The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24
THE BURNING OF THE STEAMER
BERKSHIRE.
FORTY LIVES LOST.

ThouA Tug NCW IOrk WOrQ, JUNO H.
Another terrible disaster has occurred on the
Hudson river, more narrowing in Its details
than almost anything than has taken place in
the record of steamboat accidents for years
The disaster of the Isaac Newton cannot form
any parallel to it, for in that only the loss of
a fine and beautiful steamer was involved.
while the burning of the Berkshire proved
fatal to many human lives.
The Berkshire was steamboat belonging to
the Hudson Steamboat Company, quite new,
only having been launched few weeks ago.
She took fire on Wednesday evening, while
coming down the river. and burned to the
waters edge. 1t is estimated that forty lives
were lost in this sad catastrophe.
1t appears, from the statements made by pas
sengers and Others, that the steamer started as
usual from Hudson, on Wednesday evening,
on her way to this city. One hundred and
thirty, or more passengers were on board,
many of whom were ladies. and there were
also quite a number of children. The depar-
ture from Hudson took place about 6 o'clock
or little later. The passengers, many of
them had retired to their berths, while Others
remained in the saloon. chatting cheerily TO-
gether on politics, business and domestic al
fairs. passing the time away as well as mlSG
be. in happy Inconsistencies of the terrl6ie
scene that was soon to burst upon them. On
sitting quietly smoking their cigars, Watching
the crinkling waves and admiring the bold
hills that covered with green forests. rose on
either side, Swallowed, as night gatnered
round, in solemn darkness. None imagined
that any of those cliffs were to be lighted up
before midnight with the fires that should light
their own funeral pyres.
Thus the time passed quietly on. The eve
ming was beautiful a mild breeze was blowing
from the south, and all seemed serene. Seven,
eight nine o'clock passed. when suddenly the
dread cry of Fire, fire, was echoed through
the boat in such fearful tones that none could
mistake its genuine meaning. Nearly every
one seemed to hear it at the first alarm; but
Others, all unconscious, slept quietly on, in
their state rooms.
There was a rush in all directions. People
threw open the doors of their rooms, and ladies.
gentlemen, and children rushed out-a few
seemingly calm and self possessed, and others
faces. "Where?" "Where3" "What is
the matter?" "Is the boat on fire?" Have
the boilers burst " were among the hurried
questions that were asked of almost every
person by almost every other; but for mo-
ment. that to them seemed an age, none knew
definitely what had occurred. But "a the cry
continued in fearful chorus. swelled by other
on deck the spreading flames. famed and
driven by the increasing wind. met every ones
sight. The boat was indeed in flames, and those
flames were spreading wider and mounting
higher every second. They caught upon some
bales of hay, and as the hoops and cords burned
away the bales burst open and into hot blazing
masses that quickly covered almost the whole
deck.
1t was scene that not even q painter who
has not experienced the terrible reality of such
q moment could accurately depict. Up into
the beautiful summer night the fires mounted
and Missed, lighting up the waters and shores
on either tide with their angry glare. How it
started, no one hardly knew 1t is stated that
it was first discovered by Capt. Sherman. q
passenger on board, who thought it must have
commenced in the lamp room. or hava started
among the hay from a spark dropped from
some gentleman's cigar. The flames spread
aft, forced by the wind, and th lose who had not
been fortunate enough to happen to be near
the forward part of the boat soon seemed to
be cut off from escape A number were only
half dressed, and others wore only the night
dresses in which they had laid down to sleep.
Not only did the flames spread along the main
deck, but the smoke rolled in huge volumes
above aad below, half Supplying many of the
frightened passengers. They gathered togeth-
er in groups in all the tenable places, some on
the extreme PROV, and others at the stern,
while still others, forced by the advancing
flames, endeayored to let themselves down
over the sides and hung by one or both hands
from the ratings. Some were still heard
cropping about below, endeavoring to get out
OF the cabin. Some jumped into the water
and tried to swim ashore. One man was hang
ing over the side with young lady clinging to
him. and it is believed the lady was drowned.
The boat was headed for the shore, for it
was impossible to put GU: the tire and the only
hope that remained was to save as
many as possible of the passengers. The
shrieks and cries of the frightened passengers,
as well as those actually suffering from the in
creasing heat, were most painful. The boat
struck on the shore in some tour feet of water.
She ran head on. and thus afforded a way of
escape for numbers who were on the bows, but
ut her stern. where more than a score of pas
sengers were gathered. there was still ten or
twelve feet OF water, owing to the rapid slope
IN the bottom of the river and the heavy load
OF freight on the steamboat Those on the
forward part jumped off into the water and
succeeded in wading to the shore. MANY of
those at the stern jumped off too. but some are
believed to have fOated down the river and
finally sunk beneath the surface. Some were
saved by boats that came off from schooner
Dear by and from the steamer James Baldwin.
The greater number that persisted were sum-
posed TO have been burned alive in their state
rooms, only waiting in time to find that there
was no escape, or rushing into the fire only to
fall suffocated and helpless in its hot embrace,
There was marked difference in the depOrt-
ment of the ladies. All were pale and anxious
but some appeared comparatively calm and
self-possessed, while others were completely
in MYSTERIES sobbing and shrieking in agon-
izing tones. The children were fearfully PAN
ic-stricken and gathered about their parents,
where they could find them. beseeching them
to get ashore in some way and crying loudly.
Messengers were dispatched to the neigh
boring farmhouses, whose occupants immedi-
ately betook themselves to the scene, and did
all they could for the sufferers. A number OF
ladies and some gentlemen were kindly tax IN
to the neighboring ho1ses and cared for as
well as possible Wagons were procured for
the passengers. and transportation was thus
provided to Hyde Park, where they were placed
on board boat and conveyed to Rhinebeck,
from whence many took passage for Hudson
or New York. Some arrived in this city late
on wednesday night. wearing only their shirts
and drawers, and others came on yesterday by
boat and railroad. after providing themselves
with the necessary clothing.
The Berkshire is almost q complete wreck.
The captain of the Daniel Drew reports her as
being burned completely away to the water.
She was heavily loaded with freight, which
was valued at one hundred and fifty Thousand
dollars, and which was mostly consumed. The
steamer herself was new. and had made but
few trips. She was furnished in splendid style
her cabin furniture alone being worth several
thousands of dollars. She belonged to the
To-,