Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-09-23
.42aiGleli0llc0uG.
From the New YIrk Journal Of Commerce.
"Reminiscences OF the Henry CLAY
Catastrophe.

"Reminiscences OF the Henry Clay
Catastrophe.
| SCENES AND INCIDENTS THERE WITNESSED.
In the quiet ne9hborho)d where the Henry
Clay was run ashore, it is one of the agreeable
paslimes with those who reside upon the boaut-
ful banks of the IIuds0a, to notice the transit up
aud down Of passing boats. 1t imparts addition
al animation to the rich and varied landscape
around, and the idea Ct danger or destruction,
is never associated with such pleasing objects
Great, therefore was the surprise manifested by
tho sight OF a steamer on fire in the afternoon oil
a bright summers day. Fires, even on shore,
occur mostly in the nighttime, and nearly all of
them that take place during the cay may be as
cribed to gross carecssness or wifuncss. A
Hagman on the railroad, perceivng dense volumes
of smoke issuing from the wheel house Of the
Henry Clay, waived his hat in the air to induce
her to run in a short distance above the place
where she was stranded, and in a far safer local
ity than the one soon afterwards chosen
1t has been asserted that the concussion of
the boat threw a number Of individuals who
were in the stern, Immediately into the water !;
but this was not so, although many were certain
y thrown down on the deck and floors by the
unexpected suddenness of The shock, which de-
pryed them o. their balance, and at the same
time their self possession. The passengers had
concluded that when the boat should reached the
shore, the danger would be over, but it proved
TO be far otherwise.
The fire did not blazi forth until the boat had
struck, when the violence Of the jar seemed to
give quckened impetus to the hitherto sup
pressed combustion, and in moments time the
flames began to spread with awful and terrific
rapidity, soaring upwards towards the zenith and
striking terror to the few who had collected on
shore, but greater dismay TO those who were i'm
prisoned on board.
The crisis was now come, and the dreadful
struggle between life and death had commenced.
But few anxious and appalling moments of sus-
pense could possibly elapse before the doom of
many one, both old ard young, in the full tide
of life and hope would be sealed for ever.
Shrieks and screams, accompanied with means
and PRAYERS, were borne upon the air, and the
cry from the shore was, " to jump overheard, = as
it afforded the sules and only chance for safety.
The wind blew from the Southwark, and the
dense volumes of smoke, filled with cnders and
occasional sheets of fame, swept over the deck
and drove the passengers on that side from it
The rush was for the windward or starboard
side of the burning vessel. A multitude jumped
oyerboard, some into shallow water TOR this
was forward of the wheel-house.) and others on
the smooth soft surface, left bare by the recess
sion of the first great wave brought in by the
velocity of the boat. Succeeding waves beat in
; like a raging surf, and, in the reaction, rolled
these unhappy and helpless individuals back and
forth in mud and water. and completely drcnch'
ed them all over, Still they maintained theil
foothold, and generally secured their eacape to
The shore in safety. La addition to this submet'
sion, GONE of them were burnt and blistered by
the contiguy of the roaring fire. Those who
were on the forward bow of the boat had nothing
to do but to leap on terra frma without any diff
Guilty. In the mean time the greatest consterna-
: lion was prevailing in the after part ofthe steam
er, where the largest and most helpless portion
= of the passengers collected together. Retreat
forward was entirely cut of. Amidst cries fol
succor md prayers for safety, aermlnglcd witt
the confused walngs Of dlspair, heard above
the wild fury Of the flames some were seen sli
ding down the sides and stern Of the boat, ant
cnging to any projecting part; others plunged
in with any article Of furniture they could Jay
hold of but the greater number pushed head
long into the water, pellmel, their only though
being to escape the fire, and in their haste to &C
complish it, they cIung to each other, and wen
, down in masses to watery grave. Here nnt
there in the distance, the bare head Of some gen
tloman, or the dsheveed locks of some lady
were seen floating for while above the waves
but soon were lost 10 the view.
d 1t was halftide, flood, and at the stern of th
UOHt, nuHuFGu lSEL liulti ttlC uOCht lhu uNPth
waer was twelve feet 1t has been erroneousl,
3 estimated by sons at thrice that depth. Boat
t from the opposite side Of tho river, from the Ar
e menia, ard from some neighboring craft mad
t, Immediately for the scene of the disaster, bu
q some time elapsed before they could arrive
They helped, however, to rescue those who he
on the hnnt rr who wprN huOvad I'M hV any hoaI
!, ing article. One Of the skih3 from the opposit
shore was employed in picking up packages an
o valuabes, which were afterwards taken from tn
boatmen, who were sent of, and tbs ski f use
IS for more laud0he and legitimate purposes
ar 1t was observed that the greater part of th
is passengers who effected their escape to the shor
in safety, were go much dislaayed, that they ra