The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-18

NEW 1ORk, Au<dsS IL. loo4s
presume that q, account Of ths fearful soeae Of
YESTERDAY, from one wao unfortunately ~ss In the
midst Of l., ~i'l not be una cepsabie to you.
An EXCURSION was got up BY the asv Nc. Lewis,
the sealous Roman Catholic p.sor Of Clifton, Staten
lslspd, for the uposs Of raising fuods Z, build ais
pew church. H. VAS aided BY some influential gen.
tIemsp, his parishioners; and s,me Of the young
men Of Brook in having most handsomely offered to
merge an Intended excursion Of theirs Ia bis, all
promised yell.
Il was l04 A. n. when the steamer Nay Queen,
(towing the barge. Irene andI New BLtimore,)
rescb~d Stapleton lock, I. She had made the
New York d Brooklyn landings, and there were
about 500 on hoard. A. stapeton about 900 got
on and at Quarantine, New B ighton aud Factory
vile she received acce ssions, no that when we turn
I'd and stood Gown the bag for Keyport we must
have mad nearly 5000 on board, great number Of
whom were chldren. The day was delightfully."-
fine. ear all went merry "a marriage bell" We
reached Union near Ke, port, at P. NJ, aud start
ed for home ut quarter before6. We hal been on
our return about an hour, the dancing having been
kept up With great spirit. whom q smoke was
perceived issuing from the " oodwork behind the
wheel, ana scene Of the widest terror and confu
sion ensued. The screaming Of the women and
cbildu and the rushing Of the rnen were fearful
bad mp wife and hild, little girl Of eight 70 ira
IN tho barge New BALTIMORE. The child had beon
wande lpg about all the day, and wnen the alarm
war gwen was not with us. rad from the barge ~
the steamboat, and although fcg miDntcs only had
elapsed, smoke was issuing from the GENRE OF the
latter In volumss. Manv men and women were
tneeavoring tn reach the baxges from the stern Of
the conner, the space between bsiog considerable;
and when they could not dn 81 leaped overheard.
epdesvored to persuade them to go through the
smoke. but in vain. ] trust none were drowned.
Isearched all the steamer. calling out the childs
name but pr0vldentially size had returned to her
mother. When g0t back to ths barge endeav-
ed TO get the ladies an: md Cu,idrco - pa y 70
acai,y an3 d .nser. Toe heat from 0e burning
ve.se, was Ia ense, AMI "a ali had crowded T, one
side 70 avoid it. feared the upsetsng OF the barge
the stairs narrow and step and as al were striving
To get down, the crash was fearful. Having headed
for shore struck. about five feet water, con-
Siderable distance from the beach, and about tv0
miles from the telegraph the s0uta side Of staten
Ilard. am It We red in nautical matters. but IT
appeared to that tho argos were separated from
the eteamerisih ereatjue gment Mr. Brennan harhor
master Of this city, WIS nu board our barge, ana
believe great deal Of this was slng TO his skill
and coobess. Nearly two hours later, when this
gentleman, who had got nn $40 9 previously, found
that msrritd lady Of his acquaintance only was
still on board he waded to Ma neck to got her Ian
cd. rhe-Coney lslaud steamboat and several sm Ill
vessels same as near as they could. All even the
sight Of them gave us c,mfort Ny only appre-
tensions nov were tina. tbs barges might take Acc,
and though we rad bottom, II we took the water,
feayeo that toe clinging and want of proseoce OF
mind Of the ladies would drown us. The sun was
settiog beautifully. Betwean barges and the
shore was Deep continuous line of men carr ing In
their arms women AMI c,ildren; four or i've boats
taking off the people from the barges; all rushing
snd gro wding to % first; childreo ADD w,meu
thrown pramis uouslg from tac high barges to the
bottom of the boats; beside rs the handsome
steamer and Der beautiful cabin curtains aod IN.
ipRs burnis most Ter ely; the shore coy cd vita
people and vebicles; aud Ia the background the
steamer Nmwalk (fuL of passengcrs,) aud several
email aft, looking on--a'toaether IL vas u scene
not likely to be s0on forgotten by those who wit
me- SD 1t.
1t was the general impression on board that
during the dav the fremen had neglected their
duties, and were on deck drinking. Ifso, how aw-
tul tho COL sequences might have been! 2.