The New York Herald Newspaper, July 31, 1852, Page 7

= _—- COLLEGE COMMENCEMENTS. ary Gur New Haven Correspondence; New Haven, July 23, 1852. Commencement at New Havem—A new Edifice—A new Professorship—the Alumni Meeting, be ground has just been broken for the found» tien of a fine edifice, to be erected on the northwest eorner of iho College square, to contain a handsomo room for each of the three literary socicties, and a Yarge hall for the use of the Alutani soviety. I bear there is to be a now professorship establish- ed. Professor Norton, formerly of West Point, and Jately of Brown University, will be made Professor ef Civil Engincering, and a fine department will be ereeted accordingly. He will bring with him four- teen students from Brown University. Mr. Hill House, of this city, is now traveling in Europe, and purehasing instruments fora fine private observatory. Thia will be an ornament and a credit vo the place. The principal intorest to-day, is the meeting of the Alumni. It was held under the g eat tent ot the College, which was spread under the elms in front of the amie Here, at ten o’clock, resorted tho duates, old and young, for a season of that do- ightful intercourse which prevails among literary men, and among the children of the same Univer- sity. Tie meeting was organized by the election of Dr. Jonathan Knight, president of the day, and Rev. 8. W.38. Sutton, permanent socretary, and Hon. Judge Gould, assistant secre! 5 The President thanked the Alamni for the honor conferred upon bim, which he regarded as rather an enor paid vo the medical profession than himself. Dr. Field. of the class of i502, offered prayer. The obituary notices of gradaates who have died within the year, read by ltev. Mr. Sutton, was, as usual, an interesting uccount, a sketch of some of the most aged and the most distinguished of which Tgive you. The document was Taye by Profes- sor Kingsley and 8. ©. Herrick, Msq., Librarian, — The oldest surviving graduate of the College is now Dr. Aineas Monson, of the class of 1730, who was born in this town in the year 1763, and still re- sides here, in comfortable healta and the enjoyment Of his intellectusl powers. Thirty-nine alumni have dicd du Taking them hy classes, the first, is Rey. Samuel Not in Vi54. A Kew lio avd aftorw Conn, In muvoh Fery in the an bis biowrapher rev men.” One of tho most emi their inatruction to bia is his br President of tho i 3 ng the year. he venerable , Oona, uaained in ther Bi Until within o the datios Union Colle the ps died i ther Bareuel W born at Bouthi ninth year of bis age. ruff, of the class of 1 » Conn , 1759. Heights, not long fa May, 1824, bh ear, he sailed from New York in the brig as ageat for dist buting among the ¢ ks a cargo of provi- sions and clothing, contributed by the poople of thie country. Hye died aged ninety years and nine months. Rev. Henry Davis, suocessively tutor in Wil- Krams College and Yale College, chosen Professor of Divinity in Yale Collogo, which he deelined; Pro- feseor of Grevk in Union Colleze; President of Mid- dleburg College, Vermo: d_ afterwards of Ha- milton eotloge. Te died a; eighty years. Rev. Mosis Stuart. at first, studied law, and was admittod to the nd besoming @ tutor im Yalo Collego, ie stadiod for the ministry, aud was ordained pastor of the First church, New Haveo. His sabvsequont eourse is well known. Roy. Christopber Edwards Gadsden, Bishop of Beuth Carolina; Rey. Thos. H. Gallandet, whose watac is associated with benevolent operations; Hon. Isaec T. Preston, of New Orleans, whose 4 actrous fato is fresh in every mind; Josiah Spalding, of 8t. Louis, Missouri, formerly editor of the Re- Seen eon: Frederick Whittlesey, Representative jee-Chancellor Judge of the old Supreme Court, and at bis death Professor of Law, in Genesee College; Rev. William Croawell, whose death in boing tb the widst of his career was #0 ely lamented; Rey. William Kirby, of Iltinois; Rev. Joseph Din- nie Tyler, Va., arc some other honored names who havo died the Inst year. The list of the dead embraces two of the class of 1851, of whom Brinsmade, the last deceased, a yeung man of brilliant promise and grostly ad- mired, died only three days since. Upon.a sentiment approving the obituaries, the Rey. Dr. Adams, of New York, spoke in his folici- teus manner. Indeed, sir, said he, silence, I think ie the most appropriate commentary upon a pape like that to alike have listened. We are all saddened by the doing of death. Returning to the heme of our youth, there are many reflections that make us sad, and we scarcely nm the intimation of our mortality, and these memorials of those with whom we have been associated, to increase tha’ emotion. “This is the state of man. To-day he Sp forth the tender leaves of hope. To-morrow blos- some and bears his blushing honors thick upon him. The third day comce a frost—a killing frost, and nips his root, and so he falls.” The most impres- sive recollection of my life, is of the time when death entered the college and a classmate fell. The tenderness of our sensibilities, all unused to such seenes—our absence from home—the reflection of absent ents and friends, overwhelmed us with grief. Ee spoke in an elegant manner of the great man. Upon the list of the dead, he came to speak of his personal recollections. He was an alumnous of an alumnous, aud well did he recollect his father’s storics of the old time of President Styles. Then followed the Presidency of Dr. Dwight, s0 illustrious a uxme, whose fame belongs te more than one hemisphere, and thon that re- markable phenomenon of our intellectual firmament —Sol occidit, nox nulla sequiter—the sun set, but day remainod. (Great applause. The venerable and reverend ex-President Day was sitting upon the stage.) Thore was Professor Kingsley, whose resig- mation last year was oue of the most afflicting sul jects in the meeting; he believed he had an account to settle with him. Upon a certain occasion when the class was oot Tacitus, that passage in the Germania, in which he speaks of ‘gloria frontis,” came