Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-04-18

doubtless there are many others who will see them
from other source
The Rev. Mr. Harrington, of Albany, thus writes
to the N. Y. Tribune
STEAMER ROCHESTER, Tuesday, A. M.
M dear Friend You may value a few
lines from an eyewitness, descriptive of the
terrible accident which belel the Swallow last
evening. AT about 8 O'Clock, when going at
rapid rate, the boat struck on a small rock ISL
and abreast the town OF Athens and the city OF
Hudson. was sitting in the upper saloon in
conversation. AT the first severe shock the
passengers rushed below, but fears were calm
ed for a moment by the outcry that we had on
" come in contact with a raft. But our ears
were speedily assailed by the appalling sounds
of the rending of tmbers, and the evident de-
struction of the boat; while the stern settled
with Irightful rapldity. Those who had turn
ed in,' in the after cabin, had barely time to
leap from their berths, before the water was
upon them. You can imagine the horrors OF
the scene at this moment, when more than 500
souls were thus exposed in the midst OF falling
snow and almost utter darkness. As the water
reached the boiler fires a sheet OF mingled
steam, smoke and fame poured into the boat,
Illuminating the ghastly countenances with a
sudden glare Of vivid light, and completing the
CONSERVATION. The conviction that the curse
OIL IRE was 10 De duuCu W Oui OluCl
perils, curbed the resolution Of the stoutest
hearts. But the rapid sinking of the boat ex-
tinguished 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 aft saloon state
rooms. Several females were drawn out OF
state rooms by 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 cutting
through the floor. They had sustained them
selves on settees, with only few inches OF
breathing room for their faces. The boat had
been forced high and dry upon the rock, and
the bow, split open amidships, was left rising
almost perpendicularly upward, covered with
anxious beings clinging to the bulwarks. The
remainder OF the passengers were sadly group
ed on the forward upper deck, many bewailing
the absence OF dear companions. and actuated
by the most dreadful apprehensions for their
fate.
By this time the alarm had been thoroughly
communicated TO the shore on either side. The
bells of the churches began to ring, and the
river was soon covered with torches, waving
in the fleet of boats that put off TO our assist
ance; while the Rochester, which had found il
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 walling
grief of many on the wreck constituted features
of most impressive scene.
In the course of an hour all were taken of
who remained. In the Rochester, the past
seeming like terrible dream, am approaching
the city. II can scarcely be but that severa
are lost. Many leaped Immediately overheard
in that frenzy of mind which precluded tht
power of sell-preservation in the water. TIL,
doors of the most Of the State-rooms were Sc
sprung at once, as to be immovable, and exam
ination will probably discover the dead within
some Of them. can scarcely hope otherwise
The boat is complete wreck. il was
mournful sight as we cast off from her side
The Captain behaved noby-calming fears
and making his voice heard every where in adj
vice, with the most thorough judgment anC
self-possession. The baggage is almost al
deep under water, and will be recovered only il
a damaged slate.
Our hearty thanks are due to the officers o
the Rochester and Express for their promp
assistance and untiring assiduity to save every
thing that hand could be laid on.
Friends in the Rochester tell me that III,
yell Of agony, as they describe it, which CAM
TO their ears from the sinking boat, was Of
character never 10 be forgotten.
/ Yours, truly,
HENRY f. HARRINGTON
N. B.-Morning apprehensions o
loss Of life which have expressed above, ar
| fully realised. Several females were seen to b.
washed off by the water as it rose above tn
guards, and all, il is thought, could not hav
escaped from the cabin. Several on board on
boat have nothing but their night dresses.
From the Evening Gazette.
"Capt. Cruttenden states that when nearl,
opposite Hudson, he was Just preparing 10 G,
up TO the pilots room of his boat, the Roches
ter, when he heard the pilot ring the bell L
slow, and Immediately afterwards the bell O
the Swallow rang also. He ran up stairs, an
when he reached the deck discovered the Swa
low sinking. At this time he was about so
yards astern, and by the time he got alongsid
o. the Swallow her hurricane deck was unde
water. Capt. Cruttenden Immediately attempt
ed TO round TO in the Athens Channel, bu
could not effect it until he had dropped an an
Choir, and when the Rochester swung round
he weighed anchor and ran up along side i
time TO take off about so passengers.
The pilot of the Swallow, WiHiam Burnett
is one of the Oldest, most experienced and faith
ful pilots on the River. Captain SquEes wa
with him at the wheel, when the boat struck
and such was the rapidity with which the wa
ter rose, that before he could reach the ladie;
saloon he was knee deep in water.
4 According to his estimate, there were fTor
two hundred TO two hundred and fifty passer
gers on board, and he fears that there mu,
have been loss of several lives. AS the lis
and books OF The boat, however, all went dow
with the stern, il is impossible at present I
speak with certainty as to the number. TIL
extreme thickness of the fog is assigned as II
cause of the accident,-the pilot having bee
misled, and losing the right channel"
Farther Particulars of the Loss of the Siean