The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-04-16
From Tie N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
FEARFUL DISASTEE-LOSS OF THE
STEAMER SWALLOW.

opening of the present season, by an unusual
number of serious accidents; but not Tor
many wears have we been stastled ny an event
OF such magnitude, and, there IS perhaps
reason to fear, oil such distressing consequen-
ces. as that which which We are now called
on to record. We give all the information
that we have been able to obtain.
The Swallow. it appears, left Albany last
evening at six O'Clock, having on board pass
engers in numbers variOusly estimated at
from $50 to $50. At little after o'clock
she struck upon the point Of the island be-
tween Hudson aud Athens, with such force
as to lift the bow entirely out of the water,
breaking the boat in two and rendering her
complete wreck.
The following lamentable account is given
by passenger, in letterto the editors oil the
Tribune. which we copy. His description Of
the catastrophe is appalling
STEAMER ROCHESTER, Tuesday, 8 A. NJ.
My dear Fricnd-Iou may value few
lines from an eye witness, descriptive Of the
terrible accident which befell the Swallow
last evenis. At abOnt O'Clock, when going
at rapid rate, the boat struck upon small
rock island abreast the town of Athens and
city Of Hudson. i was sitting in the upper
saloon in conversation. At the first severe
shock the passengers rushed below, but fears
were calmed for a moment by the outcry that
we had only come in contact with a raft.
pGt our ears wore speedily assaulted by the
appalling sounds Of the rending of ,inibers.
and the eviden, destruction of the boat; while
the stern settled with frishiful rapidty.
Those who had 'iurned in,'' in the after
cabin, had barely time TO leap from their
berths before the wafer was upon them.
You eau imagine the horrors cfthc scene al
this moment, when more than three hundred
souls were thus exposed in the midst ofiailing
snow and utter darkness. As the water
reached the boiler fires sheet of mingled
steam, smoke and fame poured into the
boat, Illuminating The ghasily countenance
with asuddcn glare Of vivid light, and COM
pleiing the CONSERVATION. The conviction
that the curse Of fire was TO added to our 9th
err imminent peiiis, curbed the resolution Of
the stouteSt hearts. But the rapid sinking of
the boat eSlinsuished the fires, aud all was
darkness again.
In less than five minutes. by the blessing of
God, the stern rested on the bottom, the wa
ter being above the windows of the aft saloon
state room. Several females were draw n out
Of the state rooms dy dashing in the window
two almost eXhausteG-one very aged and
now lying on board this boat in precarious
siiuation-wrre taken from the ladies' cabin
by cutting through the floor. They had sus-
! tanned themselves on settees, with only few
inches ofbreathing room for their faces.
The bow had been forced high and dry up
on the rock, IL the boat. split open admidships,
was left rising almost perpendicularly up
ward, covered with anxious beings clinsing
to The bulwarks. The remainder of the
passengers were sadly grouped on the fer
ward upper deck.many bewaiiing the absence
of dear companions and aciuaied by the most
dreadful apprehensions for their fate.
By lhi,riuie the alarm had been thorough
ly communicated TO the shore on either side.
The bells Of the churches began 70 ring. and
the river was soon covered with torches. wa
wing in the fleet fboats that mt of to our
assistance; while the Rochester. which had
found ii difficult TO get &c us, and the Ex-
press, hich had now come up, were eradu
ally approaching alongside. The sound of
the bells pealine on the air, the shouts of
those i'll the boats, the light OF the waving
torches and the wailing grief of many on the
wreck constituted features of of most i'm
pressive scene.
In the course Of an hour all were taken off
who remained into the Rochester, the PAST
seeming like terrible dream. | am ap-
preaching :he city. it can scarcely be but
that several are lost. Many leaped immedi-
ateiy averboard in that frenzy of the mind
which precluded the power Of sclf-prcscrva-
lion in the wafer. The doors of most of the
state rooms were sosprung at once as TO be
immovable. ard examination will probably
discover the dead within some Of them.
can scarcely hope otherwise.
The boat is a complete wreck. TWAS a
mournful sight as we cast of from her side
The captain behaved noby-calming fears.
and making his voice heard every where in
advice, with the most thorough Judgment
and sell possersion. The baggage is almost
all deep under water, and will be recovered
only in damaged state.
Our hearty thanks are due to the officers
ofihe Rochester and Express for their prompt
assistance, and their uniring assiduiiy TO !
save every thing that hand could be laid
on.
Friends in the Rochester tell me that The !
yell of gang, as they described it, which |
came to their car from tn sinking boat, was |
OF character never 10 be forgotten.