to him to translate. Not having examined his leston very studiously, he was bungling it, when Professor Kingsley spoke out abruptly, “Horns, horns—that means horns. He thanked him for the reproof. He would now give this sentiment:—‘* Professor James 1, Kingsloy—The pride of his admiring pu- ila—the truo honor, the true gloria frontis, which as reserved #3 his white and honored head.” (Great Jeughter and applause.) ‘tne Hon. Fal Strong followed, and made some highly culogistic remarks upon Junius Hall, Heq., one of the most quict, unobtrusive, and worthy of men—a scholar and a philanthropist. Upon another sentiment, Prof. Olmstead, of Yale College, made some happy remarks, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Merwin, of the class of 1802, which now eommemorates its semi-oentennial annivorsary. Quite a number of other gentlemen—all of them of wn age that is honored or vencrable—occupied the stage at the left of the Chair. r. Morwin said, that at their meeting there was no ono ready to speak for the class. It seemed to him that a8 men accumulated experisnce, whed they might be supposed to be enriched with know- ledge, that they mh cautious, and slow to speak- ing. Onhis lett ho had @ clasemate whose ships annually visit every sea, and whose voice is in the meotings of the merchant princes of the me- tropotis, but here he had not ® word to in his right hand he had a classmate who had a D. D. fixed, and a D. D. subjoined to his name, (Rev. . D. Field, D. D.,) yet he has nothing w say. ‘There was on the stage, a beloved physician, who is beord with rospect in the councils ef his profession, who will not speak to-day also. There was a class- mate, who had administered the government of the Btate, and a President of the Senate, yet none of them would say anything. He read a warm-hearted Jot- ger from Hon. Mr. Maxwell, of Richmond, Va., who, if he was present, would speak spontancoys- Junifls Smith, he who first suggested the idea of navigating the ocean by steam, who was now sanguine of introducing the tea plant into this eountry, was a classmate. fie had wished to bo present, but he foared the interests of his tea would suffer, and he had forgono the pleasure of the mocting. Of tho fifty-six in the class, twenty-four survive. Among their number jiad been an unusual number distinguished. He mentioned Hon. Isaxe Chayran Bates, of Massachusetts, who died, while in the Senate, and hed Daniel Webster for his eulo- gist, and whose remains were mourned over by all the people of his region. There was Rev, Roswell R. Bwen ond Jeremiah Everts, the Mathew ale, of this country. Dr. Adams, of the claves of 1827, whish cole- brates its tweuty-filth anniversary, being called up, shifted the daty npon Dr. Bushnell, who, he said, bad gained colebrity and notoriety enough a whole class, (La er and calls for Dr. Bushnell, who didnot x nis Appearance.) Finch ond Carno, of the class of 49, five yoars i eatly for their class. ‘on was complimentary to Rov. and expressing regret at his resignation of preacher. Goodrich spoke most ably and fecling- . He weid—I only regret that it is ontirely im- possible to ly this, without encroaching at least for some short time more than I could wish. upon the thme of this occasion. When thut resolution was read, my mind went back instentiy to the most momevtoas pol Bo through which this College has ever passed, within the memory of the oldest graduate now living. It was tho year 1417—the year in which President Dwight ‘died Never, except in the ease of the death of Washington, has any event emote upon the heart of the communivy like the death of that great man. And for mycelf I mast say that [ felt as if I must come in- stant!y upon this ground, and stand aa I would over ,the corpse of my own father. As soon as it could be, the whole clery of this State assembled, and we stood around the remains of that great man, then placid in denth, and feeling, every one of us, *My father, my father, the ehariot of Israel and the horseman thereof; and we saw him no more.” But the great question in every heart was, who shall take his place; upon whom shall the mantle deseend? Raut Providence, who watched over the institution, provided, as Dr. Adams so beautifully alladed, a head for the in- stitution, and for thirty years wo walked under his rerene light. But, sir, there was a vacancy to bo filled. ¢ fame of Dr. Dwight hai been chiefly gained in that little pulpit, inting to the old chapel, now the Lyceum.) rofeseor Silliman, you remember that a letter of condolence was addressed here, by a gentleman of the South- em States, and it contained the advice to publish in the papers that tho Cuilege shonld not be closed, and that we would try to go on althongh Dr, Dwight was dead. Such wasthe feeling of tho time. And now bis place was to be filled, and some one was to go through that circait of theology after him. The corporation choose a young man twenty-seven yeare of age, diffident even to bashfulness, and I wonder how he ever came to acoopt, except that he was too diffident todecline. (Laugiter.) Oh there is one day which no other professional man knows of, and that is the day of his ordination. I well re- member that day, when the Moderator of the Coun- cil said to me, ** Now you are to stand still and let us lay a mountain upon your heart.” And then, eightcen months after, Ioame with the other olorgy of the State, to lay a mountain upon the heart of Dr. Fitch; and I would not for the universe feel the bit terness, and terror, and anxiety of that man. He suvk under it so, that for months he entirely sus pended his duties, but at last resumed them. And [ remember well that he told methenone thing, which is the key to that man's life. Said be, when reading President Edwards’ life, {1 remember that he said, he had no talent for conversation or socia! inter- course; his whole talent lay in working out trains of thought with hia pen.’