The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-22
THE HENRY CLAY STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.
United States Circuit Court.
Before Hon. Judge lngersoll.
EArRTu my


FOURTH DAY.
ON 2I.-TAe Uaited States Us. Thomas Collyer 5ohn r.
1EAmsan John Gowan, Ecard Hubbard james L. JeSup
ord Jones EimeRdo5.-Mr Dayton recalled, and be,
ing further cross examined by Mr.. McAahon saidl did
not examine the steam gaage of the vessel that
day; did not 90 into the freroom, nor the engine
room; can't say that l acquainted with the
channel between Hudson and Bristol; cant say
am Snacsuased with It for often nave as twenty tmss
IN the recollect fiat between .1tsan anu
Kingston, where have seen ishs mems ne metz anu
scows mcored Q.-Do You know OF any nat Just Tour
niles above Kingston barely covered with water
Al know Of none but the enc speak OF, ~ niHn
~ ON Il up to their middle in water; have seen 1t
atiow tide scarcely covered with water; my Impression
800 "a n;nr the Clay ade was Catski the westerly
sds the ding place below C.tAi was Kingston;
nv Impression is that there is low point and the river
winds round it, (map of the river produced); l
tSough this subsa ntiay correct oCAn you inform
ne whether there any flames TO be before the
vessel got a,horea Al can't say positively the first
time got chance to lock forward thick smoke
mingled with fame coming through; that must have
besn before she got ashore and just as got into the Ia
dies cabin the smoke coming think through the
hrboard gangway; cannot say that saw the flames
coming through the other gangway but very short
time saw the thick smoke and flames that the vessel
was beached 1t must have been three four inmates
before reached the shore first from the ladies'
saloon; only state from my recollection; it
few moments after heard the cry Of fire that
this smoke and fame in the larboard gangway d,n't
mean the gangway to receive passengers
70 Juror-Ihere was great excitement from the first
To Mr.. McMahon-That excitement continued to in.
recollection is that saw one person overb ard
N the middle Of the river that either at the time Of
just before the vessel turned surprised to
sec any SO alarmed as to jump of at that tims as my
Impression there necessity for IT. man;
did not observe any life preserver with him whether
any other person jumped off before reached the shore
can't say what took place there work Of great
senfusion when went up the river in the Skiddy
rived at Hudson about two O'Clock in the afternoon can't
cay At what time we arrived at Kingston; it
whoyo hout fwQlv n VIII we
keepsie; Poughkeepse is called eighty miles from
New York. and about half way to Albany |
don't recolect any noise of blowing of steam from the
Henry Clay while waiting for the Armenia to land at Cats
kill during the voyage down from Hudson to where the
accident occurred mostly the main deck aft and
q the promenade aft do not recollsct being in any
sher part of the during that interval at the time
the smell Of smoke the first ad time it made an
nunicate it to the odcers9 Al understood
(ouesoH waved) was not in proper position to OBJ
serve any coming out from the shore to assist the
passengers; observed persons in the water push
ing boards bat the assistance they rendered
attempted cant say as to that.
Cssss- examined BY Mr.. Jordan-.From my posi-
ton on the after part Of the deck | could
was issuing from the hatchway down into the freroom
the grating or manhole is probably not what allude TO-
when say wa thought the first ths
The grating think is another place it was on the lar
board side I the first smoke when l noticed
! should say not more two three minutes there
was . large number Of passengers board that day ;
j
ztvs,, for, though we landed sone we took on more
the only of the officers recognised was Emendorf
e-Among that large number Of passengers may you
The passengers and not know them to be ofcersY Alt
quite likely SIR the captains Office is amidships facing
the ladies' saloon about twenty thirty yards from it.
Re examined by Mr.. Hall-(map preduced)- think
the marks in red indicate the places of landing; Bristol
marked but did not land there in other respects it
h correctly marked; in leaving Hudson there is consd
cradle getting into the channel immediately after
having Hudson, and while passing that curve
n h~o I,,rN~ To <ba tho Uuhot hor I'm
tide going up down the riverY A-They would alter
ne Of the boat to keep near the Shore &C.
Examination continued-The vessel goes very far
the westerly side; there is considerable
ne nsUn side below h ostSt she s took the aua,
e westerly side of the CHANNEL the channel she took is
The usual channel
Mr. Wheaton objected the witnesses opinion of the
shanns pilot would be the best witness to examine on
Question by Mr. Hall-After you left Kingston did the
A-No, while We under way; long were
gng kept ahead Of her she came up to us while we
lust astsrn of recoect distinctly with regard to
hcughleegsie, for was on the upper deck
10 Mr.. Whcaton-The Armenia did not reach the Clay
after left Kingston; she four Gve ilUs
q Us at or about the time of the are.
baac McDonough, examined by Mr. Hall, depssed-I re-
side IN Rutland county, Vermont have resided there
year have been formerly merchant was on
1 as ms ss ss tire ~
Clay at Albany observed the condition of things at the
tme Of the collision between the Armenia and the Henry
Mr. wheatou-what do you expect to proven
Mr.. Hall-That the boats were racing.
Mr. Wheaton-That object to.
The Judge Ito witncss)-S,ate the facts.
wtness-The boats were going fast; from the position
stood in satisfied that Il the boats continued their
ahead stood at the time at the wheel houie where tho
pilot was steering the boat before came to Kingston
demonstrated to the gentleman whom paid my fare
have seen him here in court and am satisfied 1t
him. don't see him here now. Mr. Jessup was not now
court saw NV him in the cap captains office selling tickets
Al rsmonstrated against the boat racing and
wa him I would rather get into New York ten
SELF and my family my wife and daughter
were with me he replied there was danger had
two different conversations with him the subject
demonstrated against the boats racing objected to the
racing and he said there danger can't exactly
ftate the words used but gave him to understand that
Q-What did you say to him Al told him the boat
WAS racing and objected to it.
The COurt-Csn you give us the exact language you
Wtness-I said / wished he would stop the boat
racing, and that would rather get in to New York ten
miles astern Of the Armenia and he replied there was
danger.
q. by Mr. Hall-Did you make any observation of the
ruled admissible the knowledge Of It brought home
Question repeated. Al saw fireman put in COAL
didn't him do anything towards managing the boat
can't tell You the quantity of coal he put in but he did
pretty quick after he put in the coal he would 60 to
tno WINDOW ana see where Armona was. proposed
to call indignation meetng of the officers knew
Of that to my knowledge. [Mr. Jessup here came into
court and the witness identified him as the person to
monstrats with the same person that demonstrated
with.
Q-what remonstrances were addressed to him BY the
other passengers2
A.-The same as I made, and they got the same
ever; after took dinner, just going into
the Highlands did not take any further notice of the
boats; did not hear any alarm of fire. VT mt down to
the stern cabin where little daughter asleep, and
I lay down; soon after heard noise over my head
heard "Ho danger" and call att Iopened the cabin
door, and then discovered smoke coming out round the
smoke pipe Immediately back and seized my little
daughter; when ] got up the smoke had changed into
flames. so that 1t kept off; went to the ladies'
loon where left my wife, to IL she there there
there then got round to the left side of the
boat the New Jersey side Of the shore asked gen.
tlenan the upper deck he would take up my little
daughter and he did got up the upper deok
the pilot house, when the boat struck
Q-What was the fate Of your wife I?
Ally wife was lost. saw the same young man (Jes
sup) when the beach, and asked hun there
dana