The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-05
Wreck OF the Empire-Inquest ut Fish
kill-dr. Burdens Evidences

ths Of the bodies drowned by the wreck Of the
Empire, ressssmbled at the Long Dock Fishki Land.
Ing.
SAMUEL B. HYER, colored man, was examined-Ee
was barber to the Empire; when he heard the bells
ring the night of the 17th he out of his shop
when he saw people coming from the lower cabin half
dressed; they asked him what was the matter he
Piled that he did not know and had come out to see
he then returned to his shop for his
coming again deck, he found the vessel sinking and
saw Mr. King, the engineer coming out Of the engine
room he then went to the lsrboard side, where he
found his brother loosng the boat and the
Ia her he did she full of passengers; whom they
were pushing her off, lady came to the gangway cry
her agentleman in the boat objected and said tn y
would be swamped he pretended to be somewhat of .
said his niece was on board and he wished to
but he tried to do it there only Of tho
hands Of the steamer in the quarter beat witness by
some means contrived to shove the boat in and the
woman climbing the top rail made effort to jump
In but fell into the water she went down. but again.
still holding her child which about six weeks old
her only xety to it witness got hold of her
and pulled her In with the child he made her lie down
in the boat there no room for her TO sit and
60 full it was dangerous for her to stand up thew then
rowed of to Newburg and landing the passengers he
returned to the wreck after delay in trying to
persuade some OF the passengers to return give
sistance he said to the gentleman who objected to their
taking the woman in, You have niece board that
you were very anxious about why don't you to
ner", ct length he came, and rowing to the Empire,
they fastened the quarter boat to her the was
tnen 10 the promenade deck she did not sink any
after that then he went board the Rip Van Wrinkle
HENRY BURDEN, of Troy examined--His pursuit in
lie Is engineering and manufacturing; on board
the Empire on May 18th; in the evening he was in the
upper saloon, and that there was great cal
OF steam on; thinks she was slowed once somewhere
on the way nothing else excited his attention till he
went down from the promenade the main deck; was
passing the engine room on the larboard side when
he had seme conversation with MIR. King, the
enieI engineer; they were discussing the subject of
steam engines and steamers; they had been dis
coursing for half hour when he heard the first bell to
to back; he knew there something close by: the
engineer commenced insanter to reverse the engine
put had only got about quarter of revolution when
the came thinks he then stopped the engine alto
gether the boat keeled to the starboard side,
when witness ran off to the after gangway see what
was the NATTER he saw boat alongside; the steamboat
Aay nearly southwest and the schooner at about right
angles TO her bow; very soon there uproar that
she sinking one cried out to 90 to the ether
side to right her he and Others did So but he found
tnat this made no alteration; the main deck was about
eignteen inches out Of level, aud the boat seemed
he was always afraid of water from the time he was
boy his great anxiety to find how fast the boat
sinking steadily; heard, at this time some gentlemen
cry out there was no danger while ladies were running
but he did not know the voice. from half minute to
minute after the collision the safety valve raised
SO as to ease the engine; there was STILL he thinks
plenty OF steam to bring her to place safety; he
knew no other officer but the captain, and he made
every effort to find him on the main deck Witness
never left that deck he could find the captain he
then ran to the quarter boat and sung out for some
body to help him to loose her; he could get nobody
che was so full Of passengers he thinks there 4
that he could do nothing; he saw nothing before him
but DEATH he did not dare go up stairs for if he had
done SO he could not see how the water was rising
thinking he was putting of too long any preparations
for his own safety, and seeing nobody there to give
directions he went to the starboard side and found
the water foot high ON the deck the arboard side
but found 1T still fast and full of people that he
abandoned the idea Of going into her. her keel reached
the water in moment or two, and a number of the
passengers fled out Of her into the steamer the water
had now risen above the freight the main deck when
witness seized two boxes, large and small one he
she would sink soon the main deck was filed with
water; he thought 1t was much better to 60 by him:
SELF as ne was no swimmer and would be likely either
to drown himself somebody else he had recollect
ed how that many years ago, ninety lives lost in
by pulling each other down. he therefore chose the low
side for he knew the rush of passengers would be at
the other side; he stumbled against the gang plank
which was atoat on the main deck; he laid down the
boxes on the water and tried shove out the plank
in order to take it instead Of the boxes it was entan
gled in the railing he let it CO. and taking hold of the
larger box stood he thinks on the railing TIN the water
was up to his mddle he took the box and showed of
on it, pressing it too hard he and it went down tsge-
ther ne came up again. and got hold Of the box looked
round expecting to the boat go down pipes and all
the water being deep the box large he found
great difficulty in adjusting it, and lost his hold of it
second time; byand by he got it firmly to his breast
which just kept his head above water; he dis
SwssSr ant a making for him who
the steamer stopped sinking; thinking she had ground
cd he made an effort to get back and again lost the
box recovered it, and made further attempt at loco
notion he then cried for help loud as he could the
time from the vessel struck till witness left her was
twelve to fifteen minutes after being in the water in
the position described, he discovered the Rip Van
Wrinkles he was not then excited though he was before
and bis only fear was that he would not be noticed
where ne was; ne was perfectly COOL he the Rip
about half mile distant coming up the river and she
passed on for another half mile the east shore when
sne TO and came down the river she hesiated
some ume when coming up then she moved in be-
tween the schooner and the stern Of the Empires about
ten minutes elapsed from the time he saw her till she
made fast to the boat thus making twenty twenty
five minutes in all from the time he went into the wa
teri she lay there ten minutes more, against the EN-
pire; this made thirty to thirty minutes when
fishing boat coming up to take passengers of the pro
menade deck, hearing him sing out rowed to him and
told him to let go the box when he said No. no two
men then pulled him into the small boat; DAILY, he
since finds was Of them there were two others; he
thinks they were fishermen; there other pas
sengers in the water to be picked up he landed
the Newburg shore, and the fishermen vent back with
out asking who he was, seeking compensation; he
saw nothing more OF the wreck that night; he Is a
stock owner in the Empire, in consepen OF being
stakeholder in the Peoples Line, the propretors OF
which hold one half of the Empire; knows the engine
was not worked after the collision; the wheels
went forward and only about quarter of revolution
Backward confident the boat could be to the New
burg shore and back twice. she could have run there
II the hres were even put out and the water over her
boilers and engines the first British steamer Sirius
that came worked and the water over her main
deck; the Empire might have been steamed to New
burg De1ore she could be six inches the water
If the pilot had only the presence of to give the
order to go on saw no officers; he only knew Captain
Tupper but If there had been officers there he would
have known them by the authority they would
II there were any in the boat they might as well not
have been in it, far he saw and as the pas.
sengers who were with him concerned there
very few lights on the main deck the bell was never
rung to go on; careful prudent pilot would have run
the boat on shore to save her and the freight If
there were no passengers witness considers the srik-
ing was nothing; it was the neglect of the means Of
safety at hand that so culpable would change
his mind If he saw in the vessel when she was raised
hole the size of the table, for he could calculate the
size Of the breach from the time she to FILL did not
know what the schooner loaded with If he had he
would have gone aboard Of her did know whether
she sloop OF schooner; the he did not at
tempt to get into her that he knew from expert
ence, whenever collision took place between steamer
and sailing vessel, the latter off it was
from 20 to rs minutes from the time the collision took
place till the Rip Van Wrinkle passed the Empire up
the river the alarm bell was ruDg before the Rip Van
Wrinkle came up she too far away hear it.; the
accident happened between 10 and 101k O'Clock; the
boat got down to the main deck In from IL to Is
minutes he did not give the ladies any advice; they
did not ask him for it; they were all running to
and fro; Mr.. Smith was once pilot for witness; has
grudge against him did not know he was