? Fitch said that iv was emphatical!y true, that if he was ever bo sero the College, that must be his way; he could dono more We might uee the language of Barke, of bim: “He censures God who quarrels with th porte sof ma You could not e f this man first the scholar; he studitd under Vro‘eesor Stuart at a time when be infused ai] the ardor and f his own snind into his pupils. 1b use if you want to bny « Hebrew bible rem ‘ap ly toa young man threo years out of th: de. Pitch did not rel bis Hebrew bibl ask me now where is a man who will &n obscure passage, and read out its moanin point.yon to Hleaxor T, Fiteh, And ho is preasher. Dr. Fite unites two qualities of mind, that of the bilozopher, aud that of the poet. His philosophy is that of abstract relations, a quality of whieh he carried the whole force into theology. THe had ex- traordivary acutevess, fal tast in dis- covering fallacies, th him to lay | hold, of a train of thought and pursue it } to 4s furthe analysia without lovsing its extraordinar: address in the abstractions of logic. Ho had a laminovs method that broaght the whole current of his ideas to bear upon bia subject, and that was the crownmg exoellence, indeed, of his genius. Every effort of his was closed with a beautiful oratorical, poetionl thought, giving force and impressiveness to whatevor he hnd established. The younger classes could not always go with; him but there was ,a conviction that there was ability, and that he had proven what ho undertovk to ascertain. His style was'so simple, elear and pointed, that it had the terseness of Junius, and the beautiful flow of Addison. A more perfect. model for a preacher I know not; [ eannot but believe that that absence of pomp and show in the productions of our students is in no small degree to bo aseribed to the unconscious influence of Dr. Fitch. We know the rebukes he sometimes gave to vieo and the panderers of vice. In 1823, in that it~ tle chapel, gunpowder was placed under the Professor's seat; and at midnight the chapel was blown to pieces. All the front part was blown down, and the windows blown out. It is tho prin- ciple here never to (ke up the ship. Next morn- ing was the Sabbath, and the College was assembled in the chapel, at 6 o'clock, to prayers; and at 10 o’olétk, we were gested, with our families, in the bleak exposure. When the text came out, ‘* Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” we and the blows came eloquently one upon another. Then we felt proad o our preacher and proud of our College. Now, I bave not been pronouncing a eulogy; I have been simply stating facts. I have wished, sinco his in- creasing ivfirmities havo compelled him to docline, to express our sincere regret, and our wish that hie connection may not be entirely discontinued; and the corporation have requested the same. They have requested him to deliver that course of ho- ctics, of which I may say that a distinguished President of another College has, after examining it, with a view to prepare his own, pronounced per- fect, and has adopted its plan. Profeseor Goodrich continued this admirable speech to a further extent than you will permit me to report, and made a solemn statement of the necessity of the enlargement of the salaries of the professors—how could they ask # man for $1,140 a poy to fill the place of Dr. Dwight? ‘he fourth resolution was one of welcome to gra- duates of other colleges, and Professor Silliman, always sparkling, responded, giving various inci- dents in his recollection during four Prosidencies of the College, and during all the Presidencics of the United States. He mentioned that it was his deli- berate conviction, after a former and a recent ox- amination of the University of Oxford, that this ele ce required more than Oxford to make a Bache- lor of Arts. Dr. Thornwall, President of the College of South Carolina, and Dr. Sturtevant, President of Winois College, both made interesting speeches, and tho the meeting adjourned, after it had held for three and a half hours. he Of tho other proceedings of tho day, I will givo you an account in my next. ViaToR. New Haven, July 29, 1852. Commencement Day in New Haven. We have as fine a day as the graduating class could wish, if they were even more anxious to graduate auspiciously. Tlie air has been cooled by rain, anda gentle wind stirs the foliage of the no- bie trees that overshadow this house, and give me “dissolving views” of the beautifai picture of the green before, with its churches, and the State Houee glittering in the sun, and thrown into reliof by the wall oftrees behind it, which stand in the yard, and almost conceal that row of brick bade a 6 parallelograms. J confess my partiality for rural elegance, even in a hotel, an gir it was be- caure I was so pleasantly placed that I have en- joyed Commencement week 60 much. The long procession has just marched into the church. At. the head of it were tho lower olasses in college. then the graduating class, which was fol- lowed by Dodworth’s cornet band; next came the President in his scholar’s robes, supported by the Lieut. Gov. of the State, and the riff of New Haven, and then followed a line of venerable men, who graduated more than fifty years ag9, and so down to these who had graduated only last year. Tho church was not so crowded as it has been in some former years, from wha’ cause I do not know. It may be from the unusual number that visited the sausee at the great semi-centennial celebration in 18 Yesterday afternoon the societies had their plea- fant re-unions, ag is their custom, and in the even- ing the Phi Beta Kappa had their oration and poem by eet and Pierpont, which were, briefly, elo- quent, brilliant, witty, and humorous. Now the bells are virging merrily, 4th of July fashion, to announce the clove of the morning exer- eines, just as they did early this morning, Tho Alumni come to the Colloge, and sct down to a handsome lunch under the great tent, and before and after it they stand around in the shade, con- — groups and classes. As the senior tutor stands at the door of the tent, and calls for the class of 17, and 60 on, little do- tachments of two or a dozen men emerge from the crowd, and march into the dinner, until the graduating class themselves onter, and, for the first time, bave the honors of Alumni. At tho clore of the speaking, the degrees were conferred by tho Presidont, with the usual ceremo- niece, Besides the graduating elags, there wore a | Jarge number of othere who reocived their second degree, and there were several honorary de- | greesof M.A. The College does not give D.D.’s and L LD f late years. ually at the President's, is at Profos- Thus ends the Commencement of Viator. 