Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-08-07
Prom the New York Hcfalh July %.
TERRIBLE CALAMITY ON THE NORTH
RIVER.
BURNING OF THE HENRY CLAY.


day afternoon, on the Hudson River. About
three o'clock, the steamer Henry Clay took
fire and in short time was sheet of flame
and burnt TO the walcr's edge. She had
abou, Eve hundred passengers on board
or these it is variously estimated, that from
f}ty TO sirty principally females and children,
persisted in the flames or were droicned in
their efforts TO escape from it, Most of the
baggage was lost.
Such is brief account Of a disaster that
has thrown the city into CONSERVATION, and
carried sadness and desola,ion TO hundreds
OF families. The following are the par,icu-
lars of this dreadful disaster
STATEMENT OF Mr.. PoLHEMus, PILOT OF THE |
ARMENIA.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, our
boat was some four miles asiern Of the Hen.
ry Clay, when | saw a smoke ascending,
apparently from the head Of the boiler |,
coon increased, and shortly dense smoke
arose. then felt satisfied that the boat was
on fire, and made down for her as quick as
possible. We we're not racing with the
Henry Clay. observed lha, the pio, Of
the burning boat had placed her head in
sbore and before we arrived the Henry
Clay was run ashore. The sight, as We ap-
preached the boat which was then burning
in a furious manner, was dreadful 10 behold.
The after par, of the boat was covered with
human beings, and great number were i'm.
mersed in the wafer, cinging 10 the guards
of the boat, in frigh,ful despair, expecting
every moment TO be driven of by the flames
into the wafer. We stopped our boat, low.
cred small boat, and sent her off TO the
relief Of the sufferers. A number was taken
from the boat in that way.
One of our reporters afterwards saw Cap
tain Tallman, of the Henry Clay, and OBJ
tanned The following particulars from him
STATEMENT OF CAPT. rALLMAN OF THE HENRY
CLAY.
1t was about ihres 3 o'clock in the after
noon when the alarm of fire was given. He
was lying down in his state room at the
time, having been quite unwell, and under
tho care Of physician for two days past
As soon as The alarm of fire was made he
jumped out of bed, and found that the boat
was on fire in front of the boiler and find
ing the flames could not be extnguished he
ordered the pilot TO steer the boat ashore,
which was accordingly done, and the pas
sengers on the forward part of the boa,
jumped on the sand bank, while those in
the after part of the boat were compelled
to get ashore the best way they could, by
leaplng into the water. At the time the fire
broke out there must have been near four
hundred passengers on board-the boat was
not racing, and he think the fire was caused
by the hot cinders falling from the furnace
and permitted TO collec, instead of being ra.
ked up.
NAMES OF THE DEAD, AS FAR AS KNOWN.
Mrs Bailey, wife OF Professor Bailey, oi
West Point, and her two children Mr.. Bal
ley was saved. He remarked, when taker
from the water, that they might report him
safe, but that his dear wife and children
were gone.
Miss. Moore, of Tennessee. This young
lady lost her life in The following manner
1t seems she was under charge of Mr.. E
Cooper, of Memphis, Tennessee, who wa
IN the after part Of the boat, and the flames
were rapidly approaching them, when Mr
c. placed on his body life preserver, ant
jumped into the water. Thus secured from
sinking, he called TO Miss Moore 10 com,
from the boat, and he would conduct her Il
the shore, but the poor girl was TOO mucl
alarmed at the water, and she could no, b,
induced TO leave the boat, and in conse
quenee she was soon after enveloped il
iiames and smoke, and disappaeared
MIssING-sUPPosED TO DE LOST.
Stephen Allen, of this city, IS years 0
age, one Of the ex-Mayors Of this city.
The crews Of several sloops, in the vicini
iy of the Henry Clay, came on shore AM
Tiaed the trunks that were saved, and evel
robbed the bodies of all the valuables tha
were about them.
We learn that the fire was caused by th
excessive heat Of the boilers, causing tn
canvass covering on them TO ignite, and be
fore the flames could be subducd, sprea
over the boat. The scene at Yonkers wa
most Acknowledgements screeching 70
their children, women for their husband,
ana husbands for their wives Every bod
as soon as brought ashore, was immedia,el
surrounded by the crowds, all seeming any
Ious, II possible, 10 identify them Tn
Coroner gave permission to have the bodie
OF Mrs Hillman, Of Troy, and Mrs Barcro
OF Philadelphia, removed to their respec,v
homes for interment. The inoues, will
continued this morning. Some sixty persor
are still missing, and the boats are engage
in graphing for the bodies.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
From the N, Y. Times
A resident of Chicago, named Adam MI
ray, was on board, with his wife and o.
child. All three of them Jumped into 4
water together. The husband was Iescu
alive, but nearly exhausted The child W
found dead soon after, and brought 10 /
Hudson River Rail Road, where it was
cognized last evening by the father (N
Muuay.l