The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-31
The Henry CLAW CatastrOOhc

| For two preceding days We have furnished our
| readers with particulars of the destruction of the
| steamboat Henry Clay on the Hudson river, and
| the melancholy loss of life consequent thereon
together with list of those who pershcd and
those who survived, as far as heard from; but 80
fearful a calamity demands a more precise &C.
| count, and we accordingly annex the following
description of it from the New York Courier and
Enquirer, depicting some of the remarkable scenes
and other particulars of the dreadful event:
The Henry Clay left Albany at seven O'Clock on
Wednesday morning, with about three hundred
passengers The Armenia left at the same time.
1t appears that the two boats commenced n race
| ehortiy alter starting, and continued 1t up to
the time the Henry Clay took fire. The passen-
gers board the unfortunate boat were much
alarmed at the racing, and the ladies shed tears
freely, but the officers of the boat went among
them and endeavored 10 calm their fears by as
curing them that there no danger. II Is
said that in the excitement of the race the boats
purposely missed some OF the landings. No
accident, however, occurred, until the Henry
Clay opposite Forrest Point, short distance
below Yonkers, II then being a few moments be-
fore three O'Clock, when it discovered that the
woodwork of the Henry Clay on fire near the
boilers and flues. The greatest CONSERVATION in
stantly prevailed amongst the passengers. but the
officers of the boat again assured them that il was
but trif1e, would soon be ex.ingushed, and that
no danger need be apprchended The boat, how
ever, was Immediately headed for the Westchester
run aground, the bow driving up some twenty. FIVE
feet high upon land and p!unging with tremen
dous furce upon the embankmcnt Of the railroad,
which ia there some eight feet high. Before
reaching the shore the flames had much in
creased as to prevent communication between the
passengers fore and aft; amidships she was one
mass Of fame.
The shock of running tho boat ashore overthrow
the chimncys, and displaced every thing movable,
and at the same time added not litlet the fury
of the flames While The bow was high and dry,
the stern was in deep water, and lying at right
angles with the shore. Some few of the passengers
were on the bow, aud these soon reached the land
in safety, and proceeded to take immediate steps
for the relief of the r. GLOW passengers. But, I'M
fortunately, the majority OF the travellers were in
the saloons in the after part Of the boat, and
terrified ut the general confusion that they COM
menced TO jump overheard without waiting for
sstancc. Many ladies and children Were in this
manner almost Immediately drowned. The pas
sengers who reached shore first tore down a board
fence, and the boards were thrown into the water
BY means of these, and after great cxertion, n
majority of the passengers were rescued, but with
the loss Of nearly all their baggage aud clothes.
A scene Of the most heartrcnding description
followed. The rapid spread Of the flames forced
the passengers into the water. Mothers ard chill
dren, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters,
were drowned together, while trying to save each
other Little children buffetted the waves in vain
for few moments, and then sunk To rise no more.
There were but few residents in the neghborhood,
and the passengers were therefore obliged 10 de-
pend on their own cxertions for escape.
AS VIC said before, the number Of bodies recovered
before we left, ut 10 last night was % or % But
two three Of these showed any evidence OF burn.
ing, ana but one appeared to have burnt TO death
tine was Mary Cooper. All the Others were evil
IDENTIFY drowned. The boat was entirely DESTROYED
by O'Clock; nothing was left OF O'Clock except
a fragment OF the bow, some ten twelve feet
high, which burned slowly, like a warning beacon
TO light up the shapeiesS wreck of charred timbers
and iron below. All along the river, for mile or
two, either way, might be seen hats shawis, frng.
meuts OF dresses bundles, &C., and now and then
a human body washed ashore. BY reason of the