4 08, sor Salishury’s. 1952. Crops in Cravrauqure County —A recent trip | Phautavgue county hex sativded us that the crops, | at well as wsual, The fruis, | 6, and as to peaches, there © at all, comps iy, except in a few favored | | sections, ‘She hay cron, now being out, ts abont equal in yaine to last year’s crop, thongl lighter, bat spring grains generally, corn, potatoes, he, are like te prove failure, on aeoount of the scarcity of rain for a few weeks | past. Winter wheat looks better, Parturage iv very | poor —Buffale Rough Notes. | Pe ne: THE BURNING OF TH H RY CLAY, nnn FURTHER PARTiCdL ARS Statements of Passengers, tnd Testimony Before the Coroxer, ARs SCENES AND iNCIDENTS. More Bodies Found anid /de.ti’ed. Hon. Stephen Allen Found. CORRECTED LISTS (F 1H? DEAD. Forty-three Bedies Recognized, and Twelve : Still Misslag. PREPARATIONS FOR RAISING | H> WRBOK, Burial of the Dead, &o., &o., &o. The public anxiety in every part of the Union, is 0 great to learn all the details of the burning of the Henry Clay, and the terriblo ssenes connected with it—the origin of the ealamity, the number, names, and residencos of the deceased—that we subjoin all the additional particulars we could voliect, under their proper heads:— SCENES AND INCIDENTS. In addition to the peremptory and fatal order given to the passengers, to go sft, after tho fire was discovered—being the canse of the great loss of ife— there is another cause which we havo Jearsed from one of the parsengers. He informs ua that be went down to dinner to the first table, and fonnd it so full that he could get no seat. There were'at least eighty pertons at dinner. They wero all enjoying themselves, and evidently unconscions of any dan- ger He isomediately returned to tho deck, and, at that moment, he found the sbip was on fire, and the place all filled with smoke; and he is certain that a large proportion of those at dinner must bave perished, a¢ he cannot conceive how they got up, Bate intereepted by the fire and smoke. At Hudson, the Armvnia, by taking the wost channel and not land sieceeded in getting abead of the Olay. ing Carskill, t jor the following thy boats were runvi 1 hour afier pass Armonia, and yertook th qaarters of 2 ide by By this time ¢ had become very 4 been in a state of moment they lefs Al i ions of des} . they had from the | 0 pare of thé edin- igos between the ‘© 80 heated as to sed with- phe ed to the general frequent appeals were and afierwards by the gentle- men, to the captain or person appearing to charge of the vessel, to desist. Severs fainied, and one was beard to remark, that if there wesa single geutleman on board the vessel, he would go and compel the cxptain to stop racing. When near Kingston, the Armenia had to stopand blow off steam—: was prosumed to have become so heated as not to be able to run longer with eafe- ty. This gave the Clay again the start. At this time, ® gentleman whose wife was excessively frightened, scized the captain by the arm, and in- sisted upon his slacking the speed of the baat. The captain assured him there was no danger, and by his confident manner succeeded in calming the apprehensions of many who wero before in a stato of grcat alarm. About three o’clock, the passengers on tho upper deck remarked a smoke proceeding apparently from the engine room, in the middle of the boat, and simultaneously the ery of fire was heard. There come from one of the offisers of the vessel, at tho same time, a declaration that there was no kind of danger. Soon, however, the smoke was so dense daughter age, being able to swim alittle, was saved. A gentleman belonging to Newark, we are told, mannged to save bis wife and nine children. He was an expert swimmer, and rashed them to tho ¢ ore as fast as they jumped overboard. When he bh be conveyed to his home. He loft the sone of dis aster apparently perfectly sewseloss: One fair boy, of about six or seven years, had lost dis mother. and bis sorrows, vehemently exprossed, as be wandered sround the burning embers, toushed every heort. He was finally taken away by some kind beasted strangers who pitied bis sufferiogs, and did what they could to relieve them Another tonching scene was witnessed, botween a mother and bergen, a young lad of twelve The youth was a good swimmer, aod succeeded saving his mothor from death; taking ber with him, he apmped from the stern of the baroing boat, and made bis way courageously to the shore. Unbap- pily, however, two young sisters of the lad wore lost. They were all the children of Mr. Robinson, of No. 69 Perry street, New York. Among the lost was Mr. A. J. Downing, the dis- tinguished borticulturiat, of Newark, who has done £0 mach to introduce ideas of taste and beauty, and adaptation into suburban and rustic gardening His various works have propagated better notions of the picturesque amovg our rural population. Farm and villa architectaro bas espovially exporienced the benefits of his judicions advice. Mr. Owen Lynch, in the employ of Mr. Knight, one of the Jurywen, residiog near Yonkors, is grato- fully remembered by many survivors, as the fortu- nate instrument of their proservation. Among thore who were rescued by bis humane efforts, was Mr. Bancroft, of Philadelphia. Numbers of others, whoze names were not arcertained, owe to Mr. Lynch thefr rescue fiom 9 watery grave. Battling with the difficulties of the scene, he did his work mantal- ly and well. A noble Newfoundjand dog, named *‘ Neptnne,” helonging to tho ameighborhood, rashed into the wa er, and seized a young child