Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-08-05
Awful Steamboat Disaster on
the Hudson River.

The steamboat Henry Clay, running on
the Hudson river, took fire and was entirely
destroyed Wednesday afternoon. A gentle.
man who was on board gives us the follow
ing particulars.
The boat, when the fire was discovered,
was two miles from Yonkers, about five
miles ahead of her ume with the Armenia
3 miles astern. The fire broke out amid
shipssnear the boilers, and the whole lower
deck was in flames before the passengers on
the promenade deck were aware of their
peril. The vessel was run ashore instantly
Many however, jumped overheard previous
ly, some of whom were drowned, and others
reached the shore alive. One child was
burnt TO death on board and another so bad
Iy that it died in the cars on its way to the
CITY.
The boat is a total wreck. Baggage
mostly saved
She left Albany Az O'Clock Wednesday
morning, and had o. board about $50 pas
sengers-l00 taken in at Albany aud the
remainder on the ro'Ie down.
Another passengei states tina. the Henry
Clay and Armenia wire racing-at the time of
the accident; that tie steam had been put
al its highest point, aud that when the pas
sengers protested against il they were told by
tie officers there was no danger. The
boats had been on race all the way from
Albany.
The following eshmony, given before the
coroner by John l.. Thompson Of Pennsylva-
MIA, is one of many similar tales OF suffering
brought upon familns by this great calamity :
know nothing oithe origin Of the fire. At
the time myself, ny wife, and two children
were on the cast gard Of The boat, near the
ladies cabin. The nurse first cried OUT, My
20 1d, the boat is on FIRE Then, there was
Ia simultaneous Increment and general cry
that the boat was On fire. The conslerna-
ton was terrific anl myself ana several gen
tIemen tried 10 keep order; think at that
time some one connected with the boat di-
rected US 10 keep o. the sern,as lie fire was
in the centre of the boat. This was fatal
mistake. In consequence Of that advice. !
and my family went as far aft as we could
gel The boat had then turned, and the
smoke was so dense, that the nurse thought
that the child was sitting. When the boat
struck, we went back TO where we were ;
passed the cabin, TO the south side OF the boat.
We reached there together-but | then
lost sight of my children, ohm and Mary;
had we al first been directed 10 go forward,
all. no doubt would have been saved; there
was then no smoke 10 prevent our doing so /;
| do not know who gave the direction 10 90
att; it seemed to be an official order, and
was promptly obeyed no notice was given;
we were Standing togelher when | heard
Mary shrek, Help ME, father or we shall
DROWN lred TO get near her, and while
doing so the clothes of the nurse took fire :;
I turned to look for my wife and imagined
that she had jumped overheard; from that
time | entirely los, sight of the boy, neither
did | see Mary again jumped over, sank,
rose to the surface thought | recognized
nv wife, who was sinking up and down
seized her by the hair, and said, Don't
give out, have come TO rescue you; catch
me around the waist > but she caught me
around the neck, and we were sinking; |
called to her 10 change her grasp, and she
did so.
When I turned | saw nothing Of her. |
then got hold of the braces, and finally slruc k
out. got about forty yards off, when large
coIored woman caught me around the neck,
and another round the waist. | screamed
out. We are all drowning,' and asked them
TO let 90. but they held Oh, and Owed under,
and when | arose saw nothing more of
them. i was exhausted, and finding could
mol TeaCD lue SHOTe, went " thc poat' was
tired out, and at last | thought must let go
and prepare for death. | was caught by the
hair by some sailor, and knew nothing more
until found myself on the beach. My wife
was lost, my child Mary was los:-and my.
self, boy John, and servant, were saved.
The total number of bodies recovered up
to Sunday night was 65, and three Others are
known to have perlshed, whose bodies have
not been recovered.
J. II. Gibson, postmaster of Clinton, New
York, publishes a card, in which he states
THAT in company with one Of the hands
Of the Henry Clay, he examined the steam
gauge at various times during the passage
and every time found the steam higher than
was allowed by the certificate.-BOston Jour-
nal
LATER.-Nep York, Aug 2. me Coro-
ners jury in the case Of the Henry Gay ca
lastrophe are still holding Inques's al onA
ers. Seventy-one bodies 10 all nave Deen
recovered. and it is known that some SIX or or
e;ohr are still missing. The derrick is still
ep9oa ' r in hosting portions of the wreck,
and Is Is thought that by this evening, sutii-
c; "T Of the machinery will be got out to
allow The hull TO float. The excitement at
lending this affair continues undated.