The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-29

STEAMSHIP WHARF, FOOT OF CANAL STREET
One Man Killed, and Five or Six
Seriously Wounded.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
The Detention or the steamship Pacific,
&c. &c. &c


We regret to inform our readers that very painful
accident occurred At noon yesterday on tho starting
the steamship Pacific A as her wheels were
set In motion the guards to the wheel houses In some
way got foul Of the posts Of an unfinished shed
nscted with . building which recently erected
for the purpose Of covering the whole pier, and
carried them away, causing the fall Of . great
portion Of the roof large number Of persons were
underneath the roof at the time, consisting OF the
friends Of the passengers who about leaving In
that steamship and hundreds Of others who pre-
sent for the purpose Of witnessing the sailing Of the
vessel As possible the hesdway of the ste an
ship was stopped when the collision noticed, but
not in tino to avert the catastrophe.
Since writing the above, We have learned that
the way in which the accident occurred was ~
follows :-Punctuany at noon the ship was started
stern foremost, she having laid bow in. The tide
was running up at the time, and Q strong wind
was blowing from the westward. The wind and
the tide combined, brought her stern Is slsss ~
possible to the dock and the guards Of the wheel
house got in contact with the posts of the shed
As above stated The crash not very sudden, but
rather gradual thus allowing people few seconds to
get out Of the way When they saw that the shed
must inevitably fall many persons, with great pre-
sencs Of mind, rushed on board canal boat
which was lying at the end Of the pier. As Is but
enc naA killsd-Mr John Wilson, an elderly
gentleman, about forty-hvs years of age. The IN
fortunate man was crushed to death BY ono Of
the heavysross beans-a stick OF timber eighteen
inches In thickness.
It is wonder that there not more damage;
for under the part Of the shed which fell, there
were at least four hundred persons, many having
run to that end Of the dock the Pacific
put in motion. Several persons thrown overheard
Nv tka .l ~ q. k.lsa - -
A gentleman present, when he those persons
garments and jumped into the river for the
purpose Of saving them and sorry for the sake
Of humanity to be obliged to say that, while he was
engaged In this work OF charity at the peril of his
own life, his watch was stolen by some hssrtless
seoundrel present He succeeded in rsseuing Colonel
Walker, OF Milwaukee, now stopping at the Aston
House, and who, bat for this noble fellows exsrtons
would, perhaps, have been drowned. We taks plea
in publishing the OF this gallant fellow. 1t
isW. G. Connsn and he resides at No. 2l3 avenue D.
In addition 10 losing his watch, ~hich worth $50
he lost his coat and his pantaoons After saving Col
walker the same brave fellow jumped in twice, and
rescued two others who struggling In the water.
We trust that Mr.. Csnnen, who is . hard working
pilot will be at least Unidentified for the loss Of his
watch and part Of his clothing II any should
heVo IL 10 70 uopso ne Will restore IL
Immediately. IL Is an English lever and marked Ne
2,22l. The remains Of Mr.. Wilson taken to the
Pnth ward station house, whore an inquest was held
over them yesterday evening.
As room Is the accident occurred, the ship was de-
tanned for the purpose Of ascsrtaining any Of the
friends Of the passengers beard injured and
also for repairing any damage that she might have
sustained As soon due attention had been paid to
the wounded, and the body Of Mr.. Wilson removed
an invssig was hold, ana II found that
of her buckets were somewhat injured. 1t was
deemed advisable TO repair them, and to
dstan the Pacific for that purpose till six o'clock this
morning, at which ho~s abe will sail for Liverpool
We have not learned that blame can be attached 70
dispsnsstions which NO human foresight could avert.
Nothing Of the kind 10 lkelyto again occur, nor in
all probability, would the accident OF yesterday have
taken place II the shed had been finished which would
have been done long since but that the builders
waiting for the dock to settle The work will be
menssd forthwith, and every arrangement made 10
prevent the possibility Of any other aecidsntss fsr
a. human means can prevent It.
Mr.. John Wilson, Of Watt street who killed, was
about forty Eve years OF age; Of abilities
and Of very fine feelings. He Was brother OF Mr. VIII
SON the Deputy Clerk Of the Board Of Aldermen, and
lad left the home Of aged mother but few hours
and the skull alse broken in BY the falling tim
bsrs. He was standing at the extreme end Of the
previous The body presented mutilatsd spectacle,
wharf ct the time of the accident On being sxtreatd
he was conveyed to the Leonard street station houss
During the remainder Of the day, the Gags Of the
Pacific we're at half mast, account OF the death Of
Mr. wIlson.
In the course Of the afternoon Coroner Gser held
inquest on the body ofMr Wilson. The following YER.
diet vas found =" That the deceased came to his
death BY injuries received by the falling Of the pier
shed foot Of Canal street. caused by the wheshouse
Of the steamship Pacific coming In contact with the
said shsd 1t is alleged that the and sircum
stances att nding the loss Of life will be further in
vsstissted.
Elk Collins, ESQ., agent OF the steamship, psrtieu a
larly informed the Coroner that all funeral expenses
medical bills for the relief OF the injured parties and
all other necessary expenditures would b paid by
the company.
The names Of the injured, - far We have been
able to ascertain, are - follows -
John Mccormick. aged thirty. eight years born In
Iresndisft thigh broken, and 'Oms Internal injury.
No hopes Of his recovery. Sent to City Hospital
Patrick McIntse aged thirty.nvs year, born In Ire.
land store keeper ct oollabsrg, the North river
ribs broken, and otherwise internally injured Doubt
full Of his recovery. Sent to CITY Hospital.
VIM. J. Donald, injured the face aud knee. rhis
man vas Knocked down BY tn. side Of MI Wilson aud
the beam Of wood which crushed Wilson fell serves
Donald leaving Just rpsee enough TO allow him 70
tricste himself from his p~rilous position.
Mr. John Gardiner merchant, Of this city, badly
injured internally and conveyed to the residence
Of DR. Pratt, his physicisn, In Liberty street
Capt woolsey of Jersey City, srely injured
and was conveyed TO his residence.
Mr.. Stewart Brown was slightly wounded.
Bspjsmin Laird, residing at Isl Franklin street vas
severely injured By falling from the pier into the bold
Of . coal barge lying at the end Of the wharf HIS
arms aud head were badly cut, aid his frissds re-
Moved him to his residence, where be attended By
several medical gentlemen.
vomsn named Clark vas ,sved from being
crushed By her son, who, by main force, hurried her
rom the end Of the pier While the shed comm
down.
Mr.. Cheek, one Of the swri-yts' Of Hsssrs. A. z.
Stewart Co. had bis face terribly bruised and hor-
Rama M HIS friends oon vsvsA MIN