The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-08-07


asscncers we have seen inform us, ill she
ad run ahead OF her .om6 three or four miles.
Ter hall had become very murh heated by
he sun. As well rs from her own furnaces.
i'll she wa, As dry ~ chip. In this condl-
ion. and ehen near Yonkers, a black smoke
vas seen to i..ue from the centre of the boat,
rear the pipes; soon after, one of the attach
IS of the steamer appeared, and requested tho
,Clie. TO keep cocl that there was no dan
ger Immerliatel, IL WAS noticed that tho
head of the boat WAS turned near shore. from
which breeze was blowing. Then the
flames began 10 swell ~, and the cry s'''
Fire" spread CONSERVATION among the pa
>cngers. Almost immediately after this, the
FIRE broke ont in the centre, and the breeze
blew off shore those in ih, stern had either
to leap into the wafer or perish in the flames
One of the passengers who rrarhrd the shore
as he turned he saw the flames envclopc
lad standing on the rer"e of the upper d.
seemingly uncertain whether to perish by
fire or water. The flames and thick smoke
seemed TO wrap around him ike winding
sheet, till he disappeared. \ few minutes
after the boat struck the bank, when assist
ance from all in reach was required, a boa.
was rowed from sloop in the river, br two
fiends in the shape of men, who had no soon
er reached tho wreck than. instead of saving
fellow beings. they commenced plunderin.
and stealing the raluab!cs Of the passengers
/ The gardener and rnachnan of Mr.. Russell
Smith happened 10 be near the shore. Wit
messed the outrage. and managed 10 get on
board the boat On gaining her they threw
taking possession of her.>uccewled in rescuing
a considerable number of thr distressed pas
scngers.
Stoddard b. Colby, of Montpelier, Vi. was
on board the steamer, with his wife Both
leapcd into the river; the lady was drowned.
! the husband was saved. 4 resident of Iaur-
el Hill. y. j.. named l.. l.. Haskell, vas also
on board with his lady; She WAS drowned
John l.. Thompson, of Ian a-ter, Pa, lost his
wife and two children; himself, one child
and nurse was saved. Mr /. was Just return
ing with his family from a northern tour A
resident of Chicago, named Adam Murra,
with wife and one child, all three jumped
overheard; the husband was rescued alive,
but nearly exhausted, the child and mother
were drowned Mr. S. B. Bancroft, OF Phila-
dclphia, was on deck in company witb.his Ia
dy. who had his arm, when they both jumped
overheard, and his wife drowned The body
of an unknown male child, finely dressed
! wa. taken out of the water, dead, and brought
TO New York
A little girl, two years old, wa. taken from
the water, drad-her body had not been rec
' ognized. She was dressed in light pink her
short sleeves were looped up with coral beads,
with gold clasp. on which were the initials
j. b. NJ. Another was boy about year
and half old, wearing 4 green coat. and
black beads around his neck
All along the river for a mile or two might
be seen hats, shawls, fragments OF dresses
bundles, &c. and now and then human
l. body washed ashore.
=, The " \. Express says:-"There il nc
g doubt in our mind. from the information We
L., Il. Il,
~ Clay and Armenia. were on a race almos
a from the moment of leaving Albany, and tina
j. it was in consequence OF this contest of speed
te between them that the terrible catastroph,
al took place. So obvious were the facts tina
~ q. they were racing, desperately racing, tha
he several gentlemen Of high character and re
nd >pec'ahili,y, and on the responsibility of som
re of whom we make thi. statement, went re
- pcatedly to those who had charge Of the Her
nj ~ Clay, and earnestly demonstrated again.
re the continuance of the race, but in VAIN
nd They were told there was no danger"
Mr. Polhcmus, pilot Of the Armenia, state
About three o'clock in the afternoon O,
boat was some four miles astcrn of the Hcng
r. CLAY, when saw a smoke ascending, appa
, emily from the head of the boiler. 1t SOC
y, increased, and shortly dense SMOKE aros
49,, | then felt satisfied that the boat was on fir
ind and made down for her as quickly as pos>ibl
.. We were not racing with the Henry Cla
,,s- observed that the pilot Of the bun ..ing bo
had placed her head in shore; and before '
on arrived the Henry Clay was run ashore.
Pal The sig ght approached the boat, viii
ore. was then burning in furious manner, "
who dreadful to behold. The after part Of I
Y a. boat WAS covered with human beings. ant
yino great number were immersed in the Wal
was clin.ing to the guards Of the boat, III frig
,nk- tul despair, expecting every Isomeat to
with driven off bv the flames into the water.
fire stopped our boat, lowered a small boat, a
and sent her off to the relief OF the sufferers.
for number were taken from the wreck in {
we're way Peter Bishop. deck hand of the
run menia, acted very courageously. On see
nped man struggling in the water, who had 81
were twice, Bishop sprang from the small b
live. SWAN TO the relief of the drowning man, WI
inch he seized bv the neck, and conveyed hin
,tire- the shore His life was thus saved"
ound The pilot also related that aid was gi
,ossi- by the captain of the steamboat James NJ