New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-01
CALAMITY OF RTsCUERs.
AN ASSOC ATFD PRESS AGENT RESCUEs SEVER
PERsONs-sTATEMENT OF BoArMAN.

AN ASSOCIATED PRESS AGENT RESCUEs SEVERAL
PERsONs-sTATEMENT OF BOArMAN.
Henry Roberts, employed at the Associated
Press once adjoining the Barge once, was standing on
the platform the plng the east side OF the SIP
AZ the moment OF the explosion He says that nc heard
sudden lar and rushing sound and that he looked up
ward and behind him, supp0sDg that inc cupoa Vi INC
Barge ONCE was falling In the next instant came d
shower OF fragments from the direction OF inc poa s'
almost Immediately he enveloped in cloud OF stean
sut nos he had large number OF pesonsfa-
nSuto the water Then followed the CRIES ofthe Victims
Which seemed TO minglc together and produce unyer-
al shrek az terror aud agony. He had just left small
boat al the farther side OF the PLATFORM and belns I'M
lu az once ran it, and rowed out to rescue the per-
,ons struggling in the water AS he near he saw,
he thinks about persons. Many men went down ne
fore his eyes; but the seemed to DO sustained
longer by their clothing. There were so many
.tl7igrl'ng in the water before him that ne
hardly knew whom TO attempt TO save nTst'
He soon got seven into his boat, and was tnen
compelled to start for pef for fear OF capszng he
fool in more. Al that moment he saw woman In O
pacN dress few feet distant, throwngup her arms as
size wac sinking He turned TO save her, but was too
aatc. when the seven were removed from the boat he
returned and found woman supporting herself by a
iatCo piece Of GOoring upon which She had contyyed TO
Naoe Eer two children She was quite sctpos-
ses,ed and when he attempted 10 lift her
snto Iis boat, demanded that be should take
sGe children FIRST. He told her they were safe
end urged her Ia take hold Of the side of the boa but
she yehemeuy refused TO do until he had lifted tie
children into II. Next he found dead woman upon
some timbers with child crying upon her breast Tie
enid had received terrible cash upon the head, and no
Believes could not have lived long. Meanwhile, he
pseryed numerous scalded persons moving frantcany
shout upon the platform cooling their burns, aud
9ooking as they did 30, Tor relatives whom they
sds-rd. He saw one woman floating away a. least
$50 feet from the steamer, and su struggling Two OF
snree of the boatm"n, who had by this time
TO the place pushed out 10 hoT but she sank
before they could reach her He had noticed tie people
Bpou the boat before the EXPLOSION and thinks that It
tentauod, az least, 80. Many Of those who persisted
scre covered by the great of mbers which fell into
tbo waer
STATEMENT OF A RESCUER.
10 me Editor Of The TrtbUHe.
SIR: | have read your elaborate and graphic
ses,pon Of the appalling accident which occurred on
she staten Island ryboat Sunday last and 20 the
Information / seek TO give may be Of importance 20
many, toke the earliest opportunity Of sending it to
gpu Arout 1925 rowing pair OF SOULS in a row
soat with 1--WE companions, and had just passed the
batbiugh0usc at Castle Garden, when we heard low
rumblng noise, followed BY o violent report as Of +
bomb TUNED my head in the direction Of tie sound
1ud esw volume of steam issuing from the Staten ISLAM
'cuyhoase. My companions to6t to the vacant oar
ard pullcd TO the shore was about pushing the boa
NJ 10 20 round 20 the ferry house when man lumpe
into Tue boat telling me that lie had brOihef on pOato
EnG pnilcd round 10 the fcrryhouse The hrst oec
~ saw was gentleman Staudmg IN the front OF IN
foir,bost Ia lis shirt aud pants lie begged ms 70 tax
BIN ashore saving he would give us 81 We declined L
TaAe the dollars. ont landed the gentleman On placin
bis loot The ground be tainted away; after 9a,lir
Vim with water he revived and walked awPy. We the1
backed boat 10 The fCTTyhouse, and baby hal
trm-lo1 IN the water; seized Tie infant and took
.utO tle boat. As tlC were several boats around us
HAD person took OF tie cilf which was tneI
living. and hope still lives. The baby was neat y
dIe-s,d in white, with white sash round tho wds.
E,' tLau backed OGi, and about ten yards or saw shGW
g.. Iur ON the wafer. Pulling to A. we foun a woman
5flrIv drad with assistance. which quickly came, We
fs, tue body OF the water aud took II 70 the shore
AsU tfclC placed ID hoard Cf q sW3u yacht TIT
woman was quito dead when taken from the boat We
4,Hrt about A. Wen able, bu in consequence
NJ tho tInat number OF boats we've unable 10 IueI
any fuItIe assistance. GEO. hcttN
Nessjsys Lodging House, ~ PGTkpiace, July ii, 1874