The New York herald., 1871-07-31

most active IN rendering assistance to the wounded
One young woman who was drowned had her
tongue hanging out OF her mouth, showing that she
had struggled hard for life.
One man was found with the top OF his head
blown or totally blind, alive and conscious, but not
| likely to live.
Several were brought out alive, minus their legs
and arms.
One little fellow lay dead the tower in the ferry
| house. HIS chest was all burned and his clothes
| all in shreds The body OF one lady was found with
nothing on but her pettlcoat while the bodies OF
| others were almost Naked their clothing having
| been burnt OF.
| One man, said to be one of the engineers, was
| found dead and jammed in among the ruins, with
| piece OF iron through his cheek.
| One OF the gentlemen drowned ana whose body
| was recovered, wore q massive gold watch and
| chain, and had $70O In his pocket DO0k His name
| did not transpire.
Among the dead was little baby q few months
Old, with one leg of. II was scalded TO DEATH The
mother shared the fate OF her poor little one.
| A good many stray limbs were picked up out OF
the water and in the boat and several pieces OF
the woodwork were found floating with pieces OF
flesh sticking to them.
Most Of those picked up by the boats were found
| to be dead. good mano bodies SANK, but at a
| later period of the evening about forty were
| covered BY graphing irons.
| The scene Oh the Battery bafles description: 1t
was one which made the heart grow sick to witness
| the dead and MANNED. who few minutes previously
| were in the enjoyment OF perfect health and who,
| perhaps. looked forward to happier end in this
world. IL was sad to look upon the ds1gured forms
OF those fair whose countenance gave evidence
| ofmuch loneliness and beauty and who never more
were TO gladden. the home OF fond husband or
brother 1t was sod to look upon the MANNED forms
| OF the stronger sex and to think OF the weeping
widows and orphan children which they had left be-
hind-or the desolate homes which they would never
more enter. The Battery. indeed, was more like
battle field than any thing else. but made more sad
by the weeping wife looking for her husband, the
child for its mother and the husband for his wife
| little Ones A wounded German sitting under
tree receiving every attention from his devoted wife
and child, who were administering stmulants to
him.
The ferryman was heard 10 state recently that it
| was near time for the steamer to be inspected, as
the boilers not lit for ii. The vessel was thirty
years old and her boilers were not, it is stated,
strong enough for the pressure Of steam put on
| them.
When the Northnel1 steamer returned from
Staten Island about three O'clock she failed TO get
| single return passenger, and she had to return,
! towing the remains Of the Westned to Staten
Island.
| In the midst of the excitement and after the
feTyman had left his post to assist in rescung the
wounded his office was entered and sum OF $3.50
stolen from the desk.
Statement OF Mr.. III. II. Hale.
intended being passenger yesterday by the
Westfeld, and had gone aboard few minutes be-
fore the explosion A friend fortunately called me
down to the bridge to speak to me and stepped
| ashore to talk with him. While we were conversing
the explosion took place. was between the boat
| IN 10
| boat. The first sensation experienced was the
| conclusion, the cause Of which 1 Immediately sus.
| pected. had friend on board, with whom was
to make the excursion to the Island. l rushed back
| TO him. His name Is Laverne f. Beebe, OF Oneida
county. IN this State He was sitting in the upper
cabin, right over the boiler. That was tie
last I saw OF him, and, although / have looked
| through all the hospitals, 1 have seen
| nothing OF him yet. My fears are that
he was blown up, and If not instantly killed, was
drowned in the water. When turned around the
| air was full of smoke and steam, and for some
minutes nothing was visible OF the wreck. Tho
cusslon was 80 great that felt pushed
forward, and crouched with the awful
terror which the explosion inspired. The
gush OF air carried away my hat and landed
it six or eight feet toward Battery place
The spliniers flew all around but was not hit One
large block OF wood passed beyond about sixteen
| feer. 1t falling as!if 1t had been thrown
distance in the air. MIR. Beebe had Just arrived In
| the city. The crowd swarmed In toward the wreck
| and was carried with them. The shrieks and
| groans Of the wounded were OF the most agoniz-
Ing character I Immediately tried to find my
| friend but was unsuccessful He had not
returned to his hotel up to five O'Clock on Sunday
| evening. The humber on board must have been a
great many, 1t was near the time for boat to
| start She was blowing Off steam and making
| great noise, which was the reason went down
the bridge TO speak TO my friend, whose voice was
| inaudibe 10 me, although ne shouted up to me
| when l was on board l live in Rome, Oneida
| county, and was on visit to the city with Mr..
| Beebe.
Statement Of MIR. Nicholas Muller.
Mr.. Nicholas Muller the welknown politician OF
the First ward. was Of those who was near the
Of the disaster when the explosion took place.
rhe moment he ascertained the extent of the
calamity tna had occurred Mr. Muller, with praise
worthy humanity, engaged at his own expense every
carriage and conveyance he could ind to convey
the wounded to the hospitals. In conversation with
reporter Of the HERALD MIR. Muller stated that he
was almost the distance OF a block away when he
heard the noise OF the explosion. II resembled the
sound made by the discharge of gun. ~ at once',
said Mr.. Muller, crushed to the ferry slip, where
sight met my gaze which shall not soon forget.
The boat presented a spectacle of utter wreck and
destruction If 1t had been struck with thunder
bolt On every side lay men, women and children
groaning and wrthng in agony. The passengers who
had escaped seemed to have lost their senses and to
be dumbrCunded Many who were themselves un.
injured had friends and relatives on board, and
were lost IN agonizng doubt and suspense as TO
their fate. One woman excited the pity of all who
beheld her she rushed about irantically looking
for her son. who mad parted from her few mo-
ments before the explosion Altogether I never
saw sight so horrible Or pitIful. A
few minutes before the explosion was speaking to
Mr.. Rheinart who with HIS family going on
board the boat for the purpose OF taking trip
to silver Lake, and who. luckily, too late. This
was the case with q good many other people who |
in few moments more would have been on board
the boat. The police and hremen deserve great