American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-12
From the N. Y. Gazette of Thursday afternooR.l
THE SWALLOW DTSASTER-lNCIDENTS OF
THE CALAMITY-FURTHERP PARTICULARS,


THE CALAMITY-FURTHER PARTICULARS,
&c. &c.
The accounts from the Swallow increase-as
we feared would be the case--the number OF
victims. Annexed are some further details from
The Albany papers.
A slip from the Argus, dated O'Clock yester-
day afternoon, brings us the information that
s'x additional bodies had been recovered from
the matchmaking twelve SO far-and yet the
lower cabin has not been reached.
The Courier states that Mrs. Henry Walker
Of this city, was also among those who were
lost. We hear of many other names, but for
bear to report what we have not authentic in
formation for
We have been favored with copy of the
following letter ofGen. Mather, of the Assem-
bly,, to Mr.. Nven, conveying the painful in
telligeuce of the probable, and almost certain
death of his beautiful and interesting little boy,
who has been with him here for several weeks:
New YORK, April s, 1915.
Dear Sir-Before this reaches you, tho awful
calamity of the wreck of the Swallow, will
nave caused gloom and sadness to thousands
Through the ever-watchful care of Almighty
God, was enabled to rescue my beloved wife
from the threatened awful death, by FIRE or wa
Ter, or both. After being in the iee-like water,
up to our necks, for about half an hour, we
reached the hurricane deck-and eventually
another boat. What has been the fate of our
only son we know not. Just at the moment
The boat parted and went down, snatched him
from his berth in our state-room, and commit
Ted him to our friend Wyckotf, at his (W's.)
request, having myself to look for the safety of
Mrs. Nj. From that moment to this have
been able to learn nothing of either of them
My only hope is that they were by some means
taken to the shore near the wreck. That hope
relief in our solicitude.
| could give you no adequate idea of the
scene, if should attempt; and will therefore not
attempt it. Yours truly, F. E. MArHER. "a
From MIR. Wyckof, of the Assembly, who
was almost miraculously saved from death, we
learn the following partcuars:-Mr. W. was
sitting with MIR. NJ. and lady in the upper sa-
loon, aft, when the accident occurred, and as
soon as he had ascertained what had happened
he advised Gen. NJ. to take his little boy out of
his berth, and commit him to his care, which
was done. The whole party then went out
upon the after promenade deck, and soon af-
ter, when the fire broke out it was suggested
that they should go down upon the main deck
DIR. WIS recollection is distinct, that at this
moment, at the request of Gen. Mather, his
boy was returned to him, and almost immedi-
atey Mr.. w. was separated from his friends,
and the after part of the boat sinking, he was
swept off into the river. He was here seized
by two or three persons, who were already
struggling in the water, and before he could
clear himself he had drifted so far from the
boat that he was unable TO regain the wreck
He was forced to swim for his life, and soon
encountered settee to which a lady was cling
ing. As this was only sufficient to sustain one
person, and the sea running high, he relinquish-
ed it to the lady, and believes she was soon af-
ter rescued by one of the boats. Chilled almost
10 death by the icy GOODNESS of the water, Mr..
w. continued to keep above the water, until
ne came up with u piece of the wreck, on
which he hoated about half mile, when he
was picked up by small boat. When taken
into the boat he could neither speak or scarce
" move limb. He was taken to house in
Athens, where by kind attention he recovered,
and returned to this city yesterday. He in
forms us that there can be little doubt but what
M" ,,anv were drowned, VINO were, with him,
swept from the deck at the first sinking of the
boat. He never heard word of the fate Of
Gen. Mather and family, until lie received a
letter from him this morning, inquiring after
the fate of his boy. His feelings may be more
easily conceived than described.
There were six members of the Legislature
on board the Swallow, viz:-MI. Hard of the
Senate, and Messrs. Mather, Wyckof, Frisbee,
Stevenson and Jarvis of the Assembly. When
the boat struck, MIR. Hard was sitting in the
Ladies' Cabin, engaged in conversation. The
crash was dreadful, and there was general
rush to the main, and thence TO the upper deck.
Mr. Hard discovered that the bow was fast
while the stern of the boat was rapidly sinking,
called upon all to go forward. Just at that
moment the flames burst out from the wheel
house, and undoubtedly drove many back who
were making their way to the bow. Ms. Hard
persevered, and by the aid of ladder, desoend-
ed with some sixty others, from the bow of the
boat upon the island on which she struck. He
saw two ladies jump overheard, but the dark
ness was such that he Could not help them, no
tell what became of them. Several ladies we.
drawn out of thu, water upon the island Will
Mr.; IL. rem'. ..ned there.
we le arm from other sources that the hu
broke N two almost Immediately after the boa
sl' sck, and the water rushed into the CABIN
like torrent. Many sprang overheard whe
the fire broke out, thinking that the only chanc
OF escape left. 1t is impossible yet to guess
the number of victims of this appalling cata
trophe. There is but too much reason to TEL
that as many as thirty or forty persons have pc
ished. The John Mason, which came up tro
the wreck last night, brought with her six dea
bodies, five females and one male. The tN
Misses Wood, sisters Of Doctor Wood, of til
city, were among the number; the others we
taken up to Troy, where it was supposed til
they belonged We grieve to learn that OF
Of the bodies turns cut to be that of Villa
Davis son Of Nathaniel Davis, Of this city,