Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-03-19
From The PhIadelplaa h.q.a.rer
Dreadful Disaster on the Delaware.
THE STEAMER NEW JERSEY DES-
TROYED By FIRE.
FEARFUI. LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE.


We this morning are called upon to record
one of the most awful disasters that ever took
place upon the river Delaware. On Saturday
night, at about half past eight o'clock, the
steam ferry boat g New jersey" started from
the wharf at the foot of Walnut street and
proceeded towards the canal that passes
through the island There were about one
hundred passengers on board at the time.
The boat entered the canal, but it was soon
ascertained that she could not force her way
through IL consequence of the ice. An effort
was made for the space of ten minutes, when
the captain, William S. Corson, gave orders
to retire from the canal and cross the river
above. Soon after, and before the boat had
reached to line with Arch street wharf an
alarm of fire was raised, and Immediately a
frightful scene of apprehension, anxiety and
panic took place. The boat was then headed
for Arch street, and made her way with con-
siderable rapidity. Meanwhile the flames
spread and the panic deepened, and not few
of the passengers jumped overheard, in the
hope of thus saving their lives. The clothes
of several took fire, and many sprung into
the water or on the ice in this condition. The
aspect of affairs now became awful, yet be-
lief was still INDUCED that wharf would be
reached. But when she was within a few
rods of shore. the pilot was compelled by the
flames to abandon his position, and thus the
steamer turning drifted out again towards the
middle of the river. All idea of safety, ex-
ice, thus disappeared. The frantic passengers
who still remained, now either gave them
selves up to despair, or sprang recklessly into
the river The result was loss of between
FIFTY and SIXTY lives-men, women, and
children! The scene was one of terror and
OF horror, and it was witnessed by hundreds
from the city, who were unable to afford all
the relief that they desired. Boats were put
off, and every effort was made, and thus a
number were saved Captain Corson, in his
testimony before the Coroner, made this state
ment -
have not counted the money, and suppose
[ must have lost part of it, so thet the money
would be but little guide in judging of the
number on board the hands on the shipping
generally aided us in every way, but a small
tug passed when the boat was in a light blaze,
without stopping; one of the passengers was
the first to discover the fire; I have no idea
how the fire caught, the space around the
smoke stack where it commenced, was pro-
tected by sheet iron, which I consider suff-
cient, as the only heat there would be from
the steam coal was burned in her furnaces;
the boat was provided with water buckets
there were no boats on board the boat was
owned by the Philadelphia and Camden Ferry
Company; it is separate from the Camden
and Amboy Railroad Company with different
directions the boiler was examined by the
Inspector of boilers about three months since;
the boat was only used at night, exc, pit on
emergencies; we carried the same amount of
steam last night as usual 4; there was no extra
g -, L
the cloths used in wiping the machinery were
kept in the forward part of the boat a num-
Der of passengers leaped overheard at the
first alarm of fire; when | leaped off l saw no
one on board, the fame and smoke had driven
them all off, though l suppose there were sew
eral burned in her; there were a few loose
benches ON the deck, which were made use of
by the passengers in saving themselves the
seats in the cabins were permanent; [ should
Judge there were from 3 to 20 females on
board | saw number of ladies leap over
board, and some got upon bench that was
thrown over by gentleman; the boat went
through the canal in coming to the city, but
it being flood tide, large cake of ice had
drifted in ; We tried ten minutes before giving
up the attempt; the firemen spends part of
the time on deck there was fireman named
Ferguson in the fire room at the time he was
not the regular fireman employed was not
there at the time the engineer was at his
post until driven away by the fire do not
consider it the duty of the fireman to be al
ways in the fire room used oil lamps on board
and the wood work above is protected, so that
there was no danger from them before the
boat was backed out of the canal, went down
on deck to change the pins of the rudder;
necessarily in returning to the upper deck, l
passed the spot where the fire subsequently
broke out saw no fire nor did | smell any
smoke; there was sheet iron case six or
eight inches from the smoke stack, fastened TO
the wood work; have been attached to the
boat about five years, and never had any idea
of danger from the boat taking fire; there
was horse and wagon on board; L suppose
the horse perished in the flames the owner
of the wagon, Mr.. Shade, was saved his
wife and child were lost the fireman was
named Jester he was injured, and is now
over at Camden.
The pilot Mr.. John Springer, corroborated
the above in all its main particulars, and said
that when within twenty rods of the wharf,
the steering apparatus became useless, and
hence the course of the boat was checked
This was the great misfortune after the fire.
We need scarcely state that the awful calam-
ity created the deepest sensation throughout
the communities OF Philadelphia and Cam
den. Most of the victims were residents of
the latter city. The steamer had no life or
safety boats on board, and no means, indeed,
suited to such an emergency. The culpabil-
ity of so fearful neglect, cannot be alluded
to in language too strong. 1t is terrible to
think that SO many human beings were swept
into eternity within few feet of the shore,