Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-12
A FEARFUL DISASTER ON THE HUDSON.

PROM THE NEW YORK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.
Loss OF THE STEAMER SwALLow.-Ihe usually
safe and peaceful navigation of the Hudson has
been Marked since the opening of the present sea-
son, by an unusual number of serious accidents
but not for many years have we been startled by an
event of such magnitude, and, there is perhaps rea
son to fear, of such distressing consequences, as
that which we are now called on to record. We
give all the information that we have been able TO
obtain.
The SUaAtosO, it appears, left Albany on Monday
evening at six o'clock, having on board passengers
in numbers variously estimated at from two hun
bred and fifty to three hundred and fifty. AT little
after eight O'Clock she struck upon the point of the
island between Hudson and Athens with such force
as to lift the bow entirely out of the water break
the Boat in two, and render her complete wreck.
Whether any lives were lost is not certainly es
tablished, nor it be till hear fully from
the scene Of the disaster Some of the gentlemen
who came down by the Express and Rochester,
with whom we have conversed, are of opinion that
many must have been drowned, while others are
equally confident that all on board were saved.
From the early hour Of the evening al which the
accident occurred there is to hope that few if
any Of the passengers had betaken themselves to
their state-rooms or berths, and we think those
who were dressed aud stirring must have had suffi
| ed into their cabins.
| About one hundred of the passengers were
brought down by the Rochester, and fifty by the
| cypress, the remainder being landed at Hudson,
many preferring to stay there for the purpose OF
| making an effort in the morning to recover their
baggage from the wreck.
CONSCIOUSNESS THE TRIBUNE.
STEAMER ROCHESTER,, TUESDAY, 8 A. M.
My DEAR FnIEyp: You mi value a lines from
eyewitness, descriptive of the terrible accident which befe
the SWALLOW last evening At about eight O'clock when
going at rapid rate the boat struck small rock island
abreast the town of Athens and the city of Hudson was
sitting in the upper saloon in conversation At the first
shock the passengers rushed below, but fears Gained
for moment by the cutlery that had only in con-
tact with raft But our ears were speedily assaed by the
appalling sounds Of the rendng of mbers and the evident
destruction Of the boat while the settled with fghful
apdy Those who had ssturned in in the after cabin had
barely time to leap from their bcrths before the water
upon them You imagine the horrors of the scene at
this moment when than three hundred souls thus
exposed in the midst of falling and almost utter dark
As the water reached the boieres sheet Of min
gled steam smoke and flame poured into the boat illuminate
ing the ghas,y countenances with sudden glare Of vivid
light, and completing the CONSERVATION The conviction
that the curse of fire was be added other imminent
rapid sinking of the boat exngushed the fires, and all
darkness again
In less than five minutes by the blessing of God, the stern
rested the bottom the being above the windows Of
the aft saloon Several females drawn out
of state by dashng in the windows two almost
hausedone very aged and lying board this boat in
precarous suaion-were taken from the ladies' cabin by
cutting through the floor They had sustained themselves
settees with only few inches Of breathing for their
faces The boat had been forced high and dry upon the rock
and the bow split open amshps left rising almost per
pendculay upward covered with anxious beings cngng
the bulwaks The remainder Of the passengers sadly
grouped the forward upper deck, many bewang the alb
of dear companions and actuated by the most dreadful
apprehensions for their fate
By this time the alarm had been thoroughly communicated
the shore either SIDE The bells of the churches began
to rng and the covered with torches waving
in the fleet Of boats that put of assistance while the
Rochester, which had found difficult to get to us and the
Express which had up, gradually approach
ing alongside The sound of the bells peang the air. the
shouts of those in the boats the light of the waving torches
and the wang grief of many the wreck. constituted ea
| lures of most impressive
In the of hour all taken off who remained
In the Rochester the past seeming like terrible dream, am
approaching hecy 1t scarcely be but that several
lost Many leaped Immediately overheard in that phenzy Of
mind which pecluded the power Of sepeservaion in the
water The doors of of the sprung
be immovable and examination will probably
discover the dead within of them scarcely hope
otherwise.
The boat is complete wreck II moumul sight as
off from her side. The captain behaved noby-can
ing fears and making his voice heard every where in advice
with the thorough judgment and self possession The
baggage almost all deep under water and will be recovered
only in a damaged state
Our hearty thanks due to the officers Of the Rochester
and Express for their prompt assistance and unng asduy
to every thing that hand could be laid
Friends in the Rochester tell that the yell of agony, as
they describe it. which their from the sinking
boat of a character to be forgotten.
Yours truly, HENRY r. HARRINGTON.
Morning. apprehensons Of loss Of life which have
expressed above fully realized Several females
be washed off by the il above the guards
and ALL il is thought could have escaped from the cabin
Several board our boat have nothing but their night dresses
Another letter, written at 10 O'Clock of Monday
night by person who was on board the Rochester,
says:
"We Left Albany o'clock this evening, following in
the wake Of the steamboat Swallow As neaed Athens
opposite Hudson, observed that the SDaito appa-
seered the eastward When close her, her bell was
rung, but under too much Roadway until
had passed distance ahead although evident
to us then that she sinking.
son coming alongside of the Swallow we found her bow
completely out Of water, high up rock the boat broken
in two, and her under the water which over the
hurricane deck Capt Squire was truly in command Ah
l.