Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-08-04
Drumming OF THE STEAMER HENRY

The steamers Henry Clay and Armenia left Al
bany at O'Clock on Wednesday morning for New
York, the latter little a head, each crowded with
passengers, the former having between four and
FIVE hundred on board. 1t is stated that the boats
commenced racing from the start-the boats be-
longing, of course, to the rival lines All the land
ings were missed, in the eagerness of the race,
until Hudson was reached. Here the Armenia
made the landing first, and the Henry Clay was
obliged to wait until her rivals departure, before
she could get to the dock. The Armenia, of course
again got the start taking the west channel of the
river. Her competitor followed on the east side
ofthe river-the channels being separated for some
distance by a grassy fiat. When the boats
reached the lower end of this fiat, they about
abreast of each other, each striving to make the
next landing livingston, we should suppose it to
be from the description) ahead ofthe other. The
Armenia, it will be seen, was nearest the shore
on which Kingston is situated. The Clay, how
ever, crowded her SO hard that they came in col
lsson, and ran side by side for some distance,
the wheel-house of the Armenia sustaining, mean
time, considerable damage.
At about quarter before o'clock just after
passing the village of Yonkers, the thrilling cry
Of 'sFire!" resounded from the centre fthe Henry
Clay. A glance towards the engine-room showed
column of smoke puring up from one of the hatch
es. Almost simultaneously, the flames leaped
from the hold near the boiler rooms, and in less
than one minute the entire vicinity of the machin-
cry was enveloped in flames, cutting off all COM
munication between forward and aft.
From the instant that the fire was discovered,
despair seemed osettle upon the hearts of large
portion of the passengers. and shut out from view
altogether the hope calculated to induce self-pos
session and effectual efforts for safety.
Every effort to save the vessel became so utter
~ hopeless, within five minutes after the flames
broke out, that it was abandoned, and the steam
er's head was turned towards the east bank of the
river in order to run her ashore. The necessity
for this movement at the earliest moment was full
ly apparent Already were the warehouses
wrapped in flames, the engineers had been driven
from their posts, and the devastating element fan
ned by stiff south wind, sweeping rapidly
towards the after saloon, where the greater num-
Der of the passengers were located. The dense
volume of smoke, too, was blown directly aft. Ia
den with burning cinders, and subjecting them to
imminent danger of suffocation.
In the meantime, the despairing shrieks for help
appeared to be redoubled 1t was instinctively
seen that, as the steamer would strike the shore
bow on, there being no communication from aft
to forward, even the approach to the rivers bank
gave but little hope to the helpless women and
children who were astern. And there they stood,
the young and the DID, battling, inch by inch, with
the fame, suffering thousand deaths in the ter
rible struggle for life until the vessel struck, eay
ing those who were aft some $50 or 800 feet from
the shore. At this time, it is estimated, there
were nerrly 300 persons huddled together on tne
alter guards, hesltatng IN agony or terror whether
to meet death by the fame or the food-these
dread alternatives, apparently, being the only bit
ter choice.
A gentleman, who was passenger on board
the Henry Clay expresses the opinion that not less
than one hundred lives have been lost There
were at least three hundred on board, and he him
self knew twenty-five Philadelphians on board, Of
whom he has not seen two since.
Up to the 30th, fifty mine dead bodies had been
recovered from the wreck of the Henry CLAW
Lucius Robinson, an eminent lawyer, is supposed
to be among the lost. The hull of the steamer
will be raised tomorrow, and it is supposed many
dead bodies will be found under it.
The body of Mr.. Speed, found among the drown
ed of the Henry Clay, is recognized beyond a
-l2aiht @ that q. Snsa2 1iasf
more, on it. His body was taken to New York
and recognized by some friends there.
The owners of the boat publish a card, denying
that she was racing, and stating that an agreement
had been entered into by the owners of both boats
not to race.