The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-06
Total Destrurtion or the Packet ship Henry
Clny-Her History,


About three o'clock, yesterday morning. an event co.
CURED in ourocks which has rarely happened In this
port but which II II hoped may lead to important
change in harbor regulations that will prevent the
OF the disaster perhaps far greater
ones What has happened once may happen again
under the circumstances. and has been
made olt to prove the necessity Of altering the circu
to guard against similar loss Of property
to ssy nothing Of the danger to human life
The magnificent packet shi Henry Clay Of Grin
nell, Minturn 4 Co.'S New York and Liverpool Line
destroyed by fire, yesterday morning in the East
River, Pier No. 10 at the foot of Maiden Lane. The
FIRE FIRST perceived by the carpenter John Howard
the only person who slept board, having been
awakened by the smoke and probably the heat. He
had to make his escape for his life through the flames
without any other covering save his shirt He was
very much scroched in the face and in other parts OF
his body At this time the fire appeared to rage most
smdhps the part OF the vessel where probably it orr
gipated, though, from the smoke and flames issuing
from every quarter II was difficult to determine the
exact spot where the ignition began 1t must however,
have been the second deck for the greatest sheet OF
flame slot from the main bstchwsy. From the in
Hammabe nature Of the chief portion OF the cargo
board cotton and -four, the flames msjesti-
ca!y and bid defiance to human art to quench them.
The sight was awfully grand host OF fire engines
the spot and went to work with all promp-
ttude and dcspatch but intense the heat, that
their efforts rendered comparatively powerless
She scuttlea both sides but the water somehow
other went into her slowly and did not appear
to have any effect the flames, though, OF course, Is
must have arrested them below The fire still ragged
aft and the vessels In the vicinity in
siderable danger A schooner had narrow escape,
with the less Of rigging and sails The Patrick Henry
belonging to the and lying at the other
side Of the Slip where she taking In her cargo had
Just moved In time to herself when the mass,
burned below and the rigging having been cut away,
fell, after another with terrible crash the
starboard side the pier and the ship Peter ha
trick for which great fears we're entertained BY
moving away, however she was saved, and the sSsrs
and masts fell into the water They were broken In
the fall. The Fails consumed. The result
Of the fall of the mssts aud rigging alsyed the ap
prshenson of danger to the shipping around though
1t only rendered the destruction OF the Henry clay
more certain for she mm edaey saresned to the star
beard side which the mssts fell about O'Clock,
and the other eide being consequently raised was more
exposed TO the flames, and the water could not got
into the scute hsles To this however
the fremen Rad better opportunity Of bringing
the engines to play upon the burning mass. Amidst
danger the encouragement Of little or no success
attending their efforts, they still worked nobly on
The foreman Of truck company No was somewhat in .
foreman Of engine company No s. and assistant fore
man. were considerably burnt about the face, having
been ~ntspgled in the rigging.
Among the companies Ia attendance, were hrs COM
paues numbers s, 49, IL, ~, Il So. and hose COM
panss l. 2, 5, g. 10, ID. ls 20, rs, ISL the Chief
Engineer was also present In the early part Of the
fire flask Of gunpowder blew up, which suppose,
from the conclusion, Knocked some OF the hremsn
down, and others became alarmed l.st there ~as more
~ -. ,.ars were groondiess. At O'Clock all the
engines and bose com psnes removed except Hose
Company 9, Engine Company 8, and Hose Company ;,
I which were in charge Of Mr.. wn Breuusn and hr.
! NJ Who remained under the two ournas
d.els ksf suoocs,.a '"1 ein o" ou ,b.m THESE
danger Of the burning d.cks S. --"ter
brave fellows continued ia diFsst t"o streams ~
all the day upon the vessel turning toe hore wherever
the tire broke eat sfresb fer 1t Was coutin breaking
out In fpots where It was considered to ns.s been
wholly extjpsushed. Till twelve O'Clock, she lay
against the yer aud rather de-n by ths stern, the
that the stem being out Of the water
as we'll ss tbs issSosrd side was completely burned
She gradually sosk Ia the water till she grounded for
vard when men we're sent down on raft TO drive Gus
the sindows In Order N admit the ~ster freely she
became filled with water TO the height OF the tide
which, however, only abeat two thirds II her ova
height, and then rgbtsd and sank down by the stero,
siill.ssng little towards the pier She oontinues IN
tins the ~ The day At two O'Clock che
ccmpietelr gut,ed Her tiDbers were burned down
TO the water, her t-o decks aud cabin add Gil that
they contained Even the psoks ~ her starbnasd side
I
tLsn ON ,he la tasx .r worthless The
san. n mari aea,es 10 ne portion ~ ,b. main dec
iols and ar that slin socd lie ali ali the csD,r.
COW en-. rs To- ia sv.n hon ,ood for nothiss
had the Ara be-. pstsy exnguisnol. but AZ coa-
I tBusd to shoulder vi dnrh,
In the afternoon, Mr. Perry and hi. wrscksrs we're
set 10 york ~ remove the rigging. Which WAS noe
much IN ursd aud the mAsts aud spsrs which
A. h..
snnsiuf.os onmsssui Psr,y ~ nfs 81" p'iNV "
VIZ isn vs' ~ s''s ", ~ ,s"s s1 ~,
-. ~ 70. 's" Va ,ne nrs notsins esrssn - kno~n
hsh 20" oeen NJ woia I'll IL eioss slowing tue car
e. spo "i ooeIse nSa nshtss ana y "a thst one OF
tn,m va messing No"ouns tne cause ~ me IRE vas
eisasf light hsviog been bt spark having
fallen snobserysd, into tns cotton from ons Of the
candles or from pipe ~ cigar IL vas fortunate tsst
only small portion rom one tosyth - one tnr1 Of
Instead of y..f.lnv porpin. m. destruetion vould
hsvs been great In Iced 4. vas fortunate. ZOO that hs
frs broke out before sbe sset rl,e tha loss Of fe
you'd have been fearful Sewers. tafsn
their pssssQ. In her .bs gill be scot by tho sarsh
espds or k.g. Their tnone, returned Ia thops ,he
had been advertised 20 all on me oth ths day) out
her ay " sailing wa deferred tn SATURDAY In con
- 49,