New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-29
la " INTELLIGENCE
Burning Of the Steamboat Henry Ciay-Trial for
Nanslauzhter.
{. :. CIRCUIT coURr-Besors Juass rSssasotL

cOyTINUED-DEPENsE
Ar McNshon presented points 70 the COURT shew that
the Indictment cannot be sustaned-among them that
mere error Of Judgment should it be proved and in
the confusion ordering the passengers a does not bring
the case within the 18th sectonthere have been
- me dTeot act such pressing the boiler
II 10 collapse, &c He quoted Darlington and Paine l53
nDd l@6-lsi East Plea OF the Crown POS &c He said
that ID order to bring each party within the law there
fa'e been some direct proNnae act and there must have
been concert Of action. &c Mr. Mem then opened the
defense to the jury.
In rpec to the merits Of the case the boats were not
he said, racing on that day-the Henry Clay was not
making Der usual speedshe could make or revoll
tons mnute-end her speed was 81 to p miles hour
On THAI day to te period Of the fire. distance Of 35
miles from Albany, she had made but Is OF 10 miles
hour
II will be shown that the Henry CLAW was remarkably
safe bost that the fire did commence where it could
have been caused by the heat from he funace but at the
side Of the boiler. and under the grating Ii must have
teen the work Of accident design but not the part OF
any person belonging to the vessel Aer the fire. and n
the last minute in saving the passengers. everything posi-
bic done by Mr. Culver and the officers Of the vessel
Mr. Hubbi I'd the pilot. who has been blamed he has
deserved all praise for the in which he stood
ct his post, fraught with danger It and
placed tie vessel on shore. As to putting boat
on shore sideways, ss il has been sad be ought 10
have done it recently tried by the pilot OF the
steamboat Hendrix Hudson. after being run into By
sOop ard they Hear drowning su the passengers
II viii be shown that after wa sscersned the fire could
be got cut Capt TGman. although very ILL., sent per
forward aud there an order to that effect TO the
passengers Had all rushed forward et fri the most Of
Them must have been directly the hames il will be
shown that with those already there the forward part of
the vesse was crowded and in the manner of an attempt
hos been known 10 escape from theatre, nearly all
must have perished.
II will he shown instead Of racing on that day an ar
rang men had been made by which tho boats should not
race coal wac put on board that day than
usual and tar. pitch or resin-nO extra watches,
or hands II will also be shown that her
amount OF steam carried less than allowed By
law, which IS lbs 10 the nChthe boilers were built
to cary IS lbs but the rate reduced al the me at
the instance Of the engineer IA new cylinder having been
put n insure safety 10 the other par of the machinery
II v also he shown tina; the wood work the furnace
could not have been chsred, there wood work
there within several inches of the machinery Il will also
be shown that there two boats capable OF cOntaiu
rg lCrsons p buckets the upper deck, aud draw
buckets forward.
The eSertious of Mr. Collyer, Capt. Tallman and tho
whole of the ofCeEs almost superhuman tO aid the
Passengers Mr. Colyer on getting to the shore, tore
down fence and threw the boards to different persons in
the water. ard saved several Capt Iallman, although
quite III, having been taking calonel that day, Jumped
into the water swan 10 q boat, and was the means of
saving nine ten ladies and after he had arrived shore
having gone twice in the boat he exhausted and had
70 be carried on board the Armenia.
The officers Of the vessel are known Ia be among the
very beet Of their profession Mr. Coyer is ship builder
have lost 100000 By this calamity and the
event has been throughout deeply agonzng one 20 the
defendants. wrong impression entertained by the
community and proceed ngs not only taken In this Court
but in he adjoining county, bat the latter quashod
number # months having elapsed however proper ap
probation can be lad of the subject and the real facts OF
at cous,role length and proceeded 10 call his witnesses
JoscIh BelkIap. swom-Am one Of the firm OF Gun
bingham Belknsp CO.. we made the boilers ana ma
CuCrv If the Henry CLAW in Is they Of the best
Kind the boiler intended FOR high pressure and capa
ble Of carrying - pounds to the inch We placed larger
cylinder H. her 1889 and did something - the boiler she
fcn capable Of carrying 50 pounds steam the large
cylinder REDUCES the necessity Of steam 81 pounds with
large cylinder would give a. much power a pounds
with the small the fire in the boiler MI surrounded
by water; the wood work Of tho boat could not
ignite by radiation from the boiler the fire roon was
safe and better than ordinary the floor OF sheet roD
eighth Of inch Thick there is no danger rom radi
alton except from the mOke pipe there danger in
this respesin the Henry Clay in respect 20 the cnders
Which have been spoken Of they are not unusual, es-
Iccisly from short pipe.
