The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-02
The Henry Clay Caiamity-The Steamhoa
Disasters la The United States.

In the case OF the henry Clay sbcaihUodl Ca
tastroIhe, we publish to-day an authentic list Of
the dead whose fate has been ascertainei, reach
ing upwards Of seventy human beings, cut off
suddenly from life by the reckless conduct of
those to whom their safety entrusted. This
list does not of course, embrace travellers
from the South and West not yet missing, and,
it may be, some strangers from Europe on
tour of the United States. Altogether, the hecatomb
cannot fab far short of hundred lives, saorifcedia
a miserable trial of speed for the miserable purpose
OF growing suddenly rich without regard to the
lswfuness of the means, the consequences spring
ing from the use Of such means,
1t seems to us that the coroncr's jury in West
chester county are extremely slow in the discharge
Of their duty. The public and the friends of the
deceased are looking to them for action, while
they appear to be very drowsy. We trust that it
viii turn out that justice is not dead, but only
sleeps, and if she is Slow that sheis sure The Fort
Lee jury were prompt and up to the mark in the
verdict they returned, which rs follows; "That
the said Matilda A Fennel came to her death by
the misconduct and culpabe carelessness of the Of
fcers and conductors Of said steamer, in racing"
Here is an example for Westchester.
For our part, we do not see the necessity of the
investigation occupying month. The facts are in
controvertible-the witnesses unanimous-and
the jury ought to have no difficulty in making up
their mind. They have had sufficient testimony TO
arrive at definite conclusion and it is not necessa
ry to wait to identify all the bodies that found,
or may be found, before pronouncing their opinion
ON the character of the act by which SO many, who
identified, have come by their deaths. The jury
ought to quiet the public mind, and alay the feel
ings of the relatives Of the deceased, by prompt
and firm verdict. After discharging that-the
important part of their duty-tbey can from time to
time, take testimony as to the dent fcation of such
bodies may hereafter be found All eyes are
turned to Yonkera, and the most awful responsible
hty rests upon them in crisis which may be
the turning point for the future safety of pas
sengers, or the downward progress to destruction
Of many thousands more. The ancients repre-
sented Justice as blind of both eyes, to show her
impartality, and lame of one leg, to indicate that
she was deliberate. and, it might be, tardy in her
movements, though she was sure to come up in the
end In modern times Justice might be painted
with one eye blind, and that turned towards the
faces of the wealthy and the powerful, while the
other, keen eagles, is fastened the poor
and the general Of the people Instead of being
lame of one leg, she often appears TO be crippled
in both, if by fit of the govt, and cannot make
any progress at ALL while at other times she is rs
swift and loud tongued a hound in full cry the
scent of bis prey. We trust this description viii
not apply to the coroners jury in Westchester
county. "Let all things be done decently and in
order," but let have the result in some sort of
reasonable time; and when it comes, let it be such
result as twelve honest men need not be asham-
cd Of.
Attempts have been made to show that there was
no racing, and no extra steam carried. People
differ very much to what racing is, and what
AMOUNT Of steam may be regarded as excessive. But,
in tie present case, there appears NOS to be peg
left to hang doubt IL is, perhaps quite true
that the speed was mol greater, nor the amount
Of steam higher, than on previous days, on which
no accident occurred, But that is only the old
adago Of the pitcher that goes often to the well, and
ia unskilful hands, being broken at last. In face,
there has been racing all the summer. But we are
not 50 sure that accidents did not occur before.
On the contrary, have testimony that they did
occur-that the boat had previously taken fire on
more than one occasion; and though the flames were
extinguished without damage, there was in each
instance the danger of the result rs the last
fatal catastrophe. The fact Of al agreement hay
ing been made between the owners Of the two boats
the Henry Clay and the Armenia-not to race, is
10! worth rush, if that agreement has been VIC.
lated on both sides, is demonstrated by the testi
mony Of unimpeachable Witnesses What arc the
evidences ofracing They are as follows:
The constant state Of alarm Of the ladies on
board, fIom tho tine The boats left Albany the
eitcmcnt among the other sex; gentleman, whose |
lady tainted, catching the captain by the arm, and
requesting him not TO race; Other vain remor-
strsnces to the efect-to all ofwhich be replied
that there danger but he did not, or could
not deny that there was no racing; the fact of
Mr. LyerInore ard several others leaving the
boats in consequence Of the danger from racing
the running Of the boats side By side, aud rubbing
each other, ard there being actuelya collision which
stove in the woodwork of the Armenia the fact Of
the Henry Clay heading of the Armenia by cutting
across her bows to the imminent risk Of fatal
collision; the fact Of the boats not making their
regular landings, and the desperate hurry when
they did make one the circumstance Of the Arae-
MIA not making the Hudson landing but taking the
westerly channel, in order to get ahead ruse by
which she gained mile the effort made by the
managers Of the Henry Clay to recover the lost
ground, and to make the Kingston landing first,
which was evident from the shaking Of the boat,
the more rapid action Of the engine, and the vio-
lent humming noise caused by the blowers, and the
heat amidshps being SO great that the passengers
not cross from fore to aft. or Uice Ugsa, could
the upper deck and awnings being covered with
small pieces Of coal, upon which the fire had no time
to make any impression till they were carried up, SO
great was the draught, and great must have been
the fire to produce such draught; the people at
the different stopping places expecting race the
ticket sellers cheering for "Harry of the West" at
Newburg, and selling the tickets at one shilling,
and when the Armenia was behind, those selling her
tickets Offering them for sixpence the remarks
among the hands Of the Henry Clay, that they
would make Kingston Point llst and that the Ar
mcnia had not sufficient Gremen on board TO beat