The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-11
THE HENRY CLAY cATAsrRoHPE,

curry houIs yCS'Si"oys ~ vi '"'~'-~
concourse Of persons, anxious TO recog'
nize the lost, TO reclaim the bodies which
were recovered, or to gaze upon the wreck
which told so eloquently of the folly and
rashness that has shrouded many families
in the deepest grief The few remains Of
the ill-fated vessel are cast up on the
shore, and only timber, here and there,
is left TO tell what was once handsome
structure-a pregnant commentary on the
fatal results Of foolhardiness and reckless
daring. i 5
Before 10 o'clock in the morning. the
grappling-irons had recovered several bod
les, which were decently composed and
laid in order upon the beach for recogni.
ton. 4 They were covered over with green
branches from the woods adjacent, and
carefully shielded from harm. The ar
rangements made in the progress OF the
search were as complete as it was possible
to make them, removed as the locality is
from towns or dwellings. The survivors
had every facility afforded them to view
the remains, and hundreds stood mourn
fully gazing at the the scene. Husbands.
wives, parents-broihers, sisters, thronged
in deep grief around the grouped bodies,
and the air was often pierced by the cries
wrung from tortured hearts. The sight
was calculated to move the deepest SYM
pathies of the heart, and there were few
who witnessed it unaffected by the solemn
feeling it inspired.
A large number Of cofins were convey
ed to the spot at an early hour. and as
the bodies were recognized and taken
away by the relations or friends of the un-
fortunate victims, they were laid one by
one into these narrow receptacles OF hu-
man hopes and ambition.
The investigation Of the causes Of the
disaster was resumed before the Coroner's
Jury at an early hour. A lage amount OF
testimony was received, which goes far to
establish the criminality of those connect.
ed with the origin of the deplorable event.
We are assured that while the Henry
Clay was running at the height of her
speed, below Sing Sing, she was carrying
an unusal pressure of steam; and further,
bad not the engineer cut the weights attach.
1 ed to the saiety-valve when he was forced
to flee from the engine room by the in
tense heat, the boilers would have inevita-
bly, exploded before she reached the shore
A passenger also states, that when pass.
ing under the shaft near the wood work
over the boilers, the heat was of such in.
tensity. that he was compelled 10 place q
handkerchief over his face to avoid it.
i James ]. Jessup, the clerk Of the steam.
er, was in the water, and had narrow es.
cape OF his life. Mr.. Jessup states that he
had no record of the names of the passen.
gers; and further, that all the books. doc
uments and moneys in the office were
+ lost.
Capt. J. F. Tallman, Commander of the
Henry Clay. was on board laboring under
severe illness. In his efforts to save
others. after the fire broke out. he was il,
the water long time; when taken out he
was unable TO speak. 1t is feared that he
will not recover.
The principal pilot of the ill-fated steam
er had his wife in the wheel house. where
they remained until the vessel struck, wher
he caught hold of her and jumped upor
the shore.
A planter named Edward Cooper. resid
ing at Memphis, Tenn, was on board ant
being an excellent swimmer, he rescued
several females and then saved himself
An incident worthy Of note occurred a
f the time of the panic. A gallant young
| man named Edwards, who was on the taft
> rail, observing young lady in great dan
ger from the fire, exclaimed, "Will yol
60 with me into the water and run the risl
Of being drowned, or will you be burned
= to death?" The female accepted the no
bic offer. and both were saved.
, A Mr.. Way, Of Wcllsvlle, Ohio. wa:
, among the passengers When the Henry
Clay first struck he swan ashore, procur
D ed raft of several loose boards. and re-
, turned to save his wife. The drowning
creatures about him, in their struggles fol
$ safety, broke up his raft and compelled
, him to abandon it. The loose boards sus
tanned his wife and two other ladies unit
3 the small boats came up. nFa 3.
among those who narrowly escaped
f were Mr.. A. II. Cough. and his sister Anr
t E. Cough. of New York; they were in the
Q stern till after the boat struck. and ther
8 succeeded in walking along the narrow
| edge of the guards outside the bulwarks
r till the flames forced them to Jump into
, eight or ten feet of water, whence they sue
3 ceeded in reaching the shore in safety
Mr.. G. thinks nearlysall OF them aft coul(
have been landed safely in this manner
. Mr.. Cough is of the opinion that but few
ifany were burned in the cabins, as h'
3 was the last one that left the after gent,
f cabin. ags esG ~
Hundreds Of persons arrived yesterday
Y morning at the scene of the disaster. il
anxious search for friends and relatives.
f| The scene Of excitement whenever an
| other body is recovered. is heart-rending
. all the bereaved friends rushing to thu
r spot to know If it is his or her particula