The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-04-17
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Total Wreck of the Steamboat
Swallow.
A NUMBER OF LIVES LOST.
STEAMER ROCHESTER,, }


Nix DEAR FRIEND, You may value a
few lines from me an eye witness, de-
scriptive Of the terrible accident which
befel the SWALLOW last evening. At
about 8 o'clock, when going at rapid
rate, the boat struck OH 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 Gained for mo
ment by the cutlery that we had only
come in contact with a raft. But our
ears were speedily assaled by the appal-
ling sounds Of the rending of limbers,
and tie evident destruction of the boat
while the stern settled with irightful ra-
pdity. Those who had turned in in
the after cabin, had barely time to leap
| from their berihs, before the water was
upon them. You can imagine the hor-
rors ofthe 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 a sheet of
mingled steam, smoI g and flame poured
into the boat, illuminating the ghastly
countenances with sudden glare ofviv.
id light, and completing the consterna-
ton. l ne conviction that the curse Of
| fire was to he added TO our other immi
nent perils, curbed the resolution ofthe
stoutesl hearts. But the rapid sinking
of the boat extnguished the fires, and
all was darkness again.
| In less than five minutes by the bless
ing of God, the stern rested on the bot.
tom, the water being above the windows
Of the aft saloon state room Several
females were drawn out ofthe staterooms
by dashing in the windows; two almost
exhausted one very aged and now ~
ing on board this boat in precarious
situation were taken from the Ladies'
Cabin by cutting through the floor They
had sustained themselves on settees,
with only few inches ofbreathing room
for their faces. The bow had been fore
ed high and dry upon the rock, and the
boat, split open amidships, was left ris-
ing almost perpendicularly upwards,
covered with anxious beings clinging to
the bulwarks. The remainder ofthe pas
sengers were sadly grouped on the for
ward upper deck, many bewaiing the
absence Of dear companions, and actual
ed by the most dreadful apprehensions
for their fate.
BY this time the alarm had been thor.
oughIy communicated to the shore on
either side The bells to the churches
began to ring, and the river was soon
covered with torches, waving in the fleet
Of boats that put off to our assistance;
while the Rochester, which had found it
difficult to get TO 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
ofthose in the boats, the light ofthe wav .
ing torches and the waling griefof ma
ny on the wreck constituted features OF
a most impressive scene.
In the course Of an hour all were taxi
en- of who remained, in the Rochester
the past seeming like terrible Dream
| am approaching the city. 1t can
scarcely be but that several are lost. -
Many leaped Immediately overheard in
that frenzy of mind which precludcd the
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