance Of the insane person, mention
ed in the slip of the Journal The chsins were
strong enough for the ordinary amount of travel
the bridge, but they gaveway under this unu
saa pressure, and the result this appalling
lamiiy.
Nrxr STATE ELrcrIoS The next Sta'e election
takes place in Vermont on the LIST Of September.
The wings have an pndoubted majority in this State,
but the abolitioHis,s, who comprise considerable
party, may give them some trouble-tot enough,
however to affect the result.
MArSE follows Vermont The sleetion takes
plac. on the 18th Of September The Wings have
been making great exertions, and they have some
hope. OF carving a majority Of the legislature,
though we regard this a. extremely doubtful Gov.
Fairfield the democratic governor, will no doub, be
re elected
Tnr GRrAr HARLEM BRipes Casr.-This i'm
portant case, which has been before the Courts Of
law in h, state long, will be decided the preses'
term Of the Court Of Errors and fear will be de-