New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-09
The Burning of the Henry CLAW.

The Burning of the Henry Clay.
John R. Harris passenger has published card. in
which he contends that there nothing like racing be-
tween the two boats except for short time when they
came near having collision He says from the time
they passed Kingston l they reached Toukers where
the hre broke oua distance of 80 60 meseaCh boat
was managed without reference to the other Samuel NJ
Beck, another passenger however, asserts:
While we were at the landing at Newberg, person
cae9 eut ITO some one the Cay) to beat the Armenia
hto network as he had bet all his money her and that
q eoud see nm ne ner daD and make all right From
the manner In which this said thought the engi-
neer must oe Inc man addressed After leaving Newberg
the Armenia followed in our wake the distance between
US engthening until the time Of the fire. when she must
have been five miles Distant
Messrs Radford. Collyer 4 Ta,lrrar orpers ,f III.
Henry Clay have published card asking suspension of
public opinion for a few days and adds:
During this time promise to satisfy all reasonable
men that there was no racing between the Henry CLAW
and the Armenia at the time of the late accident nor on
that day and will prove agreement entered into he
tween the of the two boats previous to starting
that trial Of their speed should be made while running
together and furthermore they urge they will prove
the public beyond all doubt that the Clay running at
her regular speed and faster and neither at the time
of the accident, at any previous time during the
dld she carry as much steam as was allowed by her
certificate has carried previously with perfect saet
ana that every thing done by both officers and
that men could do to the lives of the passengers
The Mirror in publishing the card adds:
It will be difficult for the propretors and officers of
the Henry Clay to induce suspension of public opinion.
That opinion we believe, is rrevocably formed and has
been and will long be Indignantly expressed Essential
testimony in the case has been taken Each days nves
Saon only adds 10 It's damnatory character against the
conductors Of the Henry Clay
The Commercial Advertiser says:
Under the statute it clearly appears to be the duty
the United States District Attorney lay an Indictment
against the officers of the Henry Clay before the grand
jury and if the gentlemen who attended the indignation
meeting go before the grand inquest and make oath to
1nelr statements true bill will undoubtedly be found
There is another method by which degree of redress
may be obtained If it is shown that the disaster was
caused by the wrongful act neglect of the officers or
owners of the steamer the personal representatives
each of the deceased maintain an action and
damages against the offenders such amount as the Jury
may award not exceeding five thousand dollars This
proceeding was authorized by act of the Legislature
passed in ls41 and that made more stringent by
an amendment adopted in 1915, providing that
livery agent engineer, conductor or other person in
the employ of such company persons through whose
wrongful act neglect default the death of a person
shall have been caused aforesaid shall be liable to be
indicted therefor and upon conviction thereof NAV be
sentenced to State prison for tern, not exceeding fire enrs
or in county Jail not exceeding year to pay fine
not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars both such
line and Imprisonment
The New York Evening Post of the 3Oth saws.
Gone of the remen in the furnace roonseas complete
~ cut OF from all retreat from the burning by the
crowd which blocked up the passages and compelled
TO force ms way out by breaking through the hatchway
near the boilers after the had reached that part
OF the vessel His clothes took fire in several places
Whlle euectlng his escape While trying to leave the
vessel among crowd of distracted women and children
some eaping mady into the water and some CRYING for
help he seized the first who came in his way Young
lady OF this city and bore her safely to the shore and
after this noble act he continued to render further ass
lance to those still exposed danger One-half of the
GOODNESS and presence of mind shown by this poor fire.
man had it been possessed by the officers and managers
ished -
Mr., John L. Thompson of Lancaster Penn who lost a
wife and two children after making his own escape from
the fire, remained in the seeking his wife and chill
dren having discovered his wife struggling short dis
lance from him. he struck out after her and encouraged
ner to effect her escape by clingng around him But in
her CONSERVATION she fastened her around his neck
and drew him under water. Mr. Thompson. though in
this critical situation continued heroicaly struggling
save his wife but lost her while making efforts to reach
footing upon the beach, and himself drawn out OK
haustedn
Mrs. Sands whose husband is among the lost. states
That on the first alarm of fire Mr. s. started forward with
their youngest chid-whose body has since been found
to ascertain the extent of the danger which the
that was seen OF him or the child alive She remained
the saloon with her daughter-a little girl about nine
years OF age-and young lady who in company with
the until nearly suocated by the fumes of burning
wood tar etc, when the three by climbing the rail
let themselves fall into the after which they were
SO fortunate as to get hold of the braces the guard
OF the boat abatt the wheel While cngng the braces
two men laid hold of Mrs Sands dress and mpored her
to hold fast as they. being unable to swim could
reach the boat After remaining in this situation some
time the young lady first rescued leaving the little
girl at some distance from her mother With presence of
mind rarely met with in young she continued to
cling 10 the orace amid the falling OF burning embers,
until rescued by some men in small boat Mrs Sands.
becoming exhausted, relaxed her hold upon the brace
and sunk On rising to the surface the men who had
been elnging to her not to be seen and she sup
posed that both We're drowned She grasped the brace
second time but shortly forced by the intense heat
and exhaustion to renquish her hold and sunk-from
which time she has but indisnct recollection of strug
Cling to reach object until she was drawn ashore
cnging to the plank the end of which she had come in
contact With just beneath the surface of the water Mrs
s being in delicate health each dashing completely
over her head, and to drowning rlinging to her
dress this may be considered of the remarkable
escapes of which We have yet heard.