The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-03-28

hill street. She was afterwards towpd to the
head of the bar. where she sank in shallow wa
ter.
ssThe fire was discovered at an early stage
from the State House steepip, and the bell was
rung ''North East )" as the boat neared the
wharfth bell was struck Cast" and this fact
took number of citizens and fremen TO the
wharf, and some ofthem arrived in time 10 per-
form good service. Hose were laid in readiness
to put water upon the flames, in case the boat
was made fast to the wharf
"The scene along both sides of The river was
most exciting. The shores were lined with
people watching the blazing boat, and those who
had friends on board were tortured with the
most dreadful suspense.
The scene which had before been sufficiently
terrific, now had its terrorS dncreaSed teniold,
the hope Of landing was at an end, and the
flames left the horror stricken passengers bot
little lime for choosing between two terrible al
ternatives. Some lrappd into the water with
their clothing on fire, while some few others
remained on the burning wreck and We're con-
srlmed in the flames The details Of the demon
STATIONS of anguish made by the passengers are
too Siciening for recital, and we refrain from
any description Of this portion of the terrible
scrue. Of those who Ieaped into the water
many sank TO rise no more with life :som- were
picked up by the small boats that were got out
as quickly as poSsible and others got upon the
floating ice and sustained themselves until they
were taken off. 1t is probable that not less than
fifty human beings prrished by either fire or
water in sight Of their own homes"
The general supposition now is, that some
sixty persons, men, women, and children, per-
ished. 1t was in truth an awful calamity.
THE TERRIBLE CATAsTRopHE ON THE DEL-
AwARE.-Thr Philadelphia papers of Monday
morning last contain fall particulars of the ter
rihIe catastrophe on the Delaware river on
Saturday evening. The number Of lives lost
will not fall much short OF forty. The follow
ing statement Of Mr. w. F. Agnpw, one of the
snrvieors, will be read y ith painful interest
~ am in the employ Of Mrssrs Burns &
Piers, proprirtors Of the Philadelphia Local Ex
press, and reside in Camden Reforming home
from business on Saturday evening, took the
STEAMBOAT New Jersey at 81 O'Clock from Wal
nut-strept wharf and was an eyewitness Of the
most serious disaster that has ever happened on
tempted to reach Camden bv way Of the chan
npl which divides Windmill island, but, finding
the eastern end much blocked with ice, she was
-bactrrr-out and headed up The stream with
view to circumnavigate the island. When OPP
posiip Market street, | observed flames bursting
ont around the smoke stack, and raised the cry
of fire. An unusually large number Of pas
sengrr> Were on board. many OF thtut womrn
and children. The fire originated in The fire
room duriug the absence Of the fireman, and
spread with fearful rapjdilv Il soon wrapped
the entire after-part Of the boat in flames and
drove the passengers forward. The strong ebb
tide setting up the river convinced me- it was
impossible Ia ron the boat aground upon the
northern part Of the island, and was glad TO
SEE the pilot head for the Pbi!adrlph shore
The captain at this time was IN the pilot-houSe
giving orders | was upon the bow Of the boat
in the midst Of a wild, hearrendng scene of
terror. A crowd Of at lraSt one hundred per-
sons including twenty or twenty-five ladlsS,
w-re clustered together in the smallest possible
spare 10 avoid the intense heat ofthr liamrS-
Somc-ciinging TO The guards, others irantcaliv
endravorng tn wrench loose the stanchionS
which were vet FREE from the drv0uriag ele-
mant. while some stood or-stricken, gazing
upon the disappointing flames h4hjnd, or the
lev current before them. There was nothng
or board save bench or two that could BE- made
available as a boat or life-preSrrver. As The
volume of the flames increased, il Caught the
dresses of the women, whose ShriekS for asSjS-
tance were appalling. Not until their clothing
was burnt from their persons did the passengers
seem willing TO seek chance OF safety in the
bosom ofthe other element. One by one, some