that was drowning, hy the dress, near the shoulders, and bore it eafeky tothe sbere. Ho returned and approached a wo- inen, to assist in the same way, but she was 80 frightened that tho dog had to be called off, and e was thus deprived of the opportunity of extoad- ing that relief to the sufferers, to which his instinots and his noble natare prompted him, Before the engineer (Mv Jacob Zimmerman) was compelled to leave bis post, he arranged the valve quoperly, snd left the anachinery in full motion. The engive worked well until tho vessel strask, when the machinery siopped with a crash, probably from tbe giving way of the timbers gupportiag it When the en, por aod firemen reach tho torward deck, they fell overpowered by the heat and suilo- ion to whieh they bad been subjected. F. Taliwan, commander of the Henry Olay, woe op beard, laboring under a severe ilness, In hie eforts to save others, after the fire broke ont, he was in the water a long time; w ’n out, be was vnable te speak. He was brooght to the city in the steamer Armenia. It is feared that be will wot recover, The prix cipal ynlot of the ill-fated steamer had his wife in the wheel bouse, where she remai the vasee) struck, when he eanght hold of her and jumped upon the shore. that the passengers knew at once there was danger. One of our informants and his two companions im- mediately sprang for the forward part of the boat, under the correet impression that the counter our- rent of air would drive the smoke from the fore to the after part of the vessel, while she was under way. The ladies dared not attempt to follow through the flames, fearing their dresses would take fire, and they all crowded a3 fur as they could towards the stern. When the smoke first broke out, a gentle- man rushed forward to tho pilot office and said, “Your boat is on fire—ran her ashore.” The pilot instantly replied : ** Mind your own busi- ness,” and kept his vessel on her course for a dis- tance of from a haif to three quarters of a mile after the alarm of fire was firat given. When the bow of the vessel turned toward the shore, she was about two miles below Yonkers, and some seven- teen or eightecn miles from this city. By the time her head was turned towards the eastern shore, where she was beached, she wae wrapped in flames, and sho presented to the spea tators on the shore the appearance of n solid body of fire rushing madly upon the banks. She was run on, almost perpendicular to the bavk, and her stera consequently lay in deop water. The passengers on her bow soon got on shore in safety. The guards and railing around the stern at first were thronged with ladies, who had got outside, and were hanging on, waiting for succor. Those who were not caught by the bystanders were driven by the flames into the water, and drowned. Mr. Allen, of this city, whose body was found yerterday, and whose obituary we published in yos- terday's HenaLp, was not accompanied by his wife, as stated in some of the accounts in the newspapers. Mr. Jewett, of Poughkeepsie, wae ene of the last who saw Mr. Allen. He had been sitting on the hurricane deck, talking with some entlemen, immediately before the accident. When the vessel was beached, Mr. Jewett saw him stand- ing on the guard, and handed him the end of a rope, inviting him to take hold of it and be nape ashore. He was at the bow of the boat. th that, Mr. Jewett Asarty off, and presently, looking around to see if Mr. Allen was coming, saw nothing of him. A gardener of Mr. Russell Smith saved a number of ladies. Among them was Mrs. Jewett, wife of Mr. Jewett, and another lady, with both of whom Le swam to tho shore in safety. The vessel was first seen by Robert Sherman, o an; Cle- ment King, gardener, and his son—all in the employ of Russell Smith, Esq , whose residence was on the bank against which the boat struck. They imme- diately devoted themselves to the unfortunate pas- sengera, ond through their enorgy and bravery a Jarge number of lives were saved. Together, they helped to the shore between forty and fifty. Mrs. Russell Smith and her servants made their kind offices and attentions very effective during all this pin scene. Her kouse was an asylum. She tended and nursed those that were burned, sup- lied and covered the destitute, and did everything a her power to azsuage the distress which was about er. An incident worthy of note occurred at the time of the panic. A gallant young man namod Ed- wards, who waz on the toffrail, aft, observing a Sonne Tany in groat danger from tho fire, excl aim- ed, “Will you go with me into the water, and run the risk of being drowned, orfwill you be burned to death?” The female accepted the noble offer, and both were saved. Mr. Way, of Wellsville, Ohio, was amone the passengers. When the Henry Clay first strack, he swam ashore, procured a raft of several loose boards, and returned to save his wife. The drowning crea tures about him, in their straggles for safety, broke up his raft, and compelled him to abandon it. Mr. ‘ay then fet under the steamer’s guard again, and sustained his wife and two other ladics ui #mall boats came up. Mr. E, Thompson, of 180 Honry street, New York, was on board with his wife, child and sorvant. When he discovered the danger, he got a settee and throw it over, and let himesif down to get upon it. At that moment some one seized his leg, and he was obliged to cling to the boat to save his life. At length he got clear, but by reason of the fire wos obbged to drop into the water. He camo up, looked for his wife, but did not see ber. He then passed under the guard aud seized hold of a brace. Here the first person that he saw was his wile holding to a brace very near him. Heewam to her, and helped her along to the wheel. While holding to the back- ets, the wheel revolved, and both were thrown into the water. He again got hold of his wife, ond got aleag of the wheel, bat there was nothing to clog to, aud the fire wae dropping upon their heads. The water was still too deep to wade; but juect at this Moment some one thrust some boards