American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-10
From the n. Y. Gazette of Tuesday afternoon.1
DREADFUL LAMITY-EOSS OF THE
STEAMBOAT SWALLOW.

FROM the ~ u GaHelte Of tuesday afternoon.
DREADFUL CALAMITY-EOSS OF THE
STEAMBOAT SWALLOW.
The steamboat Swallow, Capt Squires, on
her passage down from Albany last night, when
opposite Athens, struck upon the rocks in the
river, and sank in about three minutes.
The evening was very dark and the wind
blowing fresh at the time the boat struck
Fortunately the Rochester, Capt. Cruttenden,
was but few boats length behind, but by the
time she succeeded i'll rounding to and reach
ing the Swallow, the water was up to the top
Oft the ladies' cabin.
The passengers were taken OFF by Captain
Cruttsnden, but so short was the interval from
the time the Swallow struck ill she went
down, that it is impossible TO say how many
lives were lost.
The Rochester arrived here, with the pas
sengers, this morning.
The accident occurred about halfpast epht
o'clock-luckily before the passengers had re-
tired to their berths. Had it been an hour la
ter, the result would have been fearful As it
is, we hope the number of lives lost has been
but small.
Later.-Since the above was in type we have
some further particulars. Captain Cruttenden
states that when nearly opposite Hudson, he
was just preparing to go up to the pilots room
: of his boat, the Rochester, when he heard the
pilot ring the bell to slow, and Immediately aE-
forwards the bell of the Swallow rang also He
ran up stairs, and when he reached the deck
i discovered the Swallow sinking. At this time
he was about 800 yards astern, and by the time
he got alongside of the Swallow her Hurricane
deck was under water. Capt. Cruttenden i'm
medately attempted to round to IN the Athens
Channel, but could not effect il until he had
dropped an anchor, and when the Rochester
swung round, he weighed anchor and ran up
alongside in time to take off about one hundred
and fifty passengers.
The pilot of the Swallow, VIM Burnett, is
one of the oldest, most experienced and faith
full pilots on the river. Capt Squire was with
him at the wheel, when the boat struck, and
sush was the rapidity with which the water
rose, that before he could reach the ladies' sa-
loon he was knee deep in water.
! According TO his estimate, there were from
two hundred to two hundred and fifty passen-
gers on board, and he fears that there must
have been a loss of several lives. As the lists
and books of the boat, however, all went down
with the stern, 1t is impossible at present to
speak with certainty as to the number. The
extreme thickness of the fog is assigned as the
cause of the accident,-the pilot having been
misled, and losing the right channel.
The little steamboat Express also took off a
number of the passengers. The following let
ter from passenger in the Rochester, publish
ed in an extra Tribune, will be read with pain.
full interest:
STEAMER ROCHESTER, Tuesday, d. m.
My Dear Frend:-You may value few
lines from an eyewitness, descriptive of the
terrible accident which befel the Swallow last
evening.
At about O'Clock, when going at u rapid
rate, the boat struck on small rock island a.
breast the town of Athens and the city of Hud-
son. was sitting in the upper saloon in con-
versation. At the first severe shock the pas
sengers rushed below, but fears were Gained
for moment by the cutlery that we had only
come in contact with raft. But our ears were
speedily assaled by the appalling sounds ofthe
rending Of timbers, and the evident destruction
of the boat; while the stern settled with fright
full rapidty. Those who had ''turned in, in
the after cabin, had barely time to leap fiom
their berths, before the water was upon them.
You can imagine the horrors Of the scene at
this moment, when more than three hundred
souls were thus exposed in the midst of falling
snow and almost utter darkness. As the water
: reached the boiler fires sheet of mingled
steam, smoke and fame poured into the boat,
illuminating the CHASTITY countenances with a
sudden glare of vivid light and completing the
CONSERVATION. The conviction that the curse
of fire was to be added to our other imminent
perils, curbed the resolution of the stoutest
/ hearts. But the rapid sinking Of the boat ex-
tinguished the fires, and all was darkness again.
I In less than five minutes, by the blessing of
} God, the stern rested on the bottom, the water
being above the windows of the aft saloon state
rooms. Several females were drawn out of the
state rooms by the dashing in the windows; two
) almost exhausted-one very aged, and now ly-
ing on board this boat in precarious situation
were taken from the Ladies' Cabin by cut
ting through the floor. They had sustained
themselves on settees, with only few inches
! of breathing room for their faces. The bow had
been forced high and dry upon the rock, and
, the boat, split open amidships, was left rising
| almost perpendiculary upward, covered with
| anxious beings clnging to the bulwarks. The
remainder of the passengers were sadly grouped
on the forward upper deck, many bewailing the
t absence OF dear companions, and actuated by
/ the most dreadful apprehensions for their fate.
, BY this time the alarm had been thoroughly
e communicated to the shore on either side. The
bells of the churches began to ring, and the ri
S yer was soon covered with torches, waving in
the fleet of boats that put off to our asslstance
: while the Rochester, which had found it diff.
e cult to get to US, and the Express, which had
f now come up, were gradually approaching
, alongside. The sound of the bells pealing on
: the air, the shouts of those in the boats, the
t light of the waving torches and the wailino
t grief of many on the wreck, constituted fea
0 lures ola most impressive scene
d In the course of an hour all were taken of
y who remained, in the Rochester, the past seem
G ing like terrible dream. l am approaching
: the city. 1t can scarcely be but that severa
, are lost Many leaped Immediately overheard
0 in that frenzy of mind which precluded tn,
!; power of self preservation in the water. TIL,
:, doors of most of the State-rooms were so sprung
!, at once, as to be immovable, and examination