The New York herald., 1871-07-31
THE EFFECT or TIE ACCIDENT IN
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The interest in BROOKLYN was as may well be sup.
posed, Of the most intense description In relation
the melancholy affair, and what added to the IN
tensity of the excitement was the fact that It was
known that large proportion OF the persons In.
jured were residents OF Brooklyn. on the erryboats
OF the various lines plying between the two cities
the catastrophe formed the allabsorblng topic for
discussion and comment among those on board.
Groups were formed in the cabins and without both
front and rear and tales OF the rghiul occurrence,
that had been told over and over again, were re.
told with as much earncstness and animated ges-
ticulation II they were then being narrated for
the first time. Men and women inlermingled and
addressed each other
IN RELATION TO THE CALAMITY
with as much familiarity they who were before
strangers to each other as if they had been ac-
qualnted for years. AS might be imagined nearly
every one had their own theory OF how the explo-
sion took place, and were as eager IN advancing 1t
as though their own life depended Its
being the correct one, Some, who had been
miles away when-th explosion took place.
gave eyplaD atoms with the vivacity OF eye wit
nesses, while, as Ia usual when such appalling
caamities occur on either railroad or steamboat
lines others asserted with Providence thanking
countenances that they were within an ace of
being blown to nOthingness, rs 1t was their inten.
ton to proceed to the island on the very boat that
was SO
C0MPLETELY SHATTERED.
The number OF killed and wounded was fright
fully magnihed and, as the tale Of disaster went
round, the upturned faces and woe-begotten
gestures were ptiful TO gaze upon. The softer sex
were the most deeply agiated, and the manner In
which these eXclamations Of horror came forth as
each exaggerated narrariye succeeded the other
other time, II called forth under different clrcum.
stances.
The New York extra editions OF the newspapers
did not reach Brooklyn until very late hour, but
when they did they were eagerly bought up and
as eagerly perused. Knots of men cOngregated
under lampposts and In front OF store windows,
wherever in fact there was a bit Of light obtain
able, and read and reread the
VARIOUS ACCOUNTS
and searched the lists OF killed and manned with
painful aptitude. Wherever there were two persons
the calamity formed the theme OF their remarks.
Ladies' and gentlemen, promenading or sitting to
enjoy the evening breeze on the stoops or balconies
OF their residences, talked and talked amid constant
interruptions and childish questions put bv juvenile
listeners, and so the tale Of went round, the
subject seeming to afford All inexhaustibe topic for
conversation and remark. We dare say there was
arcely household In this our City of Churches in
which the terrible disaster was not fully discussed.
and doubtless the scene about the Staten island
ferry house formed the foundation for many a
dream.
One excited individual ran up Fulton street In the
EARLY PART OF THE EVENING,
telling everybody he met, and who manifested the
least curiosity TO learn the reason of his hasty
ments, that the entire Esttery was blown to king |
dom come and several thousand people were killed |
outright, while the wounded were so many |
In number that 10 would take scores or |
men several days to count them. When |
asked the cause Of so startling and appalling a |
tragedy he replied thar all the ferryboats having
their terminus at the loot OF whitehall street and |
vicinity had been blown up, but what caused the
explosions he was unable 10 say Beyond this
rather vague announcement but little could lie got
out OF him. Many OF his listeners expressed incre.
duty, while others affected TO believe, aud, be.
lieving were
HORROR STRICKEN.
Some thanked God that they were not on board
any OF the ferryboats while rs many called their
companions TO witness that 80 long as truth re-
NAMED In their bodies they would never trust their
precious lives on boat again. Such accounts OF
bodies minus legs and arms. and legs and
arms minus hands and feet, and all together
nying in every direction through tho air.
and floating promlscuousIy on the surface OF the
water. II was never our misfortune to hear before
rhe absurdity may be excused under the crcum-
stances but there we're great many who firmly |
we're OF the opinion that the entire lower portion OF
ne city OF New York had been blown TO atoms This
vas Inferred from the drst accounts received from
persons who arrived shortly
AFTER THE ACCIDENT
oox place, and who knew no more about the
ifraIr tnan they themselves had cleaned from the
leck hands aud others on the Brooklyn boats But
n q great excitement like the presen, one all this
OF narration Is pardouaDle, and per.
ons describing the scene are not expected to con-
Inc themselves strictly to the truth To sum up
Brooklyn wa sfearfully ayitated but not over de-
ana at eleven O'Clock the major nor.
Ion the goodly inhabitants were sound aslcep.
When the real magnitude Of The terrible calamity
,ccamc known the excitement was most intense
those who supposed they had friends or relatives
N the boat were nearly frantic, and as they hurried
o the scene OF disaster, were making all kinds OF
Inquiries In regard TO the accident II was
impossible 10 get any correct account of the |
docking affair Some said there were
me hundred persons killed, while others said there
we're one hundred AM Gfty or two hundred. Those
yho happened to be IN the vicinity nj the time re
,ort tho scene as beng heartrendng. The dead ana
wing. as they were recognized by their friends.
we're shocking sight, ana one which
annot be described. IL was known that !
large number OF Brooklynites were
N board the nlfatcd boat, and this, OF course
ttraced a great many people from Brooklyn. The
erryDoata were crowded far hours Nv people (gpS