towarda them, and they were saved. Tho servant and child were both lost, 8. W. D. Cook, of Cincinnati, was on board with his fe and danghter and grandson. Ho saved the Jatte?, The wife, on becoming aware of tbe borri ble condition of the boat, told him to ave himsel!, that he could not save her, and to try would be dis aatrous to the lives of both. Water, she remarked, was eafer than fire, and ho had better choose tho former. He jumped overboard as directed, but str! endeavored to save ber, but withous success. His James L. Jesenp, the clerk of the stonmer, wasin the water, and had a varrow escape. He says that he had no seoord of the names of the paseengers, and thet all the books, documents and moneys in the office wore lost Mr. Radford, one of the owners of the Houry Clay, was on board the George Washington, going up the river, but on nearing the burning vessel, eame of in & small boat te the shore and immedi- ately engaged boats and grapplings to search for the bodies of the sufferers. It i#- said that shortly after the steamer struck the chore a boat was rowed from a sloop in the river by two men, who instead of saving fellow b commenced plundering the valuables of the Several gentlemen, who witnessed t , Ubrew the beart) lev ‘om the boat, and ng possession of her, sueceeded in rescuing a number of persons. A woman was detested in stealing @ pocket-bock from the luggage of one of the deceased Two Hnglish gentlemen, D C. Leather, and J. Leather, Esqs , on their return from @ tour through the United States and Canada, arrived at Albany, and went on board the steamer Henry Clay, not being euited, they left, and came down on board of the Armenia. On her resohing the Henry Clay, after she was on fire, they personally rescued several of the Henry Ciay passengers. They are now at the Union Place Hotel. There were other instancos of persons, who were rotally prevented from taking passage by the Among them were a gentleman and residing in the upper part of the oity. ¢ ou board the Henry Uisy, at Albany, ascertained that their baggage had been, y 2, placed on board another boat. While endeavoring to prosure its removal, they were in- formed that the Henry Clay had already cast off its fastenings, and they were thas compelled to remain on the other bout, much against their will. STATEMENTS OF PASSENGERS. De. C. C. Wells, of 84 Clinton street, Brooklyn, makes the following statement:— I was a passenger on the il}-fated steamer Henry Ciay, on the 2sth inst. I took the boat at Cozzons’ Landing, West Poin& I fond on board a large company, variously estimated by passengers from 400 ro as high as 500—the last number I have no doubt was too large; the frst probably is much nearer the truth. It was the general testimony of the passengers wham I feund on hoard, that the Henry Clay bad been racing with the Armenia all the way from Albany—thet there had been a colli- sion of the two boate—shat the officers of the Henry Clay bad been remonstrated with by the passengers for this racing, as a dangerous proceeding, and that they were told there wae no danger. Theso facta I have knowledge of only from the statements of others; but they were confirmed by so many wit- nesses that I have no doubt ottheir truth Parties left the boat on account of these facts, before they reached Cozzene’, whom I afterwards met on tho train which brought me from the fatal scene to New York. I talked with them on the conduct of the officers of the boat, and they gave the above a8 their reasons for leaving and taking the oars. One party #0 left, and for such reasons, at Rhinebeck. hen I went on board I passed dircetly to the up- per deck, where I noticed one fact which now seems to me to have had a fearful significanee. The upper deck. was literally covered with small frag- mente of anthracite coal, in all dircctions, whic were not protected by the awning over head. A furled side awning was taken down from one side of the boat, and carried to the other, the folds of which were filled with those piocos of coal. Thoy fell in little showers every timo'the farnaces received a new supply of fuel, and the fragmonts were, sone of them, nearly large as peas, I should think. I examined some, and found they wore entirely un- marked by the fire they had aes through, though it was such @ fire as such a draft would keep up—a draft of sufficient power to blow such bodies through the furnace and chimney before the color could be dimmed. After the boat was found to be on fire, I know no reason for vensuring the conduct of the officers. It ‘was running nearly in the middle of the river, which might be a mile and a half wide at the place of the aevident—it ruch a word may be employed to de- scribe such an event. The pilot turned her towards H a emma and is her bows on the each wit] force. I was on the upper deck, and at the stern of the boat. 4 The fire broke out in the vicinity of the chimney, which was about the junction of the forward and middle thirds. When tho shore was reached, most of thoae on the lower deck were cut off from encap) at the bows, by the fire filling the whole of the mid- dle of the boat between All on the w deck, I think, eseaped over the bowe, there being A space on the right sido of the boat, of perhaps two feet wide on the deck, whore the fire was not yet mtil the | burning when the lust persons passed, who I believe were the writer of bis and four ladies who had de- sired wend gan These were passed over tho bows, and the writer followed, thankful to the mor- ciful Providence to which ho owed bis preservation. It was no part of my object in writing this ac- count to attempt a description of the scone which the boat now preeented, or to try to make othors sensible of the agony of mind thoxe eutiered who were compelled tosee it. Its miseries can nover be | told; its horrors never be described. | | | quarters of & mile distant; But the most important one is yet to be statel—a fact which bears on the owners of tho Honry Clay with feartul weight. I baye raid I stood ‘on the stern of the upper deck when the