Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-09-23
in this manner she returned to New York in the

lshed, was in company with the Downing family,
from Newburg. She was distinguished for her
beauty and the rale fascination of her manners.
A young lad of about fifteen years of age,
from New York, was on board with his mother,
who had an infant in her arms. He wasa good
swimmer and acted braveIy. He had sprung
into the water. and procuring floating plank,
succeeded in placing his mother upon it, who
held the young infant above the water. At that
moment, while they were still near the steamer,
a large and heavy, colored woman leaped down
upon the mother and babe, smothering them in
the water, and throwing off the boy who was
guiding the fra bark with its precious treasure
towards the shore. The mother and child were
lost, but the boy with some difficulty was saved
by some ono who came ia. his rdSsef. Not long
aherwads, the unfortunate boy Gas found weep
ing by che -body of his mother, whose liferess
infant was reclining upon her bosom. gentle.
man living near by invited him to his house, but
he refused to leave his mother. The negro wo-
man, at the cost Of two lives, saved her own.
Many painful and distressing scenes were wit
messed, on the recognition of deceased bodies by
their kindred and friends. A young married
lady arrived from New York, and seeing the
lifeless remains of her brother, hndsome young
gentleman, extended on the beach, exclaimed.
" Oh this is my dear brother " and falling on
his body she moaned and tainted away. In many
instances, grief aud sorrow were seen in every
possible form, and sometimes "too deep for
tears"
A man by the namo of King, Mr., Russell Smiths
gardener, rescued an elderly gentleman who
had child in his arals The other members
of the family, viz. daughter, son in-law, and
another child, all lost together, and found on one
spot, where the waters had closed over them.
Mr.. Jessup saved himself and child and
George Kingston, the above mentioned gardener
rescued the wife and young lady with her, and
was rewarded by Mr. Jessup for it.
There were some excellent swimmers on
board, who persisted, or who saved themselves
by dnt of their strength or their dextori,y
Mr.. Crist, of Brooklyn, had removed his boots
aud prepared himself for swimming, for which
he was distinguished But he was borne down
by the terrified crowd which pressed upon him,
and was lost
Mr.. Fenne, of North Carolina, is a large,
athletic man He was perfectly self possessed
and conscious of his ability to save himself and
his wife, who was with him. d" He was able ;" he
said, " to sustain himself for halfa day in the
water" He was seized by powerful grasp
which fastene upon his dress. BY the excrtis,
of his strength he tore the hand from him
wrenching away at the SAME time, IN its gripe
portion of his shirt, vest and cloth coat but
the noId whrcn ne nauluFes i'tss sWifa s,aa laaasv
ed and she was lost.
Stephen Allen when last seen, was suspend
ing himself with his hands from the raj on the
side of the boat. Finally he was heard to ex-
claim, "Oh. dear can hold out no longer
must 90 down." and he Immediately fell, and
sunk to rise no more to life and light.
The body of Mr.. Speed of Baltimore, was
found with the right arm curved forward and
quite rigid. In drowning, he had doubtless
grasped some other person in the water. Even
in death he bore the aspect of great calmness
firmness, energy of character and intellectual
superiority. Though recognized by mark on
/ IL ha nla W da
afterwards In the meantime his body was de-
posted in one ofthe pine boxes hastily provided
for the occasion but it was subsequently, remo-
we'd by his friends, with every demonstration Of
respect.
John Cuddy, recently employed on the Hud
son River Railroad, found the body of lady
which had foated on shore. She was attired in
black, and had COLE watch and considerable
money about her. He honestly delivered both
the person and property into the hands of the
Coroner. This worthy and efficient man is now
without employment having just been discharged
as supernumerary on the Hudson River Rail
road.
The general and unquestionabe appearance
of respectabllity evinced by the victims to this
unfortunate event was noticed by every speca
tor The lumber Of gold witches which were
recovered was remarkable. Almost every lady
had in her possession gold watch, chain, Oh
some description Of jewelry, but no silver watch
es were seen. Testing is out of place on sucf
an occasion, but an Irishman declared tina
g they were all gentlemanly looking ladies"
The greatest number of bodies laid out at
any one time, near the scene Of calamity, was
90. The whole numbesover which inquest was
held, altogether was rs. How many were con
sumed in the fire, and never heard of or seer
afterwards, is unknown. The body of the lady
found by Cuddy was bent inwards. She had
probably died in commissions, as many more have
done likewise.
On the evening Of the disaster, the bodies thai
had been recovered were brought up by means
Of bass fishing hooks to which weights had been
attached to sink them. On the next day, iror
grappIes were employed and on the third day
many bodies which had floated away rose to the
surface from the influence of thunder storm.
All the families living in the neighborhood
without exception, manifested, from the first, the
greatest sympathy for the sufferers. Their dwell
lings we're open to all that came Refreshments
and necessary apparel, where needed, were
freely furnished, and all the kindness and hospi
taIity shown that liberal minds and liberal mean'
could supply.
The spectacle Of so much suffering, death anc
woe, was extremely distressing, and few woulc
be willing to witness such an affecting scene
, again.
Z The unfortunate victims Of premature des
tiny will long be mourned over with sentiment
of affection, and regretted by the pervading sym
+ pathee of a common brotherhood in humanity,