New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-04-12
Tbe Loss ofthe swallow.
Correspondence Of the Albany Evening Joarnal.

De1r Sir There beng many contradictory stete-
ments IA circulation in regard 10 the loss OF The
steamer Swallow, take the first opportunity OF
furnishing Won with relation of facts which occur-
ed under nv own observation. AT the lime the
boat struck was sitting near the Captains Office.
on the main deck. Great confusion OF course al
once ensued-passenEeTs rushIng oEe wy anG eno-
ther 10 Inquire the cause, ladies' screaming. &c:
when CAPT S1ures came all, near 20 where most OF
passengers were congregateo, ana SAID, Lcdiss
and gentlemen. be quiet, al IS safe mis- wore was
Immediately passed about the 0oa;, ana our I-sls
had become sornew hat ailayed, when The CAPTAIN
srsIu appeared IN the crowd. holding signal lamp
over his head. and calling upon all 10 go forward
A general rush was then made forward, n which
was forced along but when got 10 within Feacn
of the door which opened out on 10 The forward
deck, tabout 100, perhaps, naVlns passed lh1ousnl
a crv came from forward OF " GO back, go back
We were then forced back again towards The
centre OF the boat ard as passed the stairway
leading up from the lower CABIN, saw the ws,er
running rapidly az, floating the furniture past ne
stairway the cabin 81 that poht oeins nearly !u4i.
then discovered that the ladies' saloon ait was
filing. and the stern sinking. AT this moment
cry OF fire" went through the vessel, and the
smoke sparks and coal dust rushed up from the
ire-pIacrs The water By tins time nad reached
10 where / stood, and was last rising around nv
loot In 10 this time we had no knowledge OF the
nation been given IN my hearing that we Were
aground or that we Were near 10 any ldhG; Ou' on
the contrary the word was several utnes passed
around that we had run on 10 raft Being mus
br,n5ef i1l-driyen back by the crowd from before;
prevented from going ait by the water ana I!fe' anu
there being no stairway or other passage 10 the up
nor deck within this space and those around me
Underworld 10 compose ourselves Tor dea;h, vllch
we believed inevitably ana sPefehy sfP'oaeIiHS'
when the crowd in which stood moved again tor
ward. and we passed out on 10 the forward deck,
and was carried along up steep ACTIVITY, which
sunaosed. il being very dark, was " gang plank
leading up on 10 the vessel, or whatever else we
had run into. until ! came 10 get hold al the net
work or cordage which surrounded the bow; II
then occurred 10 me that the boat was broken IN
two. then saw those forward OF me-. near the
bowsDrit. throwing themselves over this buiwark.
and upon following their example found myself
upon the ground. This was the trst animation
! received that we were aground. On examining
by daylight this island which We struck proved
10 be a rock. covered partly with grass, about -
by 30 feet in size. and 10 or ID feet above the water
The boat is broken lIttle forward OF the wheels,
the forward part running up on 10 the island at an
angle Of 45s Shortly after tumeed over, Ia tall
of about Is feet a ladder was brought, and IN all
think about 100 persons escaped that way
The Rochester and Express, which were known
10 he close behind, soon came 10 IN the channel,
and most of the passengers were supposed 10 nave
gone on board OF them, by aid OF boats from Athens
an HnCsUQ
ing on the island until half past g. finally got on
on the Athens shore, where remained until last
evening During Yesterday efforts were made to
search the boat which resulted IN obtaining most
of the baggage and 6 bodles-2 Misses WOODS OF
Albany Miss Briggs and Mrs Coffin OF Troy Mr..
Davis of Albany and lady unknown, having the
initials of" w NJ. c." on her thmble.
Joon gong on board OF the John Mason last eve
ming. was informed that the Coroner's jury had
ist returned a verdict either acquliung the Pilot
Of or no, charging him with blame ms verdict
has NOT been satisfactory 10 any one OF the paSsen
gers with whom have conveTsed. Indeed the
question of negligence seems 10 me TO lie IN very
small compass for if IL were dark as to prevent
The pilot from seeing he should nave stopped while
on the other hand, II he could see, he was oouno
TO know better than to leave siTaisl'' lair cidii
nell OF mile wide-and run his boat upon
well known island, al an angle with the channel OF
% or p degrees and pointing almost into the WI
LACE OF Athens.
lit IS said that he had Just come up from supper,
the above remark will apply 10 the person LETT IN
charge. for on such night that, ct ever none
but persons OF known skill and prudence should be
AT the wheel Great praise Is due 10 Mr. } T. Hlns-
dale, of New-York, who, with the aid Of small
board, supported Miss Plat, OF Detroit Tor long
time in the water, until they were picked up
and taken ashore in small boat, quite helpless -
Mr. ] A Hicks, OF Detroit, Chandler Root, OF Coop
ersown. and Osborn Spencer, of Albany, also de-
serve honorable mention. Mr. Hlnsdae was obliged
10 cast from his arm satchel, winch contained
$500 in gold, belonging 10 Miss Plat, which was
lost
From careful examination of the above named
persons and others who IN the water, (each OF
whom left different parts Of the boat) who state that
a number OF persons were around Them Crying tor
help. saving they could not swim, &c. ! am OF
opinion thai not less than 20, and probably 40, lives
were lost No search had yet been made IN the
river nor had that part of The boat where the ladies'
would most likely be found. been reached when
left last evening-ihe Ladies Saloon being entirely
submerged.
have yet heard no blame attached 10 Captain
Sauircs. but would be glad TO know who II was who
started tina, unfortunate CRY which sent those back
10 perish who might otherwise have been saved
1t also seems 10 me that some one ought 10 nave
known that one end OF the boat was high and dry
and therefore safe, and 10 have made known that
fact 10 the passengers-in which event verify be-
Iieve not a life need To have been lost Being aware
that those Interested have made statements and st-
rived at conclusions entirely exculpatory Of the OF
icers have thought best 10 attach 10 this hasty and
very lmpeleclly written sketch. the proper name oil
your Trend and servant, ALBERT l. BAKER,
OfGreenyych, Washington Co. y. y.
From, the Albany Atlas of Thursday