fire broke out, and pd A running of the boat ashore. While this was being effected, I looked about for the best means of sefety for myself avd the ladies who had appetled to me for protection. I looked ove? both sides, where boats should bave been enspended for | the protection of lives ia case of accident, but thore were no boats there, When | had passed the ladios off over the bows, I turned and looked where small boate might have been, and where they are stowod or slang on some steamboats, but there wore none on this. There was no amall boat or other means of saving on tho Henry Clay, oxeept the poor help of floating settecs and stools, which were thrown over in seme numbers to those who wore in the water. The first boat which oame to the help of the perithing was from @ brig, at the time about threo- be next from tow boat whieh was passing down the river; the thrd waa fiom the Armenia, the other raving boat, which did not pare by, as some of the mormiog pert Oakes but stopped and lowered her boat, onal good sor- sunk, ond he saw no more of thom. ‘The grandson, o little boy ubout sews yoars of thed his tark he became exbausted and had to | uctil | vice in retouing the drowning. A fourth boat eame from a second tow which came up before ail the sar- vivors were removed from the burnivg boat to whish ibey elung. | my knowledge avd belief, My means for koowing | if there bad been, I bave stated. Tho remark has semetimes been mode thot human lifo is “vrifled | with” by men of steamboats and railroads. But let ; DO man say this of the owners or officers of tho | Henry Clay. They have not trifled with the lives | of their fellow men. They have taken them wan- | tonly and wickedly; and thus to take haan lifo is not a “trifle ” Teaae Dayton, of Now York, makes the following tlatement:— I was to come down to this city from Hudson, on Wednesday morning, and conclude) to take the day | boat Cor the paseage. When 1 went on to the dock at Hudeon, both boats, the Henry Clay and the Armenia, wore in sight, but the Henry Clay only, Wae in the Hudeon, or easterly obannel of the river. the Armenia having taken the Athens, or westerly channe} of the river, which at this place is divided into two channels by a lurge flat. Of eourse the | Armenia could not make the Hudaonlanding. This | being the case, it may be properly stated here, the officers of the Henry Clay required the Hudson pierengers to pay a higher fare than the wholo advertized fare fiom Wh sheatl of usin the Athens channel, on tho opposite side of the river; when we came out into the channel, below the Flats, the Armenia was two or thee lengths ahead; at Catskil boats made the landing, the Armenia being ahoad ond landing first; immediately after leaving Cat- shaking of the boat, the more rapid action of tho engine, and the violent humming noise caused by the blowers, that our speed was greatly on the in- crease, and that there was a determination, on tho pait of those in command, to pass the Armonia; we gradually approached hor, and when about five i gston Point we were sailing er, the Armenia being on the inside, or towards the westerly shore of tho river. The purpose of our pilot evidently was to force the Armenia so far towards the westerly shore as to drive her on the flats, which hore line the channel, or compel her to stop and allow us to go abead and | © the landing first; he accordingly steered our «hose bow was now a fow tect in advanco t of the Armonia, i irection aeross that in which the must travel, or aground unless eho tho oonsoquence stopped Albany to New York. | we left Hudson the Armenia was a little | skill dock, the Armenia being then about three- | quarters of a mile ahead, it was evident, from the | Tere was no muall boat belonging to | the Henry Clay mixed in this scene, to the best of Reruape | both | | Francie’s patent life boats on board the Henry Clay, d have thought that if orders had been given to ‘Tr that when her bows were first directed towards ethore, more wisdom would have been shown on the pert of her officers. Toere wae no blowing off of coum on the part of the Armenia from the time she lett Newbu he contrary, the reason given why she didn y more, was the breaking of hor blower This added grently to ths fear of the Indies, five of whom w eu) The stasoments 4 papers that no- the officers of the vy bont proceeded to we neared the scene, mornin ° part of Armenia is n Our the burning wreck a3 soos and contributed as much as anything to suecor those hanging on to tho r rund ohaing. We re- mained for an hour and wore at the nearest dook. Most of the gentlemen weot ashore, and did all in their power to avsist. A namber of the wounded and others returned witbus A professional gen- tleman with myself attevded to the wanta of the sufferers, in which we were assisted by others, and everything was done on board the Armenia that hu- manity could dictate If an oblique direction had been given to the Hoory Clay on sapenech the thore, it would bave lessened no doubt the of life Kubjoined is the statement of the corpereieet of another journal, signing himeelf J. C. Tt seems the terrible losa of life by the barning of the Griff on Lake F last year, occasioned b he ten ry absence of the pilot from the wheel, whereby the vessel burned co the water's edge be- fore sho could be run nshore, had not made any im- pressi tthe ill fated steamer Hem stead of puttiog the boat around tow! ing at Youkers, or running ber broadside on the shore, with lines ren¢ »and aft, to faaten to trees, whereby every life coud have been saved, a8 well as all bo he left: bis post, to find ont the caure of th aril, losing the most valuable time sof those mbtrusted to bis care as officer of steamer Woero were the life preververs | the life boats, to ran lines to the shore’? Undoubtedly, nowhere. SVATEMEN im. >, 1852. nnd | think » revolutio oting of the » ill-fated er Hear: House, this morning, that rife out a statement of what tho parsago, and psulting in the A desire was expressed to that elleet adopted kengors saved frou t