John d. Weed sworn-Am joiner say the Henry
Clay not org before the es,h she had two boats AID
APPEARED to be well provided with buckets and other
things necessary.
Nj Crazy sworn-Am one Of the steamboa, inspectors
examined The Henry Clay. with NJ. Curtis in lsj! I'D
not observe any defect in tue furnace defect in the
steam cL mney, and reduced therae Of steam Mr. Ger
maine tie ergneer was present. and "IYislng 80 Tar
as ed ON the inspection she was adequately pro
,ided tor running ON the North River
Francis Marvin, sworn--ls ship carpenter in the en-
ploy Of MIR. Colyer. The Henry Clay was built IN the
beet manner.
John L. IIanis, .won--Was a partner in the Henry
Clay recoilect Mr. Minurn the witness, being present
Wien spoke to Mr. Coyer when the latter said she viii
not Iess Us IL was as we were approaching and
Co1sackie saw the Armenia not far behind Us we
not going fast said to Mr. COllyer, vino happened
just then TO come uPto where stood IN sort Of banter
II
boat; he replied I'VE not going very fast said
thought the Armenia would probably pas her his reply
simIly "sLe won't pass us, guess did not hear
any such yeraton the boat approached Kingston
whore the coll sion nor hear any say ths racing
IL oEiregeous from hat had heard OF the Henry Clay
thought he going slow the speed appeared 70 me
10 he moderate throughout the day and steady rate
cm acquainted with seamboatng was in the employment
oithe Troy Company for looked at the steam gusge
The Henry Clay time did il indicate than 20
did Lot look al after passed Bristol when coming
cut from Bristol the Armenia came 20 near 10 US a. 70 get
in sacton; thought effort Of the Henry Clay
by going other side q sl0op - get nd OF her she
sieeTed into the suction again when the boats came 10
getLer link il was from the suction did not SEQ any
thing very alarming in the boats going side by side Is
matter Of frequent observed great heat In the
vicinity OF the Of the sean chimnies IL was more than
usut owing prCbetly TO the steamppe being uncovered
s.acd 10 have been left for greater safety thought be
low the GLANDS the speed not great as expected
Il would have been she going about sixteen uies an
hour. after the alarm did No. go forward was doubtful
10 the nature Of the shore she approaching and did
rot know tut something might give way in tAe machinery
ard tie boiler explode did not il consequence 90 for
ward did not hear any order 70 20 az stood on the
after guard passengers before the boat reached
tie shore, seemed disposed to jump oger' but pre-
Vehte them, expecting should ali be able to get
Ashore alter the boat struck the shore and the passengers
fcurd they "a By the fire great many jumped
over i jumped into the water saw Dir. CODyer then
sW nniIg toward u, pushing before hun some 0oerds
snd Iushing them round TO and another ne did 80
several times and the means OF saving nlmOer OF
Eyts, yas indebted 70 him Tor Of them which made
zee Of could Wm but my brother N law, Tho was 100
iettle 70 move was With me, and remained win nln ~
We got Ia safety there another person with Mr. Cor
yeT. WHO. understood afterwsrd Mr. Gsrmaine, the
Ergineer lie stood Up is neck in the water, while MI
CoLyer swan and pushed Gus 10 where "ss an the
guard about hundred feet from the shore and gave tue
boards to those in the OF whom were trying
% sustain ITEMS lyes with chairs and other things an
Ral.osi Con iacfor; M COIyer on board re
petsecy although was mostly forward I'D not Hear Inn