The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-05-26
Particulars Of the steamboat
Disaster,
on THE HUDSON RIVER.

The Sunday Herald says AT an early hour
this morning, the steamer St, Nicholas, with the
necessary barges in tew, we're despatched for the
Empire, aud the necessary arrangements for rals.
ing 1t Will be at once begun. It tissupposed
by those engaged in the work, that about a week
will suffice to raise her, No farther particulars as
TO the number persons drowned, have yet tran.
spired Thus far the bills Of freight which have
been handed into the office of the company, a.
mount to about $4,000 but there is much more
Of which they can have nv account until the
papers in the office Of the boat are recovered
A leegraphic despatch, dated Nevburg, May
70, P. NJ says'--
The Empire still lies on the fats, having Goat.
ed some distance north with the tide The John
Mason, Of Troy, has just iett with her baggage.
Nothing is known Of matter, in the lower
cabins as yet
Two additional bodies, male and a female,
aged about %, have been found between decks,
near the captains room. They have not been
identified, but are supposed 10 be Scotch nml.
grants
The captains Office has not yet been reached.
1t is impossible 10 tell the loss until the boat is
raised The St. Nicholas arrived here this ai.
ternoon.
Thereare SIX of the drowned on tie Eishkill
side Of the rivera boy named Carson, about eight
years old lone named Duncan, ten Yeas of age;
three females, trom eighteen to thirty; and male
not known, aged about twenty-five. The whole
number Of bodies recovered is nine The corners
jury will be in session after the arrival OF the up
boats
Our boatmen have picked up several floating
trunks, boxes Of goods, &c.
The Albany papers give very Interesting ac.
counts OF the terrific scene, wheu the steamer Was
struck.
Many Of the passengers had retired to their
berths, and the srenc that Immediately ensued
as described by the passengers, was hesrtrendng
and terrible. The water was rushing through
out the cabin to the stern of the boat, and in
an instant almost, the cabin wss comploly f!rd
'ASh am NOHtlli Hull dltSSNu, luhutiN WHY Oh
deck, and some plunged overheard Wives wpre
clinging 10 their husbands, and mothcra cIJspruS
their children in their arms, and running to and
fro in frenzy Of terror.
Boats with lights, from tho shure, swarned TO
the scene Of destruction, and aided in picking up
the passengers, man was seen to Jump from
the Empire on board the Rip Van Wlnkle, with |
two children in his arms He lost his balance, !
and stgggling for his own life, lost the children.
1t was impossible to give anything like an idea
of tbs awful terror, or Of the number Of lives osr.
The Rip Van Winkle remained alongside, her
officers and crew doing all IN their power to save
the lives on board Of the Empirs
Mr.. Burden, Of Troy, va, picked up in the river
floating on box, almost exhausted. A number
ofothers we've saved, who were found floating on
boxes aud bales
A young lady, in making her escape from the
cabin wading through the water up TO her waist,
discovered all infant floating on mattress She .
droppsd her carpet bag, rescued the lit,le in. !
poor Scotchman, who arrived in this country
a day or two since, with his uncle and aunt and
four children, two OF them orphans, took rastage
on the Empire on Thursday night, intending 10 20
Canandaigua, came up in the Rip Van Wrinkle
yesterday morning. His aunt anG the two orphan
children were drowned He was pennilrss The
Scotch Society took care OF him. The two child.
rem belonging 10 the crowned woman we're proyid.
ed for BY Msa Peter Smith. Their father remain.
ed with the wreck, to recover the BODY of his
wife
In the ladies' cabin a female ery va, heard
'oon after the Rip came alongside the TOP co.
Yerng was torn on, but broce this wa, done il
had ceased, Another passenger states tina, !,
woman, while IN frantic state nf mind tbreu
her infant child overheard. oDd was arewar5
AIKEN on board the Rip, where she became "a.
oaal for moment, but realizing the loss Of her
'hiLd, she tainted bur afterwards recovered, and
vas landed lt Newburg in amos, frantic
nate. ''''
More than five or six mas, have been I.,t-a,5
'orhapo 90 80. One lady and coa;ed man no.
onging to tho boat are known to have been
drowned i
Jude Conrad oi the "Daily New has be., :
appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Port Of phl,.
ieIpoa in place Of Co! Fotney. Of the Pennsyly.
,pi,p r..i,r.t