American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-11

From the ~ Y. Mirror of Wednesday afemoon.l
FURTHER PARTICULARS or THE STEAM
BOAT ACCIDENT-ViSIT TO THE WRECK
SEVERAL BODIES FOUND.
The particulars which we published yester-
day Of this dreadful casualty, were full and
complete, up to the latest period, at which they
could be received. The arrival of the morning
boats from Albany, enable us to add to that
painful record. A reporter from the Tribune
office was despatched to the scene of the disas-
ter, ard from his report, and other sources we
have cleaned the following facts. The steamer
John Y Mason had been sent down to the
wreck, to render any necessary or practicable
assistance, and boats were constantly plying TO
and from her, from both Hudson and Athens.
During the day, several persons were engaged
in the melancholy task of probing for the dead
bodies, and we regret to say, the fears that lives
had been sacrificed, were painfully realized
Seven bodies had been recovered at the last ac-
counts, six being females. Among the latter
had been already recognized Mrs. Briggs, Miss
or Mrs. Wood, and Mrs. Cotton, of Troy, whose
husband came down on hearing the news ofthe
disaster, and was present when the body OF his
wife was discovered.
Mr.. Gibson, who was on board with his wife,
escaped, but can find nothing of her so far. 1t
IL pOsSlUle however,, Liiut Sllc was taken up Dy
the Rochester or Express.
P. II. Firman, Esq, of X. Y, with his sister,
were on board-aso J. G. Carl, Esq, of N. Y,
hut escaped, and came to the city this morn
ing. The escape of Mr.. Carl was miraculous;
he states that, at fifteen minutes before nine
o'clock, the Swallow struck three times in
quick succession At first a general rush was
made, but the Captain called out that there
was no danger, as she had only struck a raft
This restored confidence in some measure, but
lost to many, as MIR. G. thinks, the opportunity
Of jumping over from the bow where the water
was shallow. Mr.. &. Immediately ran aft,
where he found the water already up to the
guards and the boat rapidly sinking He i'm
mediately went on deck, where the water in a
moment made its way, and was soon up to his
arms. Selling cane-bottom settee, about six
feet long, he pushed into the water and swan
for Shore After swimming and struggling
with the storm and darkness, for about half a
mile, he was picked up by boat, within fifty
feet of the Ferry House at Athens in a state of
utter exhaustaton and insensiblity. He did
not recover his consciousness until five hours
after his rescue.
Az he was in the act of leaping into the wa
ter he heard a woman's voice, in tones of ago
ny, shreking sFor Gods sake, save me, save
mel" and while swimming, so long as he can
recollect, the noise of the life struggle, mingled
with cries and groans was around him on eve
ry side. The boat that picked him up also
saved five others. One man, on being seized
by the hair, and his head lifted out of the wa
ter, exclaimed; "Save her! save her! let me go
and save hers On looking farther, they found
and succeeded in rescung the lady, who was,
as it appeared, only an acquaintance, who had
heen ulaced in his CHARGE
A Mr. lures, of Detroit, had likewise mar
row escape. He had in his possession bag
containing $500 in gold, and as he felt the
boat parting, jumped overheard, and as he did
so grasped narrow strip of board. He had
scarcely done so, when another man claimed
it, and with curses and imprecatiens struggled
to get possession of it, but he soon sank and as
he was going down, seized Mr.. Hures's foot,
but he with great difficulty shook HIM off, and
was saved.
1t is supposed that there were on board the
Swallow nearly three hundred persons. Nine
ty-four were rescued by the Rochester, and
about forty by the Express and a number of
others chow many we could not learn) went
up to Albany on the Utica and Robert L. Ste
phens
The boat is total wreck, and it is doubtful
whether her engines will be saved. She lies
on high rock close to the Athens side of tho
channel, and between which and the Western
shore no boat has ever gone. The pilot, Mr.
Burnett is acco lnted one of the best on the riv-
or, although fatality seems to have attended
his connection with the Swallow-having, as
we learn, run her on shore on one or two pre-
vious occasions.
The passengers all speak in the highest terms
Of the GOODNESS and courage of Capt. Squires
and his officers. The Swallow was not in
sured.
1t was rumored that a young lady, niece
of Joseph G.. Heart, Esq, of Troy had died
from fright, after having reached the shore in
safety. We could not ascertain the truth of
this report.
1t is of course at present impossible to deter
mine the number of persons lost; but is the ge-
neral opinion that it will not fall short of thir-
ty-and may be as high as fifty.
The steamer knickerbocker, which left Al
bany yesterday afternoon, brings an extra from
the "Albany Knickerbocker," from which we
take the following:-
Capt. Squires mustered all hands for the
stern of the boat, and commenced cutting away
passage through the state-room deck below
by this means several passengers were res
cued by being pulled up.
Mrs. Starbuck and her daughter were res
cued in the last agonies of death, The daugh-
ter was with a child's strength and affections
clinging to her almost dying mother and bear
ing her up. Both were rescued.
There are great many lives lost, there is
no doubt, but 1t was impossible to learn how
MANY last night. 1t is known that Mrs.
French and an old lady named Mrs. Lambert
were drowned.
How many more it is impossible to say. The