Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-04-22
DREADFUL DISASTER ON THE, HUD-
SON.-LOSS OF STEAMER SWALLOW

DREADFUL DISASTER ON THE HUD-
SON.-LOSS OF STEAMER SWALLOW.
Great excitement prevailed in the city
yesterday, in consequence of the account
brought down the North river in the morn
ing by the steamers Rochester and Express.
that the steamer Swallow had struck on a
rock near Athens, and sunk, probably caus-
ing the drowning of several persons. A,
the time OF going to press this morning we
have not any particular accounts from the
scene Of this dreadful accident, but the NOR
n;ns's boa;s, will probably bring accurate in
formation.
The Swallow left Albany at the usual
time, with, it is supposed, about three hun
bred and fifty souls on board. The night
was pitchy dark, and the pilot becoming be-
wldered. s.eered the boat SO that she ran at
the Top of her speed full ON shelve of rocks
near Athens.
The following letter, addressed TO the ed
itor of the Tribune, published in the eve
ming paper yesterday, gives an appalling de-
scripton of the scene.
STEAMER ROCHESTER, Tuesday, 8 A. M.
Nix DEAR FRIEND,-You NAV value a
few lines from an eye witness, descriptive
of the terrible acclden: which befel the Swal
low last evening. At about 8 O'Clock, when
going at Il rapid rate, the boat struck OR
small rock island abreast the town of Ath
ems, and the city of Hudson. was sitting
in the upper saloon in conversation. At the
first severe shock The passengers rushed be-
low, but fears were claimed for a momen, by
the ou;cry that we had only come in CON
tact with a raft. But our ears were speed
lily assaied by the appalling sounds of the
rending of tmbers, and the evident des-
truction of The boat; while the stern settled
with friehtful rapidiiy. TAose who had
..turned in" in the after cabin, had barely
time TO leap from their berhs, before the
water was upon them.
You Can imagine the horrors of,he scene
at this moment, when more than three hun
dred souls were thus exposed i, the midst
of falling SNOW and almost utter dalkncss.-
As the wafer reached the boiling fires, Il
sheet of mingled steam, smoke and flame
poured into the boat, illuminating the ghast-
ly countenances with a sudden glare of vivid
light, and completing the consternalion.-
The conviction that the curse of fire was &c
be added TO our other iminent per;ls, curbed
the resolution of the stoutest hears. Bu
the rapid sinking of the boat extingushec
the fires, and all was darkness again.
In less than five minutes. by the blessing
Of God, the stern rested on the bottom, the
water being above the windows Of the af
saloon state rooms. Several females were
drawn out of state rooms by dashing in the
Windows; two almost eXhaus:ed-one very
aged, and now lying on board this boat in /;
pre- car;ous stuaton-w taken from the
ladies' cabin by cutting through the floor
They had sustained themselves On settees
with only few inches Of breathing room
ior their faces. The bow had been forced
high and dry upon The rock, and the boat,
spit open am'dships, was left rising almost
perpendlculariy upward, covered with anx-
lous beings clinging 10 the buwaIks. TIE
remainder Of the passengers were sadly
grouped on the forward upper deck, many
bewalling the absence of dear companions,
and actuated by the most dreadful apprc-
tensions for their fate.
By this time the alarm had lecn thor
ougbly communicated 10 the shore OH ci-
Their 8 de. The bells of the churches be-
gan 10 ring, and the river was soon covered
with torches, waving in the little feet OF
boats, that put off to our assistance; while
the Rochester, who had found it difficult to
get 10 us, and the Express, which had now
come up, were gradually approaching along
side. The sound of the bells pealing on
the air, the shouts of those in the boats, the
light of the waving torches, and the wa;lng
grief of many on the wreck constituted the
features of this most impressive scene.
LII the course of an hour all were taken
off who remained, in tho Rochester. the
pas, seeming like IA terrible dream. -
| am approaching the city. 1t can scarcely
be but that several ale lost. Many leaped
Immediately overheard, in that phrcnzy of
mind which prccluded the power of SELF
preservation in the water. The doors of
the most of the state-rooms were so sprung
al once, as TO be immoveabie, and exaInina-
ton will probably discover the dead within
some Of them. | eau scarcely hope other
Wise.
The boa. is 4 complete wreck. Ii was a
mournIul SIGHT as we cast off f!om her side.
The Captain behaved nobl y-calming fears,
and making his voice heard every where in
advice, with the most thorough judgment
and selfpossession. The baggage is almost
all deep under water, and will DO recover
ed in damaged state.
Oar hearty thanks are due TO the officers
of the Rochester and Express for their
prompt assistance and untlring ass duty TO
save everything that hand, could be laid Oh.
f'rieads in the Rochester tell me that he
yell of agony, as they descrlte it, which
came TO their ears fioin the sinking boat.
was Of character never 10 be forgotten.
Yours truly.
- ffENaY +. HARRINGTON.
N. B.-Morning-lhe appfehensions OF
loss of life which have expressed above,
are fully realized. Several females were
seen TO be washed off by the water as it rose
above the guards, and all il is thought could
not have escaped from the cabin. Several on
board our boat have nothing but their night
dresses.
From the early hour at which ibis acct
dent occr1rrc1 We are led 10 think that