Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-31

shfeks Ior hep seemed 10 De reuouDed Ii !nstlnc
lively seen that the steamer would strike the shore
bow on, there being communication from aft to for
ward the approach the rivers bank gave but lit
tie hope TO the helpless women and children who
astern. And there they stoodthe young and the old
battling, inch by inch, with the fame suffering thou
sand deaths in the terrible struggle for life until the
sci struck leaving those who aft two hundred
and fifty three hundred feet from the shore At this
time it estimated there nearly three hundred per-
sons hudded together the after-guards hesating in
agony or terror whether death by the flame the
hood-these dread alternatives apparently being the
ly bitter choice.
The place where the struck is on the river
bank, two and half miles below Yonkers. No boats
were to be had there of any description The Armenia
bore rapidly down and sent out her boats also did
number of sailing vessels which near but at least
quarter Of hour elapsed after the Clay struck before
any assistance In the time the panic
unfortunates had nearly all been forced over the stern
into the water where many of them sustained themselves
by swimming by the aid of few floating boards I'M
til they were rescued from their perous condition.
Others chung to the guards of the vessel with the energy
of desperation The rudder and steering gear furnished
temporary safety to others number succeeded in get
Ang hold of the braces the under side Of the guards
Several ladies' threw the end Of stern line overheard
selves by it until aid reached hem fortunately before the
them But many others jumped franticay into the wa
ter and sank to rise no gentleman who for
ward and who got shore after the vessel struck
says that not one of number Of ladies' (some with chill
dren in their arms) whom he jump from the lar
board side were saved. He expresses the conviction
that some my or sirty hpes al least lost we wish
we could add that but little reliance could be placed
on his statements; but of all those with whom we con-
yersed he seemed the cames and most likely to be we'll
informed
We have heard of but person who is supposed to
have been burnt to death child we are told was
seen to fall beneath the flames in the after saloon
Mr. WAY, of Wellsvle, Ohio, among the passengers
When the Clay first struck he swan ashore procured
raft of several loose boards and returned save his wife
The drowning creatures about him. their struggles for
safety broke up his raft and compelled him abandon
it. The loose boards sustained quite number Of the
sufferers above water until help came. Mr. Way got un-
der the steamers guard again. and sustained his wife and
tA other ladies until the small boats came up.
No accurate statement Of the number who persisted
can now be given. No list of passengers was taken by
the clerk and of many of those who lost their
lives cannot be known until their bodies are recovered
There were quite number of passengers board from
the West There were many gentlemen who return
ing with their families from Saratoga and other watering
places some of whom known to be missing although
those who report the fact unable give any clue to
their or homes.
resident of Chicago, named Adam Murray, was on
board, with his wife and child All three of them
jumped into the water together. The husband was
rescued alive, but nearly exhausted The wife and child
were drowned
highly respectable resident of Montpelier, (vt) by
the of Soddard b. Colby was on board the steamer
with his wife, Both eaped into the river and the unfor
tunate lady drowned. Her husband was saved
Mr. s. b. Bancroft, Of Philadelphia, was on the after
deck of the steamer in company with his lady who had
hold of his arm, when they both jumped overheard Mr.
Bancroft was saved, and his wife was drowned
resident of Laurel Hill, a. j. named L. s. Haskell
also board with his lady She was drowned while
he rescued from watery grave
found dead in the stern Of the boat who is
supposed to be John Hennikan, Of North Carolina
John l. Thompson, Esq, Of Lancaster Penn lost his
wife and two children. Himself, child and nurse
we're saved.
But one opinion zf4v--- - f----~;i n Nour yorl
to the which led the catastrophe and that
is that it resulted from reckless racing, in spite of
the petitions and entreaties of the terrorstrcken
passengers on board.
The New York Evening Mirror says
" IL the facts that present themselves shall be sus-
tanned do not hesitate in branding the calamity rec
less wholesale murder in which all who had to do with
the racing implicated We understand that scarcely
a day passes without steamboat race on the Hudson
IL is time that not only public opinion but grand jurie
should take the matter in hand Hundreds of human
lives must not be pered with impunity crafty the
pride and passion Of rival steamboat owners officers and
betting agents and gamblers along shore. Let this ca
lamity be made thorough example Of whatever per-
sonal consideration"
The Evening Post of the same city says:
1T is impossible read any Of the narratives of this
accident to hear Of il from any one who
board without coming the conclusion that those
by whom the steamer navgated guilty Of
thing than ordinary careessness 1t is impossible
to acqut them Of heinousy criminal indifference the
safety Of the passengers 1t appears that they deaf
all remonsrance, and nattentive to dangers which
the passengers could not shut their eyes IF their
intention had been expressly to sport with the safety Of
their passengers and hurry them into fghu pers they
could hardly have taken efectual method. There
is ground for exoneratng the proprietors They
responsible in scarcely less degree TO the community for
this dreadful destruction Of life They committed the
Of the Henry Clay to the hands Of who to
have been destitute both Of Judgment and humanity For
shs there Is extenuaton Nobody should
be employed not in subordinate capacity, in the
navigation Of vessel freighted IL is with the
dearest interest Of society the lives Of human beings who
is fully ascerained beforehand to be expert prudent
and careful Of tho lives Of others IL rash headstrong
men, persons who constantly anxious that harm
shall come to those whose lives committed to their
with the fears Of their passengers are employed the pro-
clear Of the guilt Of homicide"
The Commercial Advertiser says: