Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-07-21
Dreadful Steamboat Accident
Collision on The North Riue,. Bettesen The Steamer
Empire aud a SLoop-Scueral Lives Lost-Ten
or TipeIpa ScdLded.

Collision on The North Riee' Bettseen The Steamer
!. Empire and a Sloop-ScuerGL Lipes Lost-Ten
or Tivelue Sedlded.
About two O'Clock on Saturday morning the
steamer Empire; when five miles below Fough.
keepsie N. Y, on her down passage, was Iunin-
to by sloop with such force as 10 knock one Of
herboiles and some parts of her machinery over
board. This caused the steamer almost immedi-
ately to take fire, spreading the utmost consteIra-
ton among her passengers, who were reused from
their SAUNDERS by the force of the SlOop running
into them. They wee, however, all rescued safe
ly and brought 10 Pout hkeepsie byza Schooner,
except some tenor twelve, who were badly scaId-
of the passengers leaped overheard during the
CONSERVATION, and were drowned. The fire on
the boat was extinguished as speedily possible,
but she is greatly injured. dispatch from Pough-
keepSie says:
The steam pipe that connects the two boilers
was, by this collision, twisted from its place, and
the steam from the pipe rushed across the deck
carrying away some fifteen of the state rooms.
The steamer Immediately careened over on her
side; about three rods from the Shore in which po-
sition She Remained at last accounts, heading up
the river. Two persons were killed outright and
three died of injuries received soon atteE one vi
whom was Mr.. Stafford.
AIr. Gushing, also Mr.. Austin, an assistant en-
gineer was badly, but not dangerously scalhed.--
Two Indian squaws, and two men; names not
know, were badly scalded, and taken 10 Pough-
keepsie. Several oth=rs are reported to be very
slightly scalded.
Peter v. Vasburgh, second engineer, was slight
ly scalded. He was taken home 10 Hudson.
The propeller Wyoming, sloop Austatlord, and
another soop came 10 the rescue of the steamer as
soon as the accident became known, and rescued
all the passengers and baggage.
The injured persons were taken to the Exchange
Hotel, Poughkeepse; and at the residence of Mr..
Van Rensselaer,, where every care was bestowed
upon them. When the accident first became known
there was naturally good deal of excitement
among the passengers.
From an extr Poughkeepse Eagle, we have the
following in addition:
Among the wounded are D Scott, book ped
lar, Surtan, second engineer, and Mr.. Cush-
ing, third engineer.
Charles C1shman, fireman; Mary Beedee, and
Mary Wooster, K Il Cunningham, of New Haven,
badly scalded and leg broken.
N S Bullitt, of Washington, D c, 2 deck hands,
named TarreS Johnston and Peter Van Feallen;
also, G Parriti, Of New jersey All OF the above
are badly scalded, and probably some seven or eight
will die.
much injured. 1t is stated that soon after the col
lisioH, one OF the steamers boilers exploded. which
was the cause OF the great loss OF life.
Quite large amount of freight is lost in It, and
some very handsome safes intended for the Crystal
Palace Exhibition.
PouoHK EEPs1E, July I6, 1 P. M.-Anong the
scaldsd is A S Bulitt, OF Washingto2, d Q. Sew
ernl bodies have been taken from the river It's
feared that the loss of life is greater than was at
first anticipated.
Many Of the passengers state that they no
appearance OfMny SlO0p that could have run into the
boat. And they are Of the opinion that the acci-
dent resulted from defect in the boiler.
The boat drifted ashore, and now lies stranded,
head up stream, on the flats aboutseven miles be-
low PouehkeepSie, perfect wreck, paddle boxes
blown off, pipes shattered TO pieces, and decks
crushed in. The river, for about two miles, was
dotted all over with fragments OF the wreck.