The true Democrat., 1856-04-08
Terrible Accident on the Delaware
 River

The telegraph has already given us detache
 and uninteligible intmatons of frghtful ac
 cdent on the Delaware river, caused by tn
 burning of ferry boat between Phiadephi
 and Camden. Our mails. this morning contai
 full particulars of the terrible casualty. Tn
 accident occurred Saturday night, and an ex
 tra of the Ledger gives the following details
 One of the most fearful disasters which Ina
 happened upon the Delaware since the burn
 ing of the William Penn, some twenty year ago, occurred on Saturday night between anc 9o'clock
 The Camden ferry boat New Jersev." be
 longing to the Philadelphia & Camden Fcrr, Co.,, with passengers to the number of nearl, 100, mostly residents ofNew Jersey, started fo Camden.
 The boat was headed for the canal, but or reaching that point, Capt Cofson discovered that the ice was so jammed between the banks that to go through would be almost an impos siblity.
 The boat was then turned northward. so as to cross the bar some distance above Smith, Island When nearly opposite Arch street wharf, the boat was discovered to be on fire near the smoke stack. An effort was made to check the flames, but without avail A scene of Wild excitement ensued, the passengers all pressing forward to escape the flames, and to be the first to jump ashore as soon as the boat should touch the wharf the captain having di- rected the pilot to steer direct for the Arch street wharf When within about thirty feet of the wharf the wheel house fell, rendering her steering apparatus useless. A strong ebb tide was running, and setting up the river. ,rh bp Eo oh wharf, and float toward the island again. Be- fore this time, however, most of the passengers had jumped overheard, some of whom manag- ed to get upon cakes of ice, and others were taken from the wafer by persons in small boats. Many of the passengers, among whom were some females, remained on the boat until the burning of their clothes drove them to leap in- to the water
 Mr. Samuel Goverson, of this city. was on board with his wife and child about fourteen months old; was separated from his wife when the fire was first discovered He immediately made search for her; but getting in the midst of the excited throng was hurried overboard without obtaining any knowledge of the where aboutS of his wife and child. He was soon res cued, and on reaching the wharf he was over joyed to hear that his wife had been saved and taken to the Weatherby tavern, but his child was drowned. Is mother held on to it until exhaustion compelled her to relnquish her hold.
 Mr. Nixon, of Camden, was on board with i. his wife and child. and both remained on the deck until their clothes took fire Mrs. Nix on was considerably burnt. She states that wheu her husband was separated from her and forced overheard, his coat was all ill d blaze. She has not seen or heard of him since. Mr. James w. Ferguson thinks there were about sixty persons Oil the boat, and when the fire WAS first discovered he was talking with fellow clerk of his named Howard When the place became too hot for them, Ferguson, in company with Howard and some gentleman unknown to him, slipped over the steam boat into the water, and held on to the rudder chains until nearly exhausted, when he let go and commenced swimming for the shore He was seen by persoas on the wharf, and rope thrown 10 him and thus saved. He could not tell what became of his companions.
 Mr. Wm. Agnew, a resident of Camden gives terrific description of the melancholy disaster, as follows
 MIR AGNEw's STATEMENT l was standing conversing with Mir. Mus champ, conductor Cn the Camden & Amboy railroad, when hr discovered the il mes burst ing out around the "smoke stack" Making al exclamation that the boat was on fire he StrMg forward to the WindWard. He saw the Capmn m the pilot house with the pilot. Al most the moment the fire was discovered the boat was headed foI the Arch street wharf A wid, heart renGing scene of terror ensueG.- There were, as nearly as he could remember, over one hundred persons on board, including twenty or twenty-five ladies. By common impulse they rushed to the windward to avoid the intense heat of the flames, which had now enyeloped the whole after part of the doomed vessel. Asnew cung to the guards as long as he could. Around him, franticalIy endeavor- ing to wrench loose the stauncheonS which were yet free from the devourng element were the horror stricken passengers, who, but few moments before, had been so full of hope and . happiness. There was nothing that he could see save q bench or two that could in any way te made available as a float or life preserver.- The flames, as the wind drove them about, n- creaoiug in volume every moment caught the dresses of the women, whose shrieks for assis- tarce were appalling. One young girl, Miss Camn, was the only one he recognized, and the last he saw of her she was enveioped in fire aud screaming ptcouslv. The scene was now almost too awful and appalling for reality One by one-sometimes five or six at a time they made the fearful leap from the burning wreck into the scarcely less terrible chances ot death amid the ice and water.
 The boat had struggled up to within twenty or tW euty five feet of the wharf, when the pi. lot house fell, and all command of it being lost itsWmg out head down. There were at this time not more than six or eight persons remain jugoa board that he could see. He eaped into taa stream, and says his only fear at that mo- ment Was of being struck by the wheels. He swam about one hundred yards, when he pro- y.dentialy reached the bow of clipper ship, a.d was rescued by the promptneSs of the men on board.
 lie is positive that not more than ten minutes elapsed from the time of the discovery of the flames around the smoke stack until the boat was completely wrapped in fire. The captain, as far as he could notice in the confusion, was cong his utmost to save the lives of those on board, and the pilot remained at his post to the last
 The fire originated in the fireman's room; does not think the least blame can be attached to the captain or pilot, nor, to his knowledge, to any of the employees. The treman's room was not fire proof. Mr. Agnew was at Blood goods hotel, foot of Walnut street, from whence after receiving, through the kindness of Mr. B., d change of clothing, he proceeded to Camden, to aIlay by his presence the appre~ tensions of his family regarding his satety.- Mr Agnew's friend, conductor Muschamp was unable to swim, and it is feared that he is lost.
 The engineer of the boat did not quit his post until he was forced to fly by the heat from the burning of hls clothes The pilot, MT. Carter, remained at his post until within a few moments of the falling of the wheel house.
 Further Particulars of the Loss of Ship
 Rutledge.
 Captain Wood, of the ship Germana, arriv- ed at port yesterday, from Havre, and furnishes the following account of the sinking of the ship John Rutledse, by running into an ice-b berg, and the rescue of one only of the ships com pany.
 Ca the 28th ult observed q ashp's boat ahead, and dispatched boat in quest of it. Approach ing the strange boat, it was found to contain Thomas w. Nye, of New Bedford, the only