The New York herald., 1863-12-07
STEAMBOAT DISASTER ON THE HUDSON.
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The Explosion on Board the
Isaac Newton.
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The Vessel Completely De-
stroyed by Fire.
SEVERAL LIVES LOST.
Many Of The Passengers Badly
Scalded and Burned.
LIST OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED,
&C., &C., As.
&e.,


steamboat disaster occurred the Hudson river about
opposite Fort Washington. The magnificent steamboat
Isaac Newton burst her boiler Immediately after took
FIRE and burned TO the waters edge before any
stance could be rendered from the shore The unforru
nate accident oocasoned the death OF four persons
tanly, and perhaps OF six others besides nuring nine
more In such 10 render their recovery
utterly hopeless
In yesterdays issue we furnished readers with a
brief but very imperfect sketch OF tho occurrence,
owing TO the laieness OF the hour at which
the accident took place, ~ well as on &C
coun, OF the fact that tho telegraph operator at
Yonkers not to be bad at his Office enable persona
Interested to learn he real facts Of the We there
fore repubsn the leading features OF the accident
contained In yesterdays HERALD together with Other de-
tails obtained by our reporters yesterday.
There 10 q good deal OF mystery preserved about the
matter by The ocers Of the Isaac Newop who de
srous keep back the OF Affairs from the eyes
OF the public, fr what reason II Is difficult compre.
bend any other theory than that the accident tho
result OF some careessness ess cupabc, tho
part OF those who had charge Of the unfortunate vessel
Our reporters found great difficulty yesterday getting
plain statement o the occurrence from Dybody The
people Of Yonkers knew actually nothing except
hearsay and the wounded suffering TOO n,ensey 10
bo able 10 AFFORD The desired Information
From various and opposite sources however. have
been enabled TO collect the following meagrs details.
which may serve TO throw some light tie subject
TBR pIsLsrER.
II appears that the Isaao Nswton-ope Of the Gpcet
steamboats, running 90 the Hudson rver, between thn
city and Albany left ber wharf st the foo. OF Cort
andt street. about six O'Clock Saturday evening,
under tho command OF Captain fecu She bad
between hundred and nny and Two hundred pas.
sepgers board Al tho time, besides The usual guam
hy Of freight and her ordinary complement OF 6rsmeo.
deck hands, &c She went along very smoothly and
quietly for about hour, wbeo suddenly tremendous
explosion occarred on board, and n instant all ~as
confusion and alarm The large boiler bad exploded.
scattering unlimited amount " peDt op steam sOi
boiling every exposed portion Of The vessel The
furnaces whiSh 10 close proximity TO tho boiler.
were bown Into pieces BY the tremendous force Of The
expeIoo and the rod hot Goals ana burning wood ~ee
In consequence about ,he steamboat setting ore 10 ~
and thereby adding tenod 10 the horror Of sps shuao
The iuckless vessel 10 few nnutss uodss sDs full
control Of tho ocry slsmsoi aOa 10 ssssmps describe
The scene would be fru,lless ,ssk
Fortpnaiely very lev of sbs passengers were the
open decks where tbey would exposed 10 the
horrible dangers Of death by scaidns or burnn. was
just about the time when most Of the passengers H
their supper preparing for comfortable nap 10 their
berths expecting To wake oil tAe and sound Albany
The Iady passengers we're cosy settled tho cabin sod
the were either 10 the after portion Of tho vessel
smoking or. As stated above eating their suppen 10 bs
retectory Owing TO this fact the fatal results not
extensive they must almos. Inevitably have
been under any other oircums,anees
As war the mere occurrence OF the eupiosion dread
fui 10 Itself even without the lose Of me- was well nigh
driving Of frightened men, ami cnllireo TO
sock waiery grave 10 preference 10 beng narbea awe
on the yteamboat
DBgADrrL ecgsE on BOARD
when the true state Of Affairs bee known the
passengers the excitement and alarm represented TO
have been perfectly appalling. The women hudded 10
eether IN the cabin, In state OF the most abect fear
and tho men, according TO all accounts, scarcely
more nrmross Than their weaker companions. All the
life presorves board the burning steamer were PRO
cured abd furnished to the females 10 Gaze The last
emy Of despair should render necessary an attempt 10
swim for hfo 10 the store at either aide Of the river
The men furnished themselves With evsrythiug that
might the purposes of buoy lbe water, such
az chairs stools, &c There some children among
the passengers, and, may well be imagined, their
helpless condition added to the terror Of tho scene
Some u The men equal TO the emergency, and dla
ting sshed bemseives by their attention 10 the more
beipsss passenser the ladies' end children ~hs oesdei
eli the COO ISOLATION that could BE- gwen 10 them
rHE vBssEL ON yIRR.
Tho night was exceedingly raw and blustry aad this.
Of oourse rendered the possibility u eItngui-hing the
Gre extremely remote. The hissing steam aud dense
vspors envelopsd portion OF the vessel 10 eoos,
through which was iupos,bs FOR the meb 10 rcns
ate orcer 10 take steps rescue her from her per
Gus position The sesping name ras sil that could DO
seen through the smoke and steam, ADD the ressei
evidently doomed 10 desiructian.
CONDUCT or rBE OFFICERS
AZ 10 the ofncers, they behaved ao1ring 10 tho
Arc m a fgeS
made hs signal of distress worthy crample 20
bs sabordiuaes boxing sler ne faiety q the lss
sengcr Fyytblpg sppears h. have beeu doue 10 fact
tha, under the Circumstance ought b. have beeo ex
tected The passengers we're collected tgeihef % The
east erpossd portion of tie boat ard hc .cgSid sefo
properly taken o. II discovered that qa.ts
number sighuy scaldcd and t-frsd, shlis about
thirteen or fourteen injured frshHul manner
by the boiling water and steam h.mc q ne hrrmen,
working below At the time II tbo dent we're tasst
out IN nsn dead oondilbon ,ber faces nAndt nso.s
arms aud other portions q itef b3ist bsvias b,ca
cissht by tie boiins ~a,er.
TuE btcrE
10 the meantime the signals u dfusss ser. asfrsrsa
from the Shore At each sGs rropel,r. called hs 10
ne y. Miller, and the toAi Herald ,pn ge' ussr The
burning steamer ard oos on mot q 10 p4srs-ger' bali
dead from and sIctemeot several rAhl boais ai'o
came ~ % good time and "a so1 'cryFe % rscsHs
the rsssebgsrs rumber " re- b0ais ~ o.1 irciA
the ,bofo ADD q .sd fes q ite fssseassrs avahed
them'elvcs q tLese light bary 10 re.cb ths 'rendly
and oces more. u bcl,evci ttai an the iasie Esft
abd crew. sounded and ubhgrt ss's iafeJ Asst ron
tho Ne~po and Aosd 90 vsssss st,h sect ~ ne
rescue
Captain rscs ssserts ootsdstuy hAi Dope ysfs lei
behind, and lhough v ihe ostwIy sos q cscg
st'on, ~ protabe Captain Ped s,aiensat ftictly
correct We mp si's, torsvsf, ~ shas . q softA,
cue runor -tieh represented that he basgass Hsstr
q iks Newton. NJ. A.. W Disd,r<s, ~ith i-o q The
hrsrnsa and too little shostiass ~sre Essrs after tbs
acc dent, aud have not sibos Ds.n aceostSd ior
A. nSsstso ~ The drsA1isi rAIsfe q Ne dagger 70
vhk> " psAssssNs we're oN~$s. u shssss ~ stssSa