Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-08-14
TERRIBLE OATASTROPHEl
burning Of tho Steamboat Henry C1av5 !
,f.t Great Lon Of Ltfof

TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE!
Burning Of tho Steamboat Hsnry Clayl
u g Great Loss Of Life!
Tho Henry Clay Irad been totally de-
stroyed BY fire, at place n short distance
below Yonkers, and a great number OF
persons had los. their lives by fire OF by
j drowning. f
j The particulars and incidents OF ti,is
terrible catastrophe are briefly detailed be-
low. a* @ q =
The IN. ~ Tribune says.
| The Henry Clay left Albany Mt = o'ciock
yesterday morning, having ON board, 90
near ns could be ascertained, sonie three
hundred passengers. The Armenia left
the same place a few minutes afterward.
On the passage down tho river there was.
ms witnesses testify, n continuous strifesor
race between the two hoats., At one timc
the Clsv crowded the Armenia almost
upon tile western shore. atld forced herto
drop nsiern, etc. Tie passengers on board
the II G. finally became greatly alarmed
on account Of the racing, aud some titne
before the ire number Of ladies' wera
crying and running nbout ille cabin, MS IL
sensible that some catastrophe was inn
pending. Some Of the officers OF the boat
went among them. assured them TINT
there was no danger, andtsied to pacify
them. =
We are assured that the iace had been
50 liotly contested that the boats had pur-
posely missed some Of their landings.
The runners OF the boats ut the vnrious
landings appear TO have been aware of tho
racing. siiice they were freely Offering bess
upon their favorites.
However, no accident or outrage occur
red until . few minutes after the Henry
Clay passed Yonkers, when il was dis
covered flat the woodwork near the boil
ers and flues was on fire. The alarm
spread, but the officers of the boat Judi
cionsly, without Doubt told the passengers
that there was no danger.
The pilot, however, saw that no time
was to be lost, and headed the boat for the
eastern shore. The river here is nearly
two miles wide. and the boat in her reutl-
lnr course would have i,een mile and q
half from the east bank.
Before reaching the shore, the flames
had spread so ms siriost 10 prevent COM
filunication between the fore and aft pnrts
Of the boat. a Avs b .8ses
At about three or qnurter.past three
O'clock, the boat came ashore, lying &C
right angles with the river. and the bow
driving up some twenty-five feet on dry
land, and pnnging with Tremendous force
into the rnilroad embankment, which is
there some six or eight feet hieh.
The shsck overthrew the smokeplpe.
displaced every thing movable, and added
not little 10 the spending OF the flames
While the bow was high and dry, tie
greater portion of the boat, and unfortt,-
nately that which held nearly oil the pas
sen9ers, wss In deep water
The passengers Immediately began ID
jumpaoverboard Those OIL the how got
Oft safsly, and begnti 10 help the otl,ers..
A board fence, pear by, was instantly
stripped, md tie boards thrown into tIse
water. BY great exertion. inrgc rnnjori-
ty Of the passengers got ashore, some
scorched. nearly all with loss Of clothes,
Trunks, etc.
But the rapid spread of the frey wbici,
forced the passengers at the scern over
board, was the cause Of the loss Oh 81 large
number Of lives.
The scene was one OF the most terrible
character. Mothers with their clothes i'm
flames: trying to save some dear childs
children struggling in the waves without
4 hand to help them; husbands and wives
drowning together rather titan separate,
and the remorseless fire rapidly destroying
The last standing-place OF the helpless viz
Inns; a
There were very few houses In flse
and very slistle help could
De had fromtl,e shsre Bat all whoknew
of II hasiened to lend their aid.
When the o'clock train passed (as
about iaft-past 4, P. NJ the boat was near
y all consumed; tie rescued passengers
mad dispersed, except those who took the
rainy and the worstswas over.
About seventy bodies have been recoy-
'red. and graphing was still gong on.
The boat was entirely destroyed before
o'clock; nothing was left at s. O'Clock,
except fragment Of the bow, some tenor
welve feet high, which burned slowly,
ike . warning beacon to Light mp the
'hapeless wreck OF clarred tinsfers asstl
ron below.
AZ 4e43