The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-08-17

GFThe following is the conclusion Of the
Coroner's Jury in the case of tho ill-fated Hen
ry Cl"y n- ,irT
r.-t,- VERDICT.
That on the 2Sth July. A. d. 1852, while the
persons described as having been found dead
by tho Coroner and Jury Of Yonkers, were
passengers on board of tho Henry Clay, she
took fire and run upon the shore and there con-
sumed That John X. Simmons, one Of tho
passengers, was bnrued to death, and that all
the other persons, either by reason of the shock
occasioned by the collision of the boat on the
land, wore thrown overheard, or that, in order
TO save themselves from being burned, they
cast themselves overheard. then and there suf-
located and drowned in the Hudson river, of
which suffocation and drowning they died: that
on this day, about o'clock A. NJ, the Henry
Clay left Albany, TO convey passengers on the
Hudson river, that John F. Tallman was Cap
tain, and one of the owners; that Thomas Col
Her was also one of the owners, James L. Jes-
sup was Clark, Ed. Hubbard the lst pilot, James
Elmendorf was the I'd pilot; John Germaine
was the engineer, Charles Merritt, assistant en-
gincef and that certain young man, whose
name IL unknown to the Jury, but who was
employed to attend BAT on said steamer; and
that they were all OH board, and each of them
part Of tho chdfge Of said steamer: afid that
after leaving Albany on that day. and while the
steamer was navigating the Hudson river in
this State, and while engaged in the convey
ance of passengers, the parties named, for the
purpose of excelling in speed steaii1er called
the Armenia, or for the purpose Of increasing
the speed of the Henry Clay, did create, or al
low to be created, an undue or unsafe quantity
of steam, and in so doing did mako, or allow
to be be made, excessive fires, and did not use
ordinary prudence in .he management Of said
ffos. And although often demonstrated with
by different passenger. they did for long time
continue the excessive fires, ond in consequence
thereof, and through their culpabie negligence
and criminal reckiessncss, the Henry Clay did,
at obont l5 minutes after o'clock, take fire,
and all of the deaths ensued as aforesaid. and
so tho Jurors say, that the deaths of all the
said persons, and each of them was the result
Of an act perpetrated by the said John F. Tall
man. Collier, James L. Jessup. James Elmenl
dorf. Edward Hubbard, John Germaine. Char
los Merritt, and the said bar-kecper, which act
was imincntly dangerous to others. and evinc-
cd depraved mind, regardless of human life,
although it was perpetrnted without any pre-
meditated design to effect the death of any
particular individual
The following preamble and resolution was
offered and signed by the Jury, at which time
they. adjourned sine die.
Whereas, The Jury have now concluded their
anxious duues 10 the investigation respecting
the late fatal calamity to the steamboat Henry
Clay, we desire to express our thanks to the
President and Directors, Superintendent Con-
ductors, and Attaches of the Hudson River
Railroad, therefore,
Resoiued, That vote Of thanks be tender-
cd to the company and officers, for their kind
and humane acts in aiding the bereaved rela-
tives and friends Of tho unfortunate victims of
the disaster in searching for the bodies. Their
Offices, depots, and trains have oil been at the
service Of the public, free of charge, for which
they are entitled TO the thanks Of the entire
community. (Signed) By THE jury.
The Jury made the following statement of
the bodies found: afr.tpof
Bodies recognized by names, 81
Unrecoenized bodies at Yonkers z
Bodies found in the waters Of New York, o
The bodies found on the Jersey shore, 3
Total of dead bodies recovered. 5a ~ 20
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