New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-30
THE BURNING OF THE MONTREAL,
NEARLY TWO HUNDRED SAVED.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER
SOME OF THE NAMES.

and loss Of life consequent on the des ncon Dy nre OF
the steamer Montreal when of Cape Rouge, on her
massage from Quebec 10 this city Frdsy afternoon
We feel tn 81 this is time 70 speculate - moraize
upon the cupable it may be the criminal negligence
bv which 80 many Of our fellowcreatures have lost
their lives but we have desire to conceal he fact
that with or without justice, the universal cry L
that the Montreal was not and has not been dqnng
this season in safe condition, and, more especially,
that the precautions against fire were extremely In
sufficient.
It's sad il is dreadful, to contemplate the crue, fate
of the poor immigrants, who were on board the
doomed vessel ard who On y reached what they bad
looked forward 10 as land Of promise" to find 10
II hopeless destruction and sudden death. Words,
however fail to express the Indignation which must be
felt should their terrible fate be proved on inquiry to
be the result of the reckless negligence or OF the I'M
feeling, graspng love OF gam OF those VINO enaced
them on board the Montreal.
A thorough ard rigid investigation into the causes
Of and all the facts and circumstances connected with
this terrible disaster wi take for granted be at
once instituted by the proper authorities and how
ever dreadful suspicious may be as 10 these causes
until we have the result Of that Investigation, it is only
lust and fair toward the owners Of the Montreal, to
give 10 decided opinion upon the subject
On Friday night the Montreal left Quebec at
o'clock with about thirty cabin passengers on board
md some four hundred and fifty or five hundred emf
grants Among the former was Andrew Hayes, esq.,
Of ST. Joseph street. Mr.. Hayes has furnished us
with the following information:
When the steamer reached about twelve miles from
Quebec above Mr.. Atkinson's place at Carouge Bay
Nh HAYES Ouise the saloon at the after part OF
the steamer when he observed q smoke rising up IRON
the Indslps OF the boat over the saloon. In very
short time number of persons were rushing with jugs
of wateS to exiinguish the fire. There was one boat
on board the steamboat on the hurricane deck, ana
hand belonging the steamer went up to try to get
her into the water. Mr. Hayes did the same thng and
between them they got the boat over the side, and let
90 the tackles. He then got into her, and IN minute
or two numbers of persons crowded IN and the boat
sunk Mr. Hayes then held to the boats tackle,
and maintaine ed himself in that position for a long
time, till the heat from the burning ship became too
great. In the time crowds OF persons
stantly jumping into the water aud climbing down the
guards 10 get the water a. possible.
Al this time, the boats head was turned toward the
north sh.re and she until she approached the
shore to about hundred and fifty yards from it,
where she appears to have sunk in deep water to
have struck a ok. as some persons believe AT any
rate the water was so deep that there was no posi-
bilty of reaching the shore otherwise than by SWIM
ming or in boats. The flames, alter the smoke was at
rs perceived did not take more than ten minutes to
envelope the whole vessel and in two hours she was
Mt, Nv DESTROYED go that hardly vestge OF the veg
sci could be seen The Napoleon had started at the
same time with the Montreal, and was at the time OF
the accident at distance OF about hall mile from
the Montreal and above that vessel. Probably from
fear of taking fire. the captain of the Napoleon aid not
nudge il prudent to approach the burning vessel.
large boat or batteau, was IN tow OF this vessel ana
after some contention, Is reported, with the pro-
prietor, she went of to attempt to save the passen-
gers from the burning vessel. She also had TWO
other boats of her own which were dispatched to the
scene Of the disaster. There were also some boat.
which came from the shore, but none OF them could
approach very close to the steamer so that every one
who WAS saved was obliged to make some attempt to
swim for their lives. Mr.. Hayes himself, alter re-
naming as be believes, nearly halt an hour hanging
on TO the vessels side found Ia hot 10 remain there
any longer, and struck out boldly Tor 1oat "nIcn
was approaching He swan to this boat; but a. the
men on board saw much larger number OF persons
in jeopardy of their lives hanging round the wreck
they neglected Mr.. Hayes calls to be AIKEN III ana
il was not till he succeeded IN clutchisg he o1a' ana
raising himself up by his own muscular force that ne
f.lt himself safe. The boats with the persons who
was received l25 passengers and 10 dc al nVd'os. 90
the messengers saved a great number were sadly
bun d. and many of them greatly bruised. Once on
board they were treated by the Captain with every
attention. -.
Resides those who were taken on board the Napo-
leon few persons Mr.. Hayes thinks not more than
twent,. succeeded in swimming on shore or 10 some
rocl- in the immediate nelghborhood oi the beach.
Mr. HAYES was acquainted with rome OF the passsn-
GER on be- ard the Montreal except MI Leslie, OF Car
ter Kerry 4 Co., aud Mr.. Phillips, OF NOrcr"ss fhi-
lips & Co. neither of whom were seen on board the
Nnpol. on aferward and as Mr.. Hayes believes, were
both Of them drowned or burned Ony thLee csoh
passengers are reported to be saved out OF the Whole
number.
Mr. HAYES was so long in the water as to have
brought on excessive cramps, which caused swelling
In his joints, and afflicted him with the most ehcru'ia
ing pain. ...;. ~ % Cha .ta.m
boat or TO the small boat by which he WAS eventually
saved, he was repeatedly grappled by unfortunate
persons in the act of GROWING, and al tue moment
when be laid hold of the boats gunDe lie believes mat
six persons chiefly women, had hold OF his skirts
These the boatmen took before they extended any
aid and comfort 10 him. and during this hnal struggle
for life his suferngs of mind aud body were exec 'sye
There were increased by the dTeae ful cries ana seh
of drowning persons going on In every direction around
him. These he described as being awful Ia the eA-
IRENE Men, women, and children were suffering the
fortunes Of fire and drowning. On one hand poor
or, allure would be perced on an outside part OF
the steamer, where resting place could be
obtained only BY the closest hold with both
hands and feet. and there hanging in tor
ure till driven by the smoke and flames he OF she had
to take the fatal plunge into the cold river below ln
another direction stawart men might be seen seeking
10 themselves about the irons OF the guards or
the paddles Some Of them ost their hold, and sunk
AT once Others managed TO hang on for space, but
al last they had 10 give up from sheer fatigue or oy
the pressure Of other sufferers seeking 10 secure the
sane refuge Here families preparing and de-
erminirg to die together there the husband or the
wife Jaw his or her partner forever separated. Women
with children in their lesped into the water
Others held on the burning wreck until losing their
foo,hoc they fell, and were !o-t forever.
The Montreal was insured 10 considerable extent
We do rot know whether sufficiently to the loss
One policy we have heard Of for 81 OO0 effected in
American office, and We presume that II there are
other insurers there also American.
The batteaux which was in tow OF the Napoleon
and which did so much in the way 81 saving life, Is
said to have belonged 10 Mr.. Hamilton OF Kingston
Her captain according 10 the reports on board the
Napoleon. was exceedingly unwilling tina, Anything
should De done with her for the purpose Il saving
lie. ard when the unfortunstes from the Montreal
were assembled aiterwafd On board the Napoleon, be
was very naturally the subject of loud reproaches
the part of those who had witnessed hi nhuman hes
itesOn.
The Montreal on which this sad accident occurred
i not the celebrated steamer long under the CON-
maid Of Capt Armstrong and during that gentle
mans time 50 great favonte with the travelling pub