The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-23
THE HENRY CLAY STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.
United States Circuit Court.
Before Hon. Judge Ingersoll.

United States Circuit Court.
Before Hon. Judge Ingerson.
OoT. 22-phineas Wells, being examined by Mr. Dunn
ing deposed-I reside in Brooklyn, and physician
have resided there than ten years;I onboard
the Henry Clay passenger the 28th of july 1852
board at Cozzens' landing, West Point at
the dinner table, this about twenty-five thirty
minutes after coming board took my seat near the
passage way to the cabin had eat nothing sincs very
early hour in the morning and determined have
the first chance dinner was served in the after cabin
after dinner went the promenade deck Immediately
and sat down. about twenty feet from the sern the
fire. previous to taking my seat noticed that the deck not
being protected by the awning srawn with
OF anthracite coal there was an awning overhead but it
had holes in it, and there openn that these rag
ments sifted Gown; obliged to shift my position
after got under the awning, to shield myself; after
had been sitting there can't tell how long, the hands of
tie boat came to take down the awning to it
from the east to the west side of the boat ;
where the sun was then shining; when the supports of
the awning taken away quantities of these frag
meats of coal fell the deck, making noise like peas
which could be heard at considerable distance; the
changed by fire. they looked just like fragments of coal
you would see in coal yard Q-Can you tell if these
fragments had been subjected to any degree of hea fob
jected to- ADMITTEDLY WIN regard to the hize of the
COAL the jury may form idea from the fact that gen.
tenan had newspaper in his hand perhaps the HERALD
and quantity Of coal the seat and he endea
vored to rub them of with the paper and could not and
he obliged to turn the stool get them OFF, there
appearance of fire the fragments; the first
noticed Of the alarm was the people rushing back sup
posed it ordinary cry; started to my feet and
told them there was danger they became quiet and
almost Immediately after that saw smoke coming up in
front of the starboard water wheel house; that
increased, and soon / fame mixed with it,
the promenade deck expecting to jump off, to be rv
off, and then turned my face towards the bows of the
boat and watched its towards the shore and the
progress of the ames she vent bows to the beach,
not obuey but at right angles and possibly thirty feet
up the sand beach; the water deep; don't know
one esped in stood in that position until ali the r.s
sengers had left with the exception of four ladies' whom
took out the smoke and the flames at this time
higher than the chinney when left the stern the boat
beached the flames occupied the forward part of
the deck that looked for sancheons to descend upon
the lower deck when looking for the stancheons look
ed also for boats and found none looked both sides
at stern quarters and there certainly boats there
don't TO state positively that there boats
but none; If there had been means of safety there
think should have found them went from that position
forward sarboard end boat and got the main
deck and then jumped Off the beach, having put the
four females: looked got on tho boach
and boats knew Of the officers of the boat
think should know the person who sold me my ticket
WITNESS here points out gentleman in court, named
Colby, Jessup the person who sold him his ticket]-
there is in court like him; did not hear any
of the officers give any orders with respect to the
of after reached the Shore unless the stools which
Cross examined by Mr. WheatonI have no idea of the
time that elapsed from the alarm of fire until got off
her to the beach, not in the best possible condi
ton to calculate the time but she two miles after the
alarm of fire. should think it from ive to six mi.
nutes the boat had struck the shore about from three to
five minutes before left her; looking for of
escape and also watching the progress of the ames
by the time got shore the flames had made consider
able progress the smoke and fame were such to cut
or my view from the main deck; passed the fire the
starboard side there much difficulty in passing
that two of companions considerably burned the
flames struck me but did not burn they were ladies' that
saw their burned when reached the shore
the pieces of coal that fell about the size Of peas
the wind from the south, and there pretty stiff
breeze and the boat running the of the
what fell from the pipe would naturally be carried the
awning have seen cnders fall before but did not con-
ceive those to be cnders. Q-Have you been
boat where you have cnders blown the seats A.
Yes but not such these; have noticed the size Of
cnders that have fallen but not frequently don't know
that have them large did not take up the
cinders and examine them merely them as they
lay on the stools and % on the 0oT and on the bench
CLOTH 1t did not take FIRE when the Goals fell within its
folds could not be positive of the time got the boat
at Cozzens' landing; think it between and two
O'Clock in the day.
James II. Gibson, examined by Mr.. Dunnng.-I resided
at Denemora, Clinton county was deputy clerk Of the
Clay the day she burned; took passage at Albany;
went down from Troy that morning; continued on
bany about ten twelve miles down the river atten
tion called by trembling and jar about the vessel
as something uncommon this was was 50 nue. much 50 that hat
could Judge how fast the boat going but attention
was called the fact thought she going very fast
than the ordinary speed of boats average
that river have frequently travelled up and down the
North river heard remarks made in presence Of the
officers heard remarks made In the presence Of gen.
tleman who represented to rs Mr. Collyer, and
who appeared to have charge of the vessel that day.
heard remarks also in presence Of Mr. Jessup; the
marks made to Mr. Coyer we're remonstrances on the
part of the passengers.
Mr. Jorda. objected and required the witness to state
what the remark was
WitnessI can't state the person persons who made
the remark, but know there number stepped up
when the boats racing, about the time Of the COLI
,ion and wished Mr. Colysr to stop racing; can't give
the exact words they used the remonsrance not
strong Mr. Jessup the substance was about the same
n nee d
ref renee to the management of the boat Al noticed
Coyer in different parts Of the boat saw him around
and give orders the first thing that excited my attention
tho jarrng of the vessel my alarm increased the
collision with the Armenia attention was directed to
the hands and the officers all through except Capt Tall
man; observed them noting the speed Of the Armenia
and running backwards and forwards; heard remarks
made can't say that any remarks with regard to the
comparative speed OF the vessels made in the hearing
any the defendants did not hear any Of the defend
ants make remark concerning the speed of the vessel
did not hear any Of the officers boasng Of the speed of
the vessel they only said there was danger when they
demonstrated WITH the Henry Clay left Albany ars
the Armenia was about five minutes behind we kept
nression that the Armenia landed at Catskii rst and
left II rst after left Catsk the Clay got ahead of
her. the Armenia at the westerly side after
Armenia three four miles below Catsk they to.
geher again the Armenia was ahead on the westerly
side the Henry Clay stecrsd towards the Armenia three
or four miles from Kingston on the up SIDE (Which
boat steered towards the other before they came into
lsion9 A-The Henry Clay; think the Armenia kept
her straight course down the river; the Armenia was
the shore than the middle Of the river At the time
of the collision; should think she was mile annd half
or two miles fom the shore; was somewhat excited
when the boats tegether noticed the inspectors
certificate when paid my fare at the ohce there was
quite crowd around
Q-From your examination of that certificate can you
say what amount Of steam she was permitted to carryS
AHA opportunity Of observing 1t whilelwaiting to
pay my fare and considered it to be thirty pou Is
Of steam; always said 1t thirtyfve poundsi OBJ
the gauge when at the babers shop and the yes
sci then carrying forty pounds of steam was stand
about twenty feet from the gauge had only glance
at III If had the figures palmer could swear more
positively.
Mr. Dunnng oe cd to prove that the quantity of steam
the vessel carrying the subject Of conversation
at the time.
witasss sontnued-what induced me- 70 look At the
stean gauge he rate oe speed at which were e.
ing Ispsks 70 the barber 0 The boAt u regard TO ,