The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18
THE EXPLOSION ON THE NORTH RIVER.
Additional Particulars Of the Disaster to the
Steamer Empire.
SEVEN LIVES LOST, AND TWELVE PERSONS
SERIOUSLY INJURED.
THE CORONER's INQUEST,
INCIDENTS OF THE ACCIDENT,
de-, &c., &e.

] =
be-, &c., 10.
One of those painful and hearrendng accidents which
it is lot to chronicle occurred Saturday
irg board of the steamboats, Empire, Of Trey,
Zone Of the Peoples hpe,) while on her passage
from that city to New York. nearly opposite New
Hamburger, being about midway between here and
Albany. About haif-past O'Clock, when oppo
site Wan Rensselaer, dock, the pilot Mr. Hudson
discovered the loop General ngston at the distance
about mile bearing towards them, the wind blowing
very fresh from the southwest The steamer held On he
until the soop within about three hundred
yards Of her. and tackng towards her. The pilot then
changed his and sesred to the right The sloop
continued her until she into collision with
the boat striking her boiler with the bowsprt which
Immediately exploded carrying away with the smoke
pipek promenade and hurricane decks and entirely
Semoliahing all the upper works between the wheel
house ard the bows of the boat. The scene that
followed is beyond description. Men, women and chill
ren rushed deck regardless of the scading steam
scIesmng and crying for help. The lights were oil
put the explosion which rendered the at first
truly awful The officers and crew immediately went to
WORK in order to those whom they heard crying
for assistance The captain then saw the coal aloop
First Effort Captain Leroy coming down. and hailed her.
She then oame alongside, into which some sixty or
seventy passengers and their baggage put and the
boat started for Poughkeepsie few moments after she
had loft the propeller Wyoming hove in sight, and bore
down for the wreck All the passengers with their bag
gage that had remained behind then sent board
Of this boat the captain of the Empire giving orders to
overhaul the First Effort and to take all the passengers
board Of her to Poughkeepsie where they would
cevs medical attendance The dead and dying then
attended on beard Of the Empire. messenger having
been Tor Dr. Proal of Wappnger Falls, who is the
Coroner Of Duschess county, he arrived the of
destruction without delay and instantly attended
to the dying who lay about the deck stretched blan
kets and to the wounded, who half frantic with
pain seeing that every thing should be done to alleviate
their Distress The following is list of the dead
and wounded up to late hour last evening when
porter LETT
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
George Stafford, of New York, young about TWEEN.
Of age whe slept within twenty feet Of the
boiler taken out of the ruins insensble and
spoke afterwards. He died in few moments after he
rescued hs father the proprietor Of the Trojan
Hotel the Crystal Palace. He up for the body
Saturday evening, after the had held in.
quest and had it conveyed to the city board Of the
steamboat Mazeppa. He . fine looking young man,
and formerly barkseper board the boat but ..
the time OF the accident returning as passenger
from Troy where he had been visiting some Of his
friends
No. 2. Edward c, Cushing, of Troy, second engineer
taken out of the wreck mortaly injured and
veyed to Pcughkeepse where he died during the
of the day from the injuries received.
Ne Christopher Caffay, fireman, fingered until Sum-
day mornirg, when he died in great agony
No. 4. J lhn Shannon, deck hand, died on board of
the propeller his way to Poughkeepss. His body
taken to Troy for nterment.
No S Mary Budsr Indian woman from Canada,
with goods way to the Worlds Fair also dsd in
great ason. board Of the Wyoming. She leaves hus
bandand two children.
No Q. Betsey Wooster, sister Of the last mentioned
woman died Saturday. shortly after the arrival Of the
boat Sns dresdfully scadsd and kept contn ualy
screaming from the pain of her wounds.
No. 7. James Daniel Van Schaick, boy about four
he es tbs wrseS Hs was as newsboy and
great favorite among the crew.
George Austin chief . engineer ~ was severely scaded
New York the Hudson River Railroad.
john Walsh, adeck hand, severely scadsd about
the neck He was conveyed to Poughkeepsie where he
8. William Moulton fremsn, badly scalded on the
4 Charles Cana, deck hand, of Oattskin hands and
neck severely scded. He will doubt recover from the
s. Jeremiah Scott one of the handsoa board Of the
sloop General Livingston, who was in the bow Of the
slooP WHEN she struck the steamboat very badly In
ing manner. Hsss board the soop at Poughkeepsie,
who're he is attended by the doctors of the town.
III. y
was slightly scalded on his right arm. He sent to
New York along with his mother his father stopping be-
:. james Van voldenbursh fireman, had his head
slightly cut. His wounds were dressed by DR.. Proh,
who remained the wreck all day IN hopes succorng
some unfortunate persons who might be found under
s. Robert F. Cuttingham, of New Haven, Conn, had
his leg broken his and face severely scaded
He now in Poushkeepse under medical treatment, and
o. N. S Bennett, a portrait painter, of Washington
laa in Exch anuaH Ions sCadod
about breast and shoulders He is in great pain,
but bea,s his sufferings manfully.
10. Hasrist Larkins, OF Brooklyn. was coming from
Madison county where she visit to some friends.
This young ldy saved from the wreck BY Mr. Ben
the smoke and extrcaed her from her peril
situation Too much praise cannot be attributed to
IL Peter Van helan, deck hand, severely wound
ed, both by the falling tnbers and the steam which
scaded his arms in shocking manner He Is likely to
recover.
IL James Johnston, Of Williamsburg, L. l., who is
agent for machine establishment in Jersey City,
much scalded about the hands and arms, bat will
IS. i. Perrt, of Boonton, N. J., passenger, was
badly scaidd he now lies in critical situation at the
a. Peter vandenburgh, second engineer, Of Athens,
about the hands neck and breast He is ia very criti
cal condition, but may possibly He taken
home by his friends on Saturday evening.
CoRoNER's INQUEST ON THE BODIES.
Core ner Proal after procuring jury held inquest
on the body of George Stafford, who died board the
steamboat shortly after the explosion From the follow
ing evidence II will appear that the accident was caused
in great measure The carelessness OF the pilot on
board OF the Empire, while at the same time, IT will be
shown that the captain Of the oop should have had an
older person ut the helm than mere boy.
Captain Levi Smith being duly sworn, deposed that ne
was awske, ed about O'Clock, by loud noise ne Inn.
mediate repaired on deck and found that the steamboat
had been struck by vessel and that the boiler had
exploded the hurricane and promenade decks were blown
Off and the t. smokeppes had alse been knocked
board he endeavoed to do all ia his power to alleviate
the distress of the passengers he the deceased he
came OF board at Albany and bound for New York.
in his opinion there about ninety passengers on
board; IL very light load, Of it being
Friday evening; he sent all the passengers to Pough
keepsie board of the propeller WI omiDg.
The pilot of the boat MIR. Hudson on being sworn de-
posed that about half past o'clock he deserted the
soop about mie ahead Of them, the wind bio wing
fresh fiom the southwest she coming up before the
th ~ the time wSsn v,nsss .a sne
heading up towards the middle Of the river, the