Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-04-18
FEARFUL DlSASTER-LOSS OF THE
STEAMER SWALLOW,

STEAMER SWALLOW,
The following account is given by passenger,
in letter to the editors of the Tribune, which we
copy. His description of the catastrophe is appal-
ling:
STEAMER ROCHESTER, Tuesday, 3 A. M.
MY Dear Frend-You may value few lines
from an eye Witness descriptive Of the terrible &C
cident which befel the Swallow last evening. At
about o'clock, when going at rapid rate, the
boat struck on small rock island abreast the town
OF Athens and city of Hudson | was sitting in
The upper saloon in conversation. AT the first Sc
we're shock the passengers rushed below, but fears
were Gained for moment by the outcry that VIC
mad only come in contact with raft
But our ears were speedily assailed by the APP
palllng sounds of The rending OF timbers and the
evident destruction OF the boat while the stern
settled with frightful rapidity. Those who had
turned H." 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 moro than three hundred
souls were thus exposed III the midst of falling
snow ana almost utter darkness. As the water
reached The boiler fires a sheet of mingled steam,
smoke and flame poured into the boat, Illuminating
inc ghastly counennnce with sudden glare of vi.
vid light and completing the CONSERVATION. The
convection that the curse of fire was to be added to
our other imminent perils, curbed the resolution of
The stoutest hearts. But the rapid sinking of the
boat eXtnguished 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 a
bove the windows of the aft saloon state room.-
Several females were drawn out of state rooms bv
dashlhS In The windows: two almost exhausted
one very aged and now lying on board this boat in
precarIous sltuation-were taken from the ladies'
cabin by cutting through the floor. They had sus-
tanned themselves on setJees, with only few inch
es OF breathing room for their faces
The bow had been forced high and dry upon the
focR, and the boat split open amidships was left
rising almost perpendicularly upward, covered with
anxious beings clinging to the 6ulwarks. Tho re.
malnder oil the passengers were sadly grouped on
the forward upper deck many bewang the alb
sence OF dear companions and actuated BY the most
dreadful apprehensions for their fate.
by this time the alarm had been thoroughly COM
munlcated 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 assistance while the Roch-
cser which had found it difficult to get to u.s. and
the Express, which had now come up, were gradu-
ally approaching alongside. The sound Of the
bells pealing on the air the shouts of those in the
boats, the light the waving torches and the wall
ing grief Of many on the wreck constituted fea-
lures OF a. most impressive scene.
In the course of an hour all were taken off 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 the mind
winch pfecluded the power of self preservation IN
the wafer The doors of most of the state rooms
were so sprung at once as to be immovable and
examination will probably discover the dead within
some OF them. | can scarcely hope otherwise.
Inc boat is a complete wreck. 1t was a mourn
ful sight as we cast off from her side. The cap
tam behaved nobly-calming fears, and making his
voice heard every where in advice, with the most
thorough judgment and self possession. The bag
gage IS almost all deep under water, and will be
recovered only in damaged state
Our hearty thanks are due to the officers of the
Rochester and Express for their prompt assistance,
and untrIng assduity to save every thing that hand
could be laid on.
Friends in the Rochester tell me That the yell of
gong, as they describe it, which came to their
ears from the sinking boat was of character new
err to be forgotten. Yours, truly,
HENRY HARRINGTON.
N. B.-.uorning. THE apprehensions of loss of
life which have expressed above are fully reas-
ed. Several females were seen to be washed off
by the water as 1t rose above the guards and all,
1t is thought could not have escaped from the cab
In Several on board our boat have nothing but
their night dresses.
The number of lives lost is ascertained to be
thirteen and it is feared that these are not all The
names of The following persons appear in the list
of dead:
Mrs. Conklin Of Bennington, Vt.
son Of Gen. Mather, missing
Mrs. Coffin of Troy, N. Y, wife of Geo. Coffin.
Mrs. Coffin 4" mother
Mr.. Davis, son ofNathaniel Davis of Albany, NY.
Miss Briggs of East Troy, ~. Y.
Miss Spencer of Troy Ny.
Mrs. Walker of N. Y. city.
Mrs. Parker of Utica n. Y.
Two Misses Weed of Albany
Miss Mary Torrey of Pottsville, Pa.
1t is said the fare of $50 persons was paid and
there were many on board who had not paid The
number saved is 275, dead l3-total 2e5; leaving
probably IL still unaccounted for