The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-29
Total Destruction Of the Henry Clay, on
the Hudson River
AWFUL SCENES AMIDST THE FLAMES.
FRIGHTFUL LOSS OF LIFE
SUPPOSED LOSS OF MIR. STEPHEN ALIEN.
Statements of Passengers, and Captains
TaiimsU, of the Henry Clay, and Poi
hemus OF the Arnlsman.
MEETING OF THE PASSENGERS,
&c.. So, SO.

| noon the Hudson River About thrce o,oook n
steamboat Henry Clay took fire and in short time VI
atheet OF flame and burnt to the vaters edge She Ia
between three and four hundred passengers on board
these it is variousy estimated, a, from ,,oenty 70 nm,
principally females and children, 7e,ied IN lie names or ,s,
sro'ped IA their efforts to he fire. Most of the baa
| gage lost
Such ia . brief account o. a disaster that has throw
ts city intocoDster nation. and carried sadness and de
| ISOLATION to hundreds Of offamiIles
The following the particulars Of this dreadful
disacer-
The Henry Clay Captain j. f. Tallmap the new and
swift steamer she is called in the advcrtisemen nts
left Albany at seven O'Clock yesterday morning for New
York. She was, comparatively. boat and con-
sdered very fine steamer Of her She was launched
the yh of August in 1851 She was five hundred
four tons burhen two hundred feet long, twenty.
seyen feet and four inches wide and eight feet and
quarter deep Her hull built by Mr. Thomas Coll
yer at the foot Of Twentieth street her engines by
Messrs. Cunningham Belknap & Co, in West street
She started from Albany in company with the Arme-
MIA making the usual stoppages for passengers swelling
tho number till it reached to between three and four
hundred She raced with the A. oil the passengers we
have inform u.s. till she had run ahead OF that
steamer some four or five miles Her hull had become
very much heated from tho well from her
furnaces, till she dry chip and nammabe
kers while these three four hundred human beings
little dreaming of danger black smoke was seen to
issue from the centre Of the boat near tho pipes Soon
after one Of the aaes OF the steamer appeared and re-
quested the ladies to keep cooltha there dan
ger Immediately it was noticed that the head Of the
boat was turned towards the shore from which
was blowing Then the flames began to steal up and
through the vessel Then the cry spread conster
nation among the passengers board that i'll fated
steamer Almost Immediately after this she struck on
shore below Yonkcrs, about quarter mile this side
Of Fonth Mr. Forests residence and the scene that
then ensued battles description
Tho steamer struck head and the fro brnie out
in esrc and the breeze blew of shore those
stern of the boat had either to leap into the water
perish in the flames One of the passengers who had
reached the shore said that ho turned he saw the
flames envelope fine lad standing the verge of the
upper deck seemingly uncertain whether to perish by
fire water The flames and thick smoke seemed to wrap
around him like winding sheet till he disappeared and
Is now no more. Another gentleman informed us that
he mother take her infant in her by its clothes
to have the babe come top when she to the
face and approach the edge Of the boat leap the
eovv
sad affair We shall never know all the sad of this
terrible disaster Most Of those who saved to
the city in the Armenia ard by the Hudson River Rail-
road The down train stopped to render assistance and
special train was sent out TO 10
town Several reached the Irving House in sad plight
some without Shoes others without hats, and with
out coats shoes stockings, &C., &C. Three other sur
vvors-Mr yanceke, of Baltimore and two ladies'
arrived at the Asor House in terrible state Of mental
and bodily anguish.
The steamboat Armenia which left Albany we have
already stated in company with the Henry Clay was, at
the the fire occurred about four miles distance
astern Whca she came up her officers immediately made
every effort those board the Henry Clay We
have obtained the following account from Captain Polhc
mus the pilot of the Armenia who succeeded in saving
and bringing to the city number Of the injured and un
injured passengers
STATEMENT OF MIR. POLHENUs, prIor or THE
ARMENIA
About three O'Clock in the afternoon, boat
some four miles astorn of the Henry Clay when a
smoke ascending apparently from the head Of the boiler
1t increased, and shortly dense smoke arose.
then felt satisfied that tho boat on fire. and made
for her quickly possible We not racing
with the Henry Clay observed that tho pilot Of the
burning had placed her head in shore and before
arrived the Henry Clay run ashore. The sight,
as We approached the boat which then burning in
furious manner dreadful to behold The after part
of the boat was covered with human beings and great
number we're immersed in the watcr cnging TO the
guards the boat in frghtfu despair expecting
moment TO be driven off by the flames into tho water.
We stopped boat, lowered small boat and sent her
oil to the relief Of the sufferers number were
taken from the wreck in that way. Peter BISHOP,
deck hand Of the Armenia, acted very courageously
On seeing struggling in the water. who had sunk
twice, Bishop prang from the small boat, swan to the
lief the drowning man. whom he seized by the neck,
a conveyed him TO the shore His life thus saved
The pilot also related that aid given by the captain
of the steamboat James Madison and by the captain
and Of brig and schooner who we're near a. hand
the time Of the calamity. The small boats in this way
convened most OF the persons to tho shore who we're
found cipgng to the boat The Armenia went TO Dock
about quarter of mile below the wreck and there
waited and took on board number OF the passengers
together with two young women one named MMy
Rhodes very seriously, If not fatally injured, having
jumped from the bow Of the boat and was rnmrcd upon
hy the other passengers Others or less in
jurcd by burnt faeos bruised limbs disocated shoulders,
| and cut heads.
the Henry Clay, aud obtained Tho following particular:
| from him -
/ STATEMENT OF CAPT ThLL.MAS or THE HEsRi
/ CLky.
Ii was about O'Clock in the afternoon when the alarm
Of rc was given lie lying down IN his state room
at the time having been quite unwe, aud under tho car
Of Ply sean for two days past As as the alarm
of fire made he inmped out Of bed and found tina
the boat FIRE in front Of the boiler and hndin
the flames could not be extinguished he ordered the
lot to steer the ashore which accordingly don
and the passengers on the iorwaru part vi eno oo
jumped the md bank while those in the after part
the boat compelled to get ashore the best way the
could by leo fpg into the water At the time the M
broke out .ere must have been four hundred p
sengers o board-tho boat not racing and he tnnk
the fire Sas caused by the hot ciuders aiins lr h,
furnace and permitted to collect, instead O' V''''
raked dp. -. ..nsr;a an,
Carl Taman came to the city In the Arne,'a s ~ sh a.
saya That when he left he ten females ues "" -.
ne and one child which he has reason 20 oe.ese "a
| aJ who lost their lives lie did not tnnk sny VI .n
80 s,,cye In The calamity But II will be seen fror
the sad details that Capt Tsllman - uhortuna'ep MN
4 taken In the number Of lives lost
Another statement in the narrative OF this awful ana
= Is furnished By passenger -
STATEMENT By A PAssESGER.
. | Ma BENNETT :.
rth many others, have just been witnesses 20 o.
= 4 s,f ha irNnt ~