The New York herald., 1864-06-10

ssyteep .r. of .sa Hs sssss lhnS aSsus quArs b.
lore an oosoh 10 was awahsssA fs1 sssp ~ The aaSn
= No Bs js.ssd ~ ~ vsshsa - - ~ - vsss
vas gong o., end oehsld Ne vssssf = Aanss As wNs
s.d daughter haa saly sns - ps sons skvts sv sAs
her dsushsss we're . siaTnsd IhsA shsy would Aays
jumped sto The vasss on ne inssans, vss ~ f NJ
sesvS u. s;S y. 'ss. ,s..,d ,y; 's z. soss
whittier ali The passengers who could DO - were hurry
ing. The three remained 10 that place un.l tse s.n1
the railing, taking hm daughter with him, asd tsoe his
wife 70 rsan there until his return, ~ about 70
ton was 70 drop shs daughter ars. then
do the with the wife, and then finally himself.
5s .ns n daughter INTO sssps. ss river
ths waves. In moment, however he be psss saw
~,h sssp iSrpss to take hts ws but fosnd she was
gone from place whore he had et her, ne gos ovor
the railing on n .sn I'm M Su
proceeded the direction Of the hemes out was CON-
PEELED withdraw hastily - the IRE was most dread
jumped spso shs water aisr his daughter, ana Iound
70 hs intense Joy. that ths mother was there are
same time daughter, but from the oppose side Of
the bow and when The husband reached the river he
oeed on Shore footed 70 The house. half
mile distant. where they were received with great knd
his wife and daughter were aided by Mr. ghbody, VINO
did all 10 his power 70 comfort and assist them iney
renamed a the house all night aud the next morning
was hired and the party psoceeoea W TOW
ler's Hoiel, at hyde Park.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN sHEaGAE.
Capt r. H. sherman was e passenger on board OF the
BERKSHIRE and narrowly escaped with his he from tho
unfortunate vessel He arrived in this city from the
scene Of disaster O'Clock yesterday morning.
company with several other passengers The following
is the Captain account Of this awful calamity given
his wordT.-
The steamer left Hudson al hsfpast six O'Clock. and
stopped at Catskill, where she took a quantity
Of passengers ana butter Afterwards stopped at
Bristol The wind at this time blowing heavy
with everything apparently all right. About ten
O'Clock the cabin lay down In about three
minutes heard some say deck that the boat
fire Sprung out Of bed and rushed on deck, when
found the flames issuing from the freight in the gangxav,
the engine room. II burning with great deal
OF nerceness Went below quick possible and gave
alarm. then seized c prcservcr, and again went
on Deck followed by few of the other passengers.
The fire and smoke had progressed far that there was
immediately went AFT. adjusted my life preserver, and
renamed at he stern OF the boat until the flames came
near sulocaDg me- then jumped into the water and
ashore. Two men Jumped after me, but think
they did not reach land Al the OF re the boat was
headed directly for the shore and the engine continued
forward part Of the boat were able TO wade To the
shore, as the water was only up 70 their. aTmpts.
saved. A number OF the lost in the after
part OF boat and could 60 forward account Of
ing into the river met with watery grave The strnng
and the motion OF the whoes carried those
matter Of mpossbiity 70 stem this current or make
beadway tothe Shore The Berkshire went shore two
mi above Hyde Park on the east side After the boat
took fire. IL but few minutes before She flames
veoped her, and IL became impossible for the officers of
the vessel to do any more than they had done.
There small boats near al hand, and
there could 10 assistance rendered TO those who
compelled to leave tho burning vessel from the stern.
After some Of the passengers had got shore
made her appearance The captain brought her to-
did all in his to render assistance The steamer T.
W. Baldwin also up and lay by us some time and
ceeded on her journey 10 Kingston, think hcro must
alter saloon, as The shriess from that aoarter a. ter
heartreDdng Frenzed efforts were
%aas 1o"s S' ise pss n. s through One The e.
women on board, accompanied by three children,
jumped into the water and saved. when 10
Hyde Park, Captain Power, Of the Berkshire,
with all his men, remained in the vicinity to eive
any assistance which might be needed The boat had
NAMED standing No baggage other than trunk and
small vaise, was saved. All the ofccrs and mon Of the
Performed their full duty trying occasion Two
Ia lies the Misses Day OF Caiski, were saved; also
gers on the Berkshire whose names can at present
recoect There have already been found about twenty
STATEMENT OF Mr.. ,. n. LAsuEa.
Mr.. Y. Il. Lssher, resident Of Madalin, Iputchess
county, board tho vessel. He furnished u
reporters with the following short staiessntr
sitting the wheelbouse the upper deck
about ten O'Clock in the night. Tho 8rss intmation
had Of the accident was from boy, who ran up and
stated that the boat fire. Mr.. Powers, of
owners OF the boat, the same part Of the
vessel with yssf and the moment he heard tho alarm
he 10 work, with others TO prevent disastrous
where they would be better position TO save them
selves The passengers obeyed this order promptly and
with eeod deal OF Judgment proceeded TO the upper
deck, and beheld the fire raging the engine tie
hurricane deck turned down again without delay and
went forward to SEQ the prospect Of saving myself and
assisting others should state here that the officers did
everything that could be expected OF them under the
cumsances TO get the passengers shore ee The boat
shore in few minutes after the fire broke
do not think that than minutes elapsed from
the time the alarm given 10 the time when the Berk
shire grounded ana destroyed by the c0nGagra
ton. | had carpelbag and some other articles in my
sateroom, and endeavored 10 get Mt them but failed IS
as strrcE the passengers commenced 10
lower themselves and jump into the water. let 10Y
sci down part the way, and found eangway on lie
boat called iouay Tor some boards 70 enable the pas
sengers TO get OF the vessel: but my cries were
s ,o no
consequently obliged 10 get of the best way they could
into the rVs oans LADIES % neaSy ana ~ es
wate, hounderng about with difficulty against wind ana
waves seeing now matters stood, | threw away my
one 10 safe place op rock and left her ere, returning
myself I, assist Others. was fortunately en-.
able to be Of any service to themselves
where the ire raging win tremendous fury and a
number OF the passengers TO be seen some In the
mnsl o. tne apparentys auu otneTS Clngmg TO
parts OF the boat near the waters edge far away
possible from The FIRE They crying for help In the
ID 81 belrtTending manner and seeing aid at hand
many OF them lenped into the deep waters, and probably
shed by drowning. VI them picked up by
the steamboat Baldwin and some small row boats The
part of the vessel seemed be grand fame and
tue rest of the vessel wss also 10 large extent fre
lady, with two children in her arms get over the
rail and let herself and her precous charges into the
water. J s@sm towards her with Captain Power in
order 10 save her from watery grave but she
appeared again above the surface at least eyes
and obliged 10 turn back without being able 10
be Of any service. The impression lefi our minds
was that she was drowned, together with her two
little children next waded through the water close
the edge OF the channel following the dc with Wow 10
helping some OF tbe people had clinging articles
iD the water. saw several small boats aiding the half
drowned creatures and IN boat saw lady and two
gentlemen The lady was In agony OF grief Sho told
me she had lost three children was now left deso