The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-29

snmsfence which - 10 some extent explained Oy tbe
ssppoeicn that tho strength and course Of the wind
tended drive the water out OF the harDor The most
serious disaster which has occurred consequence of
The storm is loss of the Commodore, detailed
count Of which Is to be found below. The following
Rooms comprise the principal ELECTS Of the storm at and
The city.
Los. Of the steamer Comn,odorc.
Another steamboat disaster has again 10 be added 10
The unusually large number which unhappiy swell the
nsi FOR tho year drawing TO closea year remark
able both the immense lot Of splendid vessels host
by and the number Of lives sacrificed TO either bad man
ssemsnt unsound ships, the fury OF the elements
Come short time ago painful duty 10 chronicle
she wreck OF the Daniel Webster then the Evening STAR
with her living freight Of over two hundred souls next
The Theodore D. Wagner and several Others and to-day
ne have 10 record the loss OF the New York and ston
ington steamer, the Commodore, with the miraculous
sscape Of her passengers except onel and crew, on
n,ght the severest that felt Tor long time,
when the winds blew hurricane aud the frost chilled
and fro1e everything exposed 10 Us piercing cold.
COMMODORE
w,s one OF the regular plying between this por and
Bennington, Connecticut, in connection with the Stoning
ION Railroad she Pier is North river at four O'Clock
% Thursday evening under command of Captain T. j.
Curts having on board about hundred PASSENGERS
and light freight consisting OF dry goods, merchan
dsse, leather &C. valued 1T $500 coo, and proceeded
wall until about hall past eight NJ, when terrific
gale from the norhwes; and caught the vessel of
shc straord Lighthouse The gale increased in fury
svery moment but Tor the Commodore braved
finely, though iaberug heavily aud timber
In her shaking such manner as 10 create 10 the
minds Of tho passengers approximations Of her inme-
aatey going 10 pieces In the open many OF them
avcrr1ng 'thsi she could not be sound boat TO shake
IN 1ha unstlu al fuiF Ier
nourse answering her holm perfectly, BORG handled
IN very nDe mErner meeting with neither accident
nshsr until she the Cornneid Lghtship be-
yond Gcw Haven, when the wind began TO blow in
terrific manner attaching the ship with tremendous fury,
rendering her utterly unmanageabe In few moments,
aAs refused 10 obey ner helm, and could not by any
means be kept on her She completely at
Ia mercy Of the wind and waves which played with
Tor saori Time shs bns feather the
ssss Of the wnis Soon the trying for all came
wbsn breaker furious than all before struck
Asr with terrific violence, 'stove IN" her bulwarks
asA washed the forward decks quito clean.
Hm smoke staess neat went by the hoard
sd the ain and cosfnscn caused by this accident and
sAs nose OF tho breaking OF furstur tho crashing Of
Tampa tables and almost every movable article In tho
snaoon hail. ssatsrooms and cabin. only escelicd
when was announced thss the stoves topping
svss and that there was every danger OF
Many who before remained comparatively cool and
supet now became intensely excited and the thought
thas the destruct1c OF all tho elements had
prsd to cause their total destruction took from them
Of tho intrcpidy when distinguished thor he-
Aavior before u w. trying moment indecd--the
Winds roaring with their utmost fury The snow falling
n thick and dampcnIng fakes, 10 bc frozen immcdi
sately by the piercing wintry frost which, with all
Aaoy IN eat md
she highest the most coura eous rplrlt, ant H. add
70 these fearful ra,s came the 81 Gro, and then tho
moment came which would shake tho nobtsu ana tho
strongest Of all board. Some portions OF tho ship did
catch nre, and only saved from this danger by tho
who after The greatest sxcrtons suceesdsd in subduns
enc flames which, with all tho danger and tho terror
10y inspired were aimoss preferable 70 tho gloomy
hrss pos out, the lamps smashed and tho lights com
pleteiy eHinsuished, and tnen In the dark
shs ship Commodore was len 20 no PLAYED
with by mos, fearful and mcrcliess gallo and IN this
until ono O'Clock in tho morning. during which period
sho vas - before stated completely unmanageablo and
I'll on board expecting Der at each moment TO down
vnAnSUL ErcirrhEsr
The excitemsns on board from what may hs iuaglnsd
from tho statements made BY sevsral OF tho pa~cnser
been scene utterly Impossible for the Den To dessu
Many Of the passengers tried 70 retain proper cooines
ma tabls al such moment Of immaont peril b.,
theI fortiiude and strength Of mind severely
Aired by the conduct o. others board
sctng IKE mxniacs and shrskng with oil mo wdnc,s
OF despair. Others bent their knees 10 hcavcn and
offered up the most feeling and earnest pfayc Tor
sous which they believed would appear % soon before
choir eternal God others were putting on life pro
were as they Imagined, about 10 separate Tor ever 70
meet moro earth. The terror OF tho mcmsnt was
ct heightened by the waing OF party of thirty
Irsh cmgrants who, far from home thousands q mes
away from their own land, iraversng waters that
they never saw before, surrounded ny country 70
vh oh they were utter strangors remembering all the
attractions OF that land they len behind and loved 70
well ciingng 70 the recocctope of tho past which MI
know, much and so naturally affect tho unsophstcsed
mind of the poor Irish peasant was not 70 be won
eli control Of tneir and abandon themselves 10
inter despair their moanpsr, adcus each otbcr
sAscr 10 friends nj homo were beartrendng while their
expressed certainty OF immediate death bianchsd the
ssmUe with fear and add SAN 10 The horror Of
ehs scene must be mentioned
mr pDrx
Tnese man whose duty u was, and for which ihsy
were paid 70 attend 10 the comfort and guard the safety
Of the passengers only tho most useless the
hour OF need bat their conduct added materially
danger OF Mo vessel snd the OF those board
Almost from the hrst moment many Of theso men went
10 their berth, rolled themselves IN their blankets,
and lsft the vce TO her fate wien the pumps he'd 10
be WORKED and other taken her safety they
refused work. aud only lent their beip when paid by
several OF the passengers. One gentleman gave bis
last $40 TO fellow and another refused S. he
said "thsrs was no use In working now" Another
vbiskey, brought IL on deck, and had noisy and
sproarious carousai and one Of them became
manageable that Lieutenant Noyes, U. ~, had 70 We
him up 70 prevent his causing any further damage.
nis = may well be suppnsed, bad most dismal effect
ns the passsagss who. IN ihsg hour " pssd les bs