Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-05-24
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
THE STEAMBOAT EMPIRE SUNK
AT NEWBURG.


II The steamer Empire, Capt. w. w.
Topper, left her dock in New York on
Thursday evening, at O'Clock for Alba
ny, having on board 2GO passengers,
among whom were many ladies.
At about ten O'Clock, when opposite
Newburg. the pilot discovered Il c schoon.
er Noah Brown, with heavy deck load
of lumber, bearing down at rapid rate
through the channel, apparently not dis
covering the proximity of the steamer.
He Immediately stopped the engine
and went forward to hail her. Although
his voice crying to the man at the wheel
of the schooner to "Luff!' was heard
in the cabin, it appears that he for whom
it was intended did not hear it.
The engines were then reversed, and
while the steamer was still in the water,
or making s.ern way the schooner came
upon her with tremendous crash. The
bowsprit entered the forward cabin just
under the larboards guards, and so heav
ily was the schooner loaded that she was
not brought up until her very bow had
entered the Empires side.
The awful scenes that followed cannot
be described. Most of the passengers
had retired for the night, and were sleep
ing in their berths. When she struck
and the water came rushing into their
cabin, the men leaped form their beds
and rushed to the stairs to save their
lives. 1t is very possible that many in
the forward cabin were overwhelmed
with the water before they could escape.
In the terrible confusion they trampled
and bruised each other In the ladies
cabin when it was found that the boat be-
gan to sink, the most awful consterna-
ton ensued. The screams of the women
were heart rending. Wives called en-
their husbands, and children called on
their parents, for safety. On shore, at
Newburg, the first intimation of the dread
full catastrophe was the awful screams
which arose from the passengers, and the
mournful tolling Of the steamers bell.
Axes were brought, holes cut through
the ladies cabin, and many thus liberia
ted. One of the ladies was accidentally
killed by blow on the head.
When the water reached the furnace
fires, explosions, caused by its rush upon
the burning Goals. occurred, which forced
out the panel work upon the deck, and
added still more to the confusion of the
moment.
Shortly after the steamer Rip Van
Wrinkle, bound up to Albany, and about
two miles behind the Empire, came along
side, and by admirable management the
passengers were taken from their perilous
position, the Empire taken in tow and
carried to the fats, where she is now ly-
ing.
The steamer Hudson, bound for Hud.
son, also came up and rendered much
valuable assistance.
| A passenger on board says he saw
many in their fright jump overheard, anG
he thinks not less than twenty lost theil
lives in this way, though great number
were were picked up by boats from New
burg. '~
Only three bodies have been recovered
two ladies and little girl. During the
awful confusion at the time of the coils.
ion, the girls mother was seen running in
her night clothes, and with an infant al
her breast, calling upon all she met to
help her find her child. Soon after she
left the Empire the body of her daughter
was found.
1t is not known how many gentlemen
were drowned in the lower cabins. A.
bout $50 were in there, aud none of
those who escaped had time to save more
than they had upon them.
Gen. Davis and daughter, of Troy,
were among the passengers. Both were
saved. ...
The captains office was buried so
quickly that the books, papers, list of
passengers and money were not recover
ed. ......
The state cabins were hardly under
water; and the hurricane deck was per-
fectly safe for all.
The Empire can easily be recovered, so
that the loss of the owners will be COM
paratively tri1ing. The shock was SO
sudden that the hull and timbers of the
boat were not materially injured.
LIE LATEST ACCOUNlS-1lA A. M.
The g Roger Williams" of Newburgh.
has just arrived, bringing several of the
passengers saved on the Empire. This
mornings account is faulty in many par
ticulars. When the news of the coils
ion had reached the Roger Williams, two
Of her boats were despatched to take
the passengers, who were on the EN-
pire's hurricane deck, ashore. About
20 were taken offin this way. About 20
more who had jumped overheard, were
taken up by the boats belonging to the
Newburgh. The Rip Van Wrinkle which
arrived in FIVE minutes after the Empire
had settled, took off about IS passen-
gers. This would make in all lis. The
Empire had 200 souls on board, and af-
ter deducting the saved, ONE HUMID
RED AND FORTY FIVE human be-