New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-04-14
The Wreck of the swaiiow-By Passenger

NEw-icEK- April H., $40
To tae Editor n IL Tf1ssRe:
After having seen and Rad the numerous state
ments which have been made, IN relation 10 ihe
,acs-. destruction Of the steamboat Swallow, feel
reluctance IN writing word upon the subject ioE
public per7isal But being urgently solicited by
those 10 when have related the manner u whleh
! "a narrowly escaped, have concluded TO make
statement CT the facts as they occurred per
ceive that very few who have not seen this i>lan1
of yo understand IL location. Twill therefore des-
crIb. il l. is about 10 feet high, p By % feet on
the top. perfectly barren rock, within OF ~ Focs
of the West shore, between which and The isiano
M e,.. ever goes \ mar can wade from the Island 10
ho-e exert about 10 fee; in the channel! in e1Faor-
ii-s- Low water there y very ;tle water 10 be seen-
Bp on n, o;he. SIDE where ali those who did jump ever
hoard went il is very deep and least hall mile 20 the
Hudson shore.
When the beat first struck. al! was cenfuson until
voice was heard Be calm. uen-we struck rai e1'
AZ. al safe This unfortunate statement though
evidently well meant May thereby were wholly nnpFe
pared for the awfal which ;hcy were really IN
The though; Occurred that though This shock might
n in consequence Of coming contact with rait must
,.e had leak walked Immediately - tie stern OF
The boat. intending 20 prepare myself Win some ~ s
which would be OF service 10 me in the water Should oe
an
Mar saw four men standing in the yaWi preparing 10
eays Immediately. though may say caree<sly step
ped on board (lhOtsh torbidden 1t was then -" LOT
no e -s: the dreadful situation which those that were
OF or SoE- were h one OF the called Tor anlie 10
GU, loose from The swallow, which was then down TO her
guards ugh in MY Judgment not more than Two minutes
had el1>ed rcc tue fatal shock In III instant OF time
uucon.ciously took fun command of the boat, and ordered
The men 20 Immediately 10 the Roche.;e:, which was
then III hearing distance but ior the NOISE OF steam a
the cries of board the Sw allow In the hustle and
effort an oar broken took the round part, and pad
lied and seeret well rs possible, until We distinctly
heard boa.4 the Rochester reply TO our en-
treaties 10 come and as: The swallow for she was sink
Ing: then ordered the boat 10 20 directly TO the Athens
shore for and help Here Of the passengers who
had taken helm resisted with many bitter ltonS
which C-bcar 10 mention, and Was determined 10
90 back 10 the swallow. begged of him TO follow my
Instructions thereby other boats could be obtained and
4, were really in jeopardy ourselves. being the two
AS with only and or account OF the extreme
darkness Of the night, very liable 20 be run over
~ Justice to my unknown friend. must say he was a
bod man and though he charged me with cowdice and
oiy. will only point the many boats which came TO
the relief OF not only those in the water but those upon the
wreck long before either Of he steamboats, came TO their
assistance evidence OF the correctness OF my ins;ruc
II needed but little forecast 10 see the awful conse-
quences tina; would folio ou- return 10 the swallow Win
only and fvc already IN the boat. Wha; an
nducsmen look for assistance By very many who
have been lost. Many contradictory statements nave
been made in regard The boat being fire IL wds al
that moment padding with the b!cken saw tie
aasl- ike tie isri;ug Of the whole boat at
iiut darkness Immediately followed Again. another HASH
which plainly showed the situation Of the paSsen
gers and every part OF the boat above water saw the
blaze which driven from the mouth OF the iarnace by
the water, catch N the dry wood near the wadow y
moment more and was darkGe.s But for the bitter
cries help, ard The awful sieks that were then heard
II were difficult TO tell where the wreck lay she had even
Al this early period OF time SUNK and rested on the bottom
In the struggle through the passage the state and
through the SKI lights and windows probably every light
was put out. All those below under water. The
collection that awful at this moment ILLS NE with
horror aud with sadness. After refusing many pressing IN
vittons the very KIND and hospitablc inhabitants OF
Athens 20 accompany them home, about IL O'Clock at
night found board OF sioop which dropped
side the wreck FOR the purpose OF securing the bag
with his spent part this gloomy boiserous
night, In searching every part Of the boat.
low ;Idc the Gay many bodies were found. the
number and All the circumstances being already KNOWN
feel be due Captain squires 10 say that no blame
can possibly be attached 10 him. and from the very nrs up
TO the time left. he manifested amncss and elaboration
The carcfuness for the dead they
we're from time time taken from the water certainly
showed n unusual degree OF deep feeling.
censure. with all the July given, have been
passed upon the Mr.. Burnct, the Pilot No
doubt this Will those who !ntrusted with the fate
such great numbers, 10 allow themselves TO pro-
coed one moment after they uncertain where they are
Sor should they under any circumstances whatever when
they consider dangerous But for the sake OF Mr. Bur-
net Elay say In his behalf that had those who have dealt
bitterly the that fell during that long and
gloomy night in the Pilots room. sue they would
iun with me in petitisn for mercy.
J. +. BRIDGES. New-York.