The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-30
the HENRY CLAY STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.


III.
raInan, John Gumain EdlDard Hubbard James L. Jessup.
Jes Eh.endarf, and Chas Aariu. Mr. Merritt has not
appeared during the trial
ELEVENTH DAY.
David Norris the next witness called for the defence
and examined by Mr. Jordan, deposedI reside in Cross
River Dutchsss Co.. pastor Of the Baptist Church In
that place. one time followed the watr began in
1906 and quilted il in l8l920; have been and still n
Sw1sr o. was on SGssa sns o Wy
not meet the boat after got boa she lst nave
passed before in consequences of the up tide witnessed
the landing Of the Clay At Poughkeepsie saw no hurry
nor extraordinary precipitation in her landing more
than usual; / saw the Armenia landing; her man
suitable di.tane to get the landing; have had great
deal Of experience in river navgaon was on the water
before the era Of steam ts ryer haVe seen the
Suently pass up river when resided at Tvo never
was on her that day. don't think she had more
than her usual speed remained ON her until the catas
tronhe: saw nothing to excite me at all.
q What is the effect of encountering stiff southerly
breeze, with an ebb tide !
a. The effect ON the water would be to make it rourh
and would impede the boat some there was creaking
n ere than usual in boats of tn 1t character.
O. gentleman has described her ereaking and in
ened to break
A. did observe it, all psaceabe. observed on
beard from the time left Poughkee until the time
of the alarm; the frs. heard keep COOL do not be
alarmed, there Is no danger.
Q. Did YOU in walking round the smeve pipe, observe
any unusual heat?
/. None than usual in the alarm proceeded on
the hrboard side; saw SIN ke issuing from what /
thought then was the coahoe, but 1t place
the boiler; went there with the ineaion of rendering
any assistance / could l saw q dense smoke carried
Aft under the grating by the current of air. did not
yet come up points out the graf ngl saw person
the forward guard attempting to draw water others we're
on the other side and asking where are the buckets;
knew water would be useless in this place. hnew from
the smoke could breathe more than once and con-
sequenty water use.
A. None at all sir aft had no one With me in charge
on board; felt no alarm for myself when discovered
your boat on shore she on re heard gentlemen use
similar words; did not look in his face but heard them
testified to here by Witness did not see the pilot a.
that time kept my eye upon the bow OF the boat 20
watch but with regard to the tide could not for 1t
a very exciting time and every moment was long
me descrsed the going ashore reached the shore
rapidly and concluded that she would easily
and made good selection and also in not running against
the wall of the railroad.
O. What would have been the effect in your opinion OF
running the boat sideways to the shore?
A. The effect would perhaps, have emptied us all into
the water pilot and knew the state OF her below,
would have brought her sideways to the shore
cried out to me to come oil the rails but said as
my attention ected to the safety valve by listening
1t Free 80 that might escape explosion, she
was letting of steam could not say what precise time
that az, whether II just before on to the
shore WHEN we struck the shore, or afterwards 1t was
before left the boat.
What would have been the effect If the boat run on
the rocks2 A. If she rocks against the raj road
wall it is impossible tell what would have been the e
feet from the scattering of her spnters, or on her boer
it would doubtless have stove her in and the smoke pipe
would have fallen
Cross -ex amiped by Mr.. Dunning-I don't know how
remained
walled forward to the railing others jumped of.
Question by Juror-Coud she have been put on shore
diagonally9
without striking rocks it was it was provdental
It low water more lives might have been lost the
manner in which she brought in Afforded greater
from the flames than any Other except if she was
brought in sideways which could net be done.
To Mr.. Jordan could not have managed the boat
otherwise sel cted better place for going ashore If
had an hour 10 select it.
Thts. B. Ridder examined by Mr.. Jordan, deposed-I
reside in the city Of New York; board the Clay
July g. 1882 took passage at Albany; had my daugh
YER with me; she in her seventeenth year. was not
intimately acquainted with the officers Of the Clay;
personal acquaintance with him; the Clay left her dock
few minutes before seven o'clock according to my time
had the New York tme know the fact that the New
York time is little faster than the Albany
time; at the time of leaving the wharf at
landed at Cox ackie Coxsacke she landed at Hudson
do not know that Il Armenia landed at Coxsackie she
asern u.s. know it is shoal navigation at Four Mile
shoai on the agitation Of the boat A. Boat.
will draw the and throw it to the STERN boat will
head breeze will give an increasing motion to the boat
should think boat rum ing ffeen miles in shoal water
would, with the same power Of steam, run twenty IN
was introduced to Mr.. Co.lyer by Mr.. Harris ::
Mr. harris remarked to Mr. Coyer II thought the Clay
fast boat; Mr. Coyer replied ''she is not going
fast there was no conversation to the best Of my
knowledge that occurred until after leaving Huds0n be
fore We arrived Hudson Mr. Harris remarked the Ar
mena will pass us' have recollection of seeing Mr.
Minturn reao his e timony before we arrived at Cox.
socke, Mr.. Harris remarked that the Armenia would
PASS uf.
Mr. Hall submitted that if this to contradict Mr..
Mnturn they should locate the conversation to the time
be spoke of namely the time Of the collision
To the Judge--There no other conversation be-
tween Harris and Coyer other than that am relating
Testimony admitted
@ What was Mr. Coliyers reply to Harris when he
sAid tho Armenia would pass us
A. Nj Collyer replied she will not there is an under
standing between the owners that the Armenia is to
that day; Old not observe nything unusual the
landing at Hudson was the larboard aftergang at
the Ps out saw
habit Of going on steamboats, from the first time
they run ON the North river; the manner of
the Clay landing at Hudson usual, slow,
stop, shut off, there was nothing unusual Q Did
you observe anything unusual at CatskilR The Ar
mena at Catskil when up; the Clay slowed
shut off, lay ashore, and when the Armenia went
landed nothing unusual there; on leaving Catskl, the
along due south short distance, and then bear
southwest taking that course, they reach Bristol at
tss o ne nd a =, she the COCK v why
ing bell and stepp.d to the larboard guard. and I
heard the bell ring to ahead the Clay slowed opposite
the dock; signal for her to land did not hear
any Of The ps claim desire to go ash
On Having Bristol dock ud say the Clay one
quarter the length of the ahead Of the Armenia
he left her dock on leaving Bristol the Clay bore little
70 the eastward and the Armenia bore her bow to the
Gays forv ard quarters both boats bore south east to-
them landed at Tivol they went opposite side of
q soop that lay there tn, Clay took the east SIDE
and the Armenia the west their southerly at
that tme both vessels then bore to the west towards
Turkey Point that is towards the Kingston channel it
about there that the boats together opposite
the ice house; should think the Armenia got into the
suction Of the Henry Clay about three and half miles
above Kingston the boats then steering rather
bearing south when nearing each other they steer
ing south discovered extra exerion the part of
the Henry Clay when nearing Kingston did not discover
any extra speed the boats three to four times
the width Of the boat and at times hundred fest apart
and they neared each other the arboad wheel Of the
Henry Clay and the sarboard wheel Of the Armenia
the water and they neared each other and observe when
boats unless of them drops astern they must
come tog. Their the Henry Clay ahead the Armenia
in the suction of the Clay at the time 1t is good
position for boat to be in the suction of another
boat IL in suction of another it has tendency draw
the other back and the fastest boat being ahead it
tendency to draw the other think the Armenas for
ward quarter little amidship Of the Clay the Clay
about third Of her length ahead; the suction of
the two boats would naturally bring them unless
of them slowed was the passengers starboard
guard aft ct the time they struck.
What did you say to the passengers at the time they
tRtA1