The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-03-27
Burn:a. q, The camden Ferr,.,3at.

The Philadelphia Lsdser gives the follow.
iny account of the la.e dreadful acciden. on
The Delaware river:
One Il Tie most dreadful disasters which
has happened upon the Delaware since the
burning OF the William Penn. some twenty
years ago. occurred on Saturday night, be.
tween 8 and O'Clock
The Camden ferry boat. New Jersey. be-
longing 10 The Philadelphia sad Camden Ferry
Company. with passengers TO the number Of
nearly one hundred. mostly residents Of New
Jersey, started for Camden.
The boat WAS headed for the canal. but on
reaching that point, Captain Corson, discov.
cred that the ice was SO damned between the
banks. That to 90 through would be almost an
lmpossibility.
The boat was then turned nor,hward. so as
to cross the bar some distance above Smith.
Island. When nearly opposite Arch street
wharf, the boat was discovered 20 be on FIRE
near the smoke stack. An effort was msds
10 cieck the flames. buI without avail.
scene of wild excitement ensued, the passea-
gers all pressing forward % escape the flames.
and - b. the first 10 lunp ashore, as soon
the boa should teleh the wharf. the Captain
having directed The pilot to steer direct for the
Arci See. wharf When about thirty feet
Of the wharf, the wheel house tell, ren1erin.
the steerin2 apparatus useless. A strong ebb
.3c was running. aud setting up the river
which csuecd tbs boat 10 sheer off from the
wharf, and float towards tire Island again.
Before this time. however, mos; Of passengers
- Jumped overheard. some Of whom mana
.i 10 get upon cakes OF iae. ani others were
lalea from the water By persons in small boats
Many Of the passengers among whom
some females. remained Oh the boat nn,l the
banning Of their eIosbes drove them To leap into
H.. water
Mr Samuel Goverson. Of Ibis city. was %
board with his wife aud child about / ! months
old; was separated from his wife when the
FIRE was first discovered He Immediately
made search for her but getting in the mids.
Of ire excited skrong. was hurled overheard
without Obtaining any knowledge II the where
sOa-s Of his wife and child lie was soon
rescued, and on rearhiag Inc wharf, he was
oyer5o vgd 70 hear that his wife had been saved
and taken 70 tie Wea' herby Tavern, bu, bis
child Vas drowned Is mother held On to i.
until exhaustion compelled her to re!in4aisA
Der hold
Mr.. James II. Selling. of Camden. ESCAPED
w..h his life. Notwithstanding the boat passed
or hifn. When taken from the water be
could scarcely move.
WO men. named IL WATTS and y cage,
residing about SIX mics from Camden. may
aged to get upon cake of ice. and fos.ad
until picked up by person 10 a small boat.
Mr. John G. Little. Of Cam len, vas found
dad floating upon the river.
Mr. Richard Mitchell, residing 10 Cam3sn.
but whose place Of business is a; No. % South
Second street was under the boat Tor short
time, bu! escaped without injury. AMI was also
instrumental N saving one Of tie female pas
sen gers.
Mr. James w. Ferguson thinks there were
about sixty persons on the bat. and when tae
fire was first discovered be was talking VIII
fellow clerk Of hi. named Howard Naea
the place became too hot for them. Ferguson,
in company with Howard and SONS gentle
man unknown TO him. slipped over The steam
boat int, the water. and held on 10 the raddsr
chains until nearly exhausted. whea he let %
and commenced swimming for the shore
He was seen by persons % the wharf. VITO
threw him a rope. and thus saved him he
could not tell waa. had become Of his com
panions-
Mr.. Yeatuaa remained on board until tae
flames became insupporiAbIe. He finally Owed
down as deep as he could urge himself. sna
succeeded In getting clear Of the wheel. AZ
though as be was rising hi. hat WAS struck y
one Of the paddles He then swan towards
tie shore. aud succeeded il laying bold OF sss
cu.wa.sr Of = vessel He called for help. ass
was thrown a rope. which be fastened 10
lo.ap around his shoulders. and was drawn %
hoard