New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-14
Explosion Of the Reindeer en- the Hudson
River-Appalling Loss of Life.

River-Appalling Loss of Life.
By telegraph, we have already announced
the explosion of the steamer Reindeer, on the
hudson river, by which upwards of thirty per-
sons were killed, and large number of others
severely scalded. The NewYork Tribune, of
Monday the 9th inst, furnishes the following
particulars
The Reindeer left NewYork at seven o oclock on
Saturday morning, under the command of Capt.
9. W. Farnham, for Albany, to make the usual
landings, with large number of passengers,
estimated at 800, and was passed at Pouehkeep-
sic by the steamer Francis Skiddy, which left
Albany for NewYork the same morning She
was not racing, as she had the whole river to
herself, no other boat having left that morning.
She vas under full speed all the morning, and
it WAS supposed the object was to arrive at AL
bany in season for the Saratoga and Western
passengers, to take the four o'clock railroad
tran.
The Reindeer reached the landing at Bristol,
on the west shore Of the Hudson, about thirteen
minutes past one o'clock. At this time many of
! the passengers were seated at the dining table
in the after cabin. The steward, bar keeper
| and Chief engineer were also at the table, The
landing WAS made; passengers stepped ashore !;
others went on board; the lines were cast off ;
and ut the inoment the pilot pulled the bell of
took piaee, BY the force of the steam the iron
sheating was ripped up, and beams and tim
bers were torn from their places and driven
through the kitchen into the after bin, carry
ing ali before them, instantly ecalding and kill
ing those the dinner table. The exploded
boiler is situated about midships of the vessel,
with Il G l'ucs and furnaces pointing to the stem
of the boat. end about forty feet from the part
tion of the cabin. One of the fremen who was
subsequently found dead, was wedged among
the mass "f ruins, with his body mangled to
such al extent az to render recognition impossi-
BILE EXCEPT hv his clothing.
The report Of .he explosion was heard for sew
eral miles up and down the river. The steamer
was supposed 10 he on fire after the fearful ex-
plosion, winch added to the CONSERVATION of the
surviving passengers. The scenes that followed
were heart renting. The dead were picked I'D
and conveyed to tile warehouse of Messrs kel-
logg & Co., Of the wharf. At this time search
was made ior the wounded by their friends and
citizens Of Me village Those of the passengers
scalded were found in tie after cabin in great
agony, with the skin dropping from their bodies,
and many Of them at the point Of death from
inhaling the steam Those in this condition died
shortly after. Fathers, mothers, brothers and
sisters Were NneinEg at their losses or praying
for the satrJy IT relatives.
Those taken cut alive were removed to the
Maiden Hctai, lAchange Hotel, and private
houses in the Nitipity, where medical attendance
was procured at once. Their wounds were i'm
mediately dres ed with sweet oil, linseed OIL and
raw cotton. and nurses were procured to remain
in attendance during the night The ladies of
the village volunteered their services and re-
mained with the suffering females, rendering
every assistance in their power to alleviate their
distress.
THE RIVER SEARCHED WITH GRAppLEs
During the confusion and excitement occa-
stoned by the explosion, several passengers were
observed to leap into the water from the PRONE
made deck, but in all probability most of them
were saved. 1t was deemed prudent, however,
to search the bottom of the river. After drag
gng for some time with the iron grapples, all
became satisfied that none of the passengers
were drowned, except one, whose body was found
Immediately, and the search was abandoned.
INCIDENTS, ETC.
Mr.. Hugh Rileigh, of Richmond, Va, swith
his two step-daughters, the Misses Andrews,
were badly scalded, and taken to the Maiden
House, where every attention was paid to them
by competent physicians. Mr.. Rilegh made
his will, deysing his property to his two step
daughters, in case they survived the accident.
If they did not, then he devised it to his mother
in-law and brother-n-law, with some provisions
made for the education of certain children of
one of the overseers on his plantation, near Rich
mond. MIR. Rileigh was very badly scaided,
ana suHereu extremely; DuJ MS mlnu renamed
clear and strong to the last. Amid the groans
of the wounded and dying, he dictated to his at
torney, Mr.. Van Orden, the terms of his will.
The step-daughters fingered short time after
their protector, and then followed him to the
spirit world. There were five in this party, all
Of whom are dead excepting Mr., Smith. The
remains are deposited in private vault.
One person was standing near the engine
room, heard the noise of the explosion, and i'm
medintely looked down into the hold and saw
the steam rushing out of the doors of the fur
mace; and finding himself enveloped by it, put
his hands to his face and ran overheard. There
were number of persons who jumped overheard
and were picked up; he swan to the bow of the
boat whers he was pulled on board again. Af-
ter procuring n change of clothes, he proceeded
on board the ferry boat for the cars rejoicing in
his hair -brea'lth escape
u'>t prsiseworthy act was performed by o
resident II the village, named Alexander Ger
man, who saved the life Of q lady by leaping into
the water, and swimming with her safely to the
shore. IL appears Mr.. G. was standing on the
pier VIXEN The boiler exploded; observing this fe-
male jump overboard in her fright, he quickly
went GO her assistance in boat, seizing her by
the wais. of her dress, as she was going down
! In her struggles his hold gave way; it was at