Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-08-06
The Henry Clay.

The Henry Clay.
1t would seem that The loss of life by the burning
of the Henry Clay is much greater than had been
supposed. There is no list of passengers, but the
opinion is that one hundred lives have been lost.
The Henry Clay and the America steamers be-
longing to rival lines left Albany for New York
the morning of 28lh ult and commenced racing from
the jump. Such immense fires had been kept up in
the Clay that the heat in the vicinity of the engine
and boiler so great that it had become al
most impossible to pass from one end of the vessel
to the other
About quarter before three o'clock, p m Just af
ter passing the village of Yonkers the cry of fire
heard from the centre of the vessel. In less than
minute, the whole centre of the vessel envelop-
cd in flames A Western steamboat captain. who
board gives his opinion that there must have
been rosin, such nfamable matter in use
in the boiler for fuel; without that the flames
and smoke could not have spread so rapidly. The
boat headed for shore and struck two miles and
a half below Yonkers. She struck bow on-the pas
sengers were in the afterpart and the flames cut off
all communication from the bows. There were some
three hundred people huddled the afterguards-
having but the dreadful alternative of drowning or
burning. There were no boats.
We learn by letter, received here from Sheriff
Fenncl. himself, dated July Goth, the day after
the accident, that when the fire broke out he
was in another part of the boat, but rushed into
the saloon to find his wife, which he did after good
deal of trouble owing to the confusion, panic and
excitement 1t was necessary to leave the burning
boat He prepared to do so, his wife graspng his
collar. Before he or they had swan any distance,
Il drowning man caught him. from whom he escaped
with great deal of difficulty. His wife was ex-
hausted and he returned and chung for some time to
the rudder of the boat to recover strength when
striking out again, man jumped from the boat be-
tween them and separated them and his wife sunk
to rise no more. When MIR. Fennell reached shore,
he was too much exhausted to stand A despatch
from New York dated July both, states that he
then in that city, having recovered his wes remains
Every assistance and attention has been extended
to him.
The River s Harbor BIiI-The Port of Wilmington.
The River and Harbor Bill reported by the conf
mittee on commerce, and amended in the committee
OF the whole House, passed the House of Represen
tatives Friday last, by a vote of lob yeas, to IS
nays. 1t contains appropriation of ten thousand
dollars for the Cape Fear River.
During the discussion of the bill in committee of
amendment, empowering the commissioners of the
town of Wilmington tolevy tonnage duty to remove
distractions in the Cape Fear River. The amend
ment adopted in committee of the whole, and
was part of the bill when it finally passed the
House. 1t is quite probable that this present bill
will also pass the Senate. We believe that it en-
powers the commissioners to levy tonnage duty
not exceeding four per cent
The Washington Union says: This amendmen
is in accordance with the tenth section of the frs
article of the constitution, which provides that
State SHALL without the consent of Congress- lay an
duty of tonnage keep troops,' sc. Tt adopted
in committee of the whole, and, if sanctioned b.
Congress, may be productive of important effects Oh
the improvement policy of the government. Imme
daey after the adoption of the federal constitution
the system ofimproving rivers and harbors by mean
of tonnage duties, levied with the consent of Con
gress, adopted, and many cities, in the earl
history of our government relied upon this sourc
for the means of improving their harbors and tn
rivers on which they were situated, and would no
have abandoned it but for the seductions of eztrav
agant expenditures for local purposes from the fed
eral treasury. Mr.. Polk, in his celebrated veto
the river and harbor BILL urged the adoption of tn
plan ofimprovement contained in Mr.. Ashes amend
ment, and sustained by the committee. And, W
may add by the House.
The Difficulty about the Fisheries.
The New Brunswick papers say that Mr.. Wei
ser msunderstands the nature of the instruction
given by the British Government to its naval force
in regard to the fisheries: the instructions
exclude the American vessels only from the bay
that are less than six miles wide. These papers IT
iterate their opinion that Brother Jonathan Wi
doubtless offer reciprocal free trade to his fsl
cries.
We like to be as patriotic anybody, but sti
think it by means improbable that the g
ahead down-east fishermen may have been encroacl
ing very considerably upon the reserved rights
the Blue-noses and in strict construction of Law
subjected themselves to seizure. The chief groun
of excitement seems to be that the British Cover
ment had so long lain dormant in the matter, an
then so suddenly waxed rampant. 1t looks like tra
ping the fishermen.
We have not doubt that it will all come RICH
The British construction of the treaty claims tt
much for their side. The American fishermen hay
no doubt, gone farther than any construction woul
warrant.
Rg~The steamship Europa arrived at New Yo1
on the Goth, with Liverpool dates to the 17th Tt
elections for Parliament over, and the clear mi
jority against the Ministry will be at least &C. S
rious election riots had occurred in Cork, Limeric
Belfast, and elsewhere in Ireland.
r I'D