The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-01
THE HENRY CLAY STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.

THE HENRY CLAY STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.
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| United States Circuit Oourt.
Before Hon. Judge Ingersou.
Talsnan, John Germain, Eyard Hubbard James L. Jessup
Jas. Elmend0rf and Chas. McTTW Mr.. Merritt has no
appeared during the trial
| TWELFTH DAY.
The Court met at IL o'clock pursuant to adjournment
Philomel II; Smith examined BY Mr.: McAAhon de
she was burned met her the North river abreast o.
Mvoh, Upper Red Hook was in the steamboat Mazoppa
of which was Captain; observed at the time she wa
making about twenty two revolutions it was about
quarter past 10 o'clock she passed my vessel shoul
think, within hundred feet the Armenia abreast
ahead of the Armenia thought think have seen tn,
Henry Clay make twenty seven turns of her wheel Q
nary time, would meet her at Lower Red Hook; wal
behind my time too due at Maiden at 10 O'Clock
the distance between the two places is Ave or six miles
was behiI my time about fifteen minutes
The witness not cross examined
John Squire. Jr,. examined BY Mr.. McMahon-I am one
agent for the Henry Clay; have seen the inspectors
certificate of that vessel in the month OF July, 62t
In frame in the Captains Office, the ordinary placs-ou
| the right hand side fronting the ladies cabin.
allowed to carry BY that csrtdcater A. Thirty Eve.
posed--I live in Brooklyn, L. /, / was on board
the Henry Clay as passenger, the day of the fire
out the RaS bsen in the biggest
of the time coming from Hewburg down; timed the
volutions of the wheels of the Henry Clay the
down; they twenty two or twenty-five and half
the highest time; in the pilot house whom person
came up to say the vessel on FIRE. O. mean the
person who first came upi A. Yes, sir, was did not
to mind his BUSINESS; was in condition to hear
it; sat at the pilot house window @ What did the
pilot cor A. He kept his he told his assistant
Mr. Emendorf 60 below and SEQ what the matter was
@ Who was theref A. Mr.. Hubbard, Mr. Emendorf lady
and myself introduced to the Lady Mrs. Emendor
standing close to the wheel house upper
at the time the boat struck the Shore precpated
with about nine others At the time va,
the steam blow off before precpitated: busy
getting my folks off; saw number of buckets there
could not say if they were filled with water one
boat there saw Mr. Hubbard at the water showing out
boards.
Cross. examined-Q Why did you time the revolutions
Of the Clay that day A. Nothing Particular had often
timed her before; did not keep any memorandum;
SPEAK from memory counted her at Havertraw bay
day which induced to count them; tho second per.
son who came to the pilot house to give the
fh was was not than hal. o oD
after the boat struck the shore; assisting my wife
and daughter Off was precpitated, with my wife and
daughter from where standing, down to the main
deck jumped ashore and then got my wife and daugh
ter ashore ON planks.
Mr. wheaton said to the court, that it was coded the
ordinary duties of the engineer to stay in the engine
room, direct the engine, obey the pilots signals, and
watch its motions.
Mr. Hall-And direct the aremene
Mr. Whcaton-Yes; and direct the fremen.
Alexander Cunningham deposed-I was ON board the
sitting from about teen to twenty feet from the steam
chimney when she took fire. the sarboard side of the
boat, on the promenade deck; think was little for
Of the steam chimney; was sitting a settee,
thing Of that description. O. How the place to
comfort and heats A. Where was sitting was the COOL
est place could and-right in dr.ught Of air and
shaded from the sun; 1t pretty hot day; got
shore just before the vessel struck had friend along
with me; l walked aft, and he walked forward.
O. What did you say to the passengerss
Mr.. Dunning submitted that wha: tho witness said to
wRnesI 1' got 0' beat and vent out 0t to assist
the passengers Captain Tallman came out with me
the second time; we brought the boat full Of pas
couple Of gentlemen take Captain Talbnan down
to the railway cars; saw Mr. Jessup in the water;
he all wet; buckets; Captain Tallman
take them up and down to where the flames were and
throw water down beside the steam chimney q. Did
You any beat the upper decks A: saw the boat
Cross examined by Mr.. Dunning-I saw the boat when
was in the water it was on the promen .de deck on
standing in the water was pretty well aft when the
boat struck umpsi into the water an walked straight
sdeJ and then jumped off took of my coas and vest
and jumped into the water the frat recollection have
Of the steam blowing OIL Is when was Jumping of
shore A. was the bow of the boat when heard the
steam blow am positive of that for surprised, at
the time that the gneer could remain there long
blow OF the steam; was sitting aft the smoke ppe Sc
lected that place COOL all tho boat that day
where passengers usually co. board at Nevburg.
Hazard Moray examined by Mr. Mcsahon--I got on
board the Henry Clay at Hudson the 9th Of uly-the
day before she was burned
Capt Taman the deck al Hudson, On the 9Th fully
Now, sir, Capt Tallman on deck when you went
aboard at Hudson, on the eth Of July
A. No, sir. O. Where was he A. The FIRST time
80 him about five minutes after he In his state
room, wringing and twisting he was sick
TO juror do not know who was the commander !;
the only officer saw the bartender he was assist
ing passengers on deck.
TO Mr. Dunning-This waa on the passage up.
garb hv Mr. heat lnpn -
live in New Yorb; am Canadian Frenchman;
board the II Clay the day she was burned was Gre.
Ell on duty until she took fire the fuel we used
on the boat that day LacLavanna Goals !;
no other kind Of fuel after. went on the watch /;
there than usual, extra, fra made that
day; than the ordinary fire. had no direction TO
make than the ordinary fire received ne other d
rectons more than usuaor different those received
on other days. it was VIII, frat discovered the fire
board the vessel when frs discovered the FIRE 1t was
e starboard side of the staIboad boiler about amid
boiler goes lengthwayi The model reproduced) Wit
describes where he FIRST discovered the fire. and points
To the Judse.2rn reference to the ccal hole it vss
near thai.
To Mr.. Whea.on.-The coal hole covered with a
grating should think the opening between the bars OF
tho grating pretty nigh two inches-au inch and
half, whom frs iscoyered the fire II was pretty good
Ere It had begun TO fame Immediately before disco
ye-eI the Gre went down TO the freroom and pat in
COAL shu UP the furnaces. started blower and tried
the water had three cocks Of water do with
4
eo rising above the other then started to up
deck then saw Go along before described
then back again down the cider had got up the
ladder about two steps when rt discovered the fire;
then went back and haloed b Mr. German the engineer
70 hand bucket Of water he passed me bucket of
water en-. threw the ire: then passed the bucket
up ard called oy another one; then took the second
bucket and threw il the ire again in the freroom
there was much noke could not stand it any longer
hen ssr NJ Colyer coming down to the reroon when
started 20 mp Mr. Germain opened the steam cock.
q For what purJoset A. II there had been any fire
in front Of the boiler, it would have put 1t out;
that steam cock Is put there purpose for
putting out fire there; after | came up Mr. Ger
main ASKED if wasn't scalded left Mr.. Germain
IN the engine room then walked forward and went
shore from the forward bow before went on shore
all the rest Of the renen and the deck hands throwing
water ind the chimney as soon as he tire dis
covered troy began TO threw water, and continued till
TIE boat hed the shore should think that about
two minutes. O. You think il about two minutes
the Gre discovered you reached the shoreg 4.
Yes SIR there about eight nine of throw Ing
water the tire; after out of the fire room
had thrown about couple Of buckets before the boat
reached shore; In tho Ere about ten fifteen
minutes before discovered the fire had good a