Clay, held exme under at the time of loss of se was, that the two boats came in contact. Abt this moment @ perron, who | understood was an offiser of the boat, « n the promenade deck where I, y passengers, was s\ and 9 over on the Jarboard the The object and effect of this m was to he starboard guard of the Henry Clay, whish tto the Arm © the hirboa: Armeni Th twas, that ou eof the Armenisand | ork, just for- 0 ‘© answered its purpose, and the Armenia was eompelied to step | ber engine, and we shot ahead and made tho | Kngeton landing first’ There were numerous ro- monstances addressed by the passengers, particular. ly the ledies, to the person, or ofticer, who had comeon the promenade desk, ag T have statod, Ue treated there with indifference, and, with something of derision as T thought, insisted that there was notany danger. This was the beginning of the day’s adventures. After leaving Kingston landing we gradually Jett the Armenia. It is proper to static that while we were proceeding, as above stated, to overtake the Armenia before reaching Kingston, I distinotly noticed the smell of smoke issuing from the neighborhood of the furnaces, which I then thought, and believe I stated to some one atonding nour, was caused by the boat being on fire. It war precisely the same smell of smoke which pre- ceded the luet fatal calamity. At about 3 o’elock, [ was standing on the larboard guard, in the after part of the hoat, in eonversation with A. Crist, Esq, anit anotber gentleman. We had just passed Fonthill, and tho three were speaking of that place, when a woman came out on the guard holdinga child in each orm, exclaiming that the boat was on fire. The smell of smoke | had béfore noticed, was now very distinct and unmistakable; but, as in tho pro- vious instance, it had disappeared without any ap- parent danger, I, for the moment. believed that no evil consequences would now follow. The ladies came rarhing upen the guard from the saloon, and T advieed-as many as were within my hearing not to be alarmed or excited. I stated that if there was any danger of the boat’s burning, it was so easy to run her avhore, and apparently s0 easy to obtain ageistance from the shore, that I did not think there was any great danger, and that at any rate unnecessary alarm or excitement only increased the danger, whatever it might be. A person presently made his appearance who shouted toevery body to go aft, and he was obeyed by man; if not ull. ‘Asquickly as I could I leaped throug! a window into the ladies’ suloon. The gangways forward were filled with smoke and a dark-red, smoky flame, andI judge that it was impossible, even if Thad eo intended, to have made my way forward. This could not have been more than three or four minutes from the first alarm which I heanl. I went across the ladies’ saloon, whioh was vacant, to the starboard guard and went on that quarter. In a very short timo after this the boot was got around and headed for the easter!, shore. The wind, which was blowing very fresl from the southward as we went in a direction cross- ing the river, blew the flames and smoke athwart and away from the boat, and I had great confidence that when we reached the shore those who were on the after part of the boat cou!d and would readily and safely be taken off in small boats. From the time we rounded toward the shore until we reached it, I would say was some five or six minutes. We were, theretore, ashore in oight or nine minutes afterthe first alarm was brought aft. By this time the fire had reached the ladies’ saloon, and the smoke and sparks wore flying in every direction through out of the windows. The mitery and terror were intense and agonizing, but it is not my purpose to attempt any description of this part. of the scene. Many jumped overboard immediately after ehe grounded. I clambered on to the promenade deck and threw overboard as many of the stools as Icould reach. I then came down upon the etarboard guard and looked in every direction to eee whether assistance was approaching. None was to be discovered, and, as the hoat where I stood was now becoming powerful, I determined to throw myrelf overboard. I climbed over the rail, and intended to get hold of two of the stools which I had thrown into the water. This I missed, and not being a swimmer, I immediately found my way to the bottom. Bind ed that the depth there was some fiftcen feet. I, of course, again eame to the eurface, but it is not my purpose to detail my adventures or my struggles in the water. The great cause of the drowning of thoec who lost their lives in that way was the heavy sea which was runnin; at the time, caused by the high southerly wine which wos blowing. It was about the beginning of the ebb, # I understand it, the wind and tide being contrary to each other the wav@s are heavier. At every flawof wind the waves would dash against the steamboat as she lay broadside to, and then reeedo from her side ina ait 1 solid mass; almost evory time carrying off with them some one who was clinging to the underside of the guard for ba Besides, the boards, sottees, stools, &o., which were floating in the water, wore rendered al- mort, entirely useless by the diffioulty of holding on to them in the heavy swell which was rolling. At one time, while I was holding on to the tiller chain under the guard, I om satisfied that there were in the neighborhood of forty persons clingin, to the same or other similar bal diay there was w boat attached to the Heuwry Clay, | nO use whatever wos made of it, and it must have been burned up with the steamer herself. Tho first bont which approached the wreck did not take off a tingle person. She was a white boat witha green streak round her sido, and had in her two men. One of them pushed while the other pulled his oar, and she described a circle within a few feet of the sirug- el Ri perishing beio, hanging to the wreck, and before our eyes rowed away nother , a large black one,with a redetroak, rowed to shore with some seven or cight of the enffcrers on board, when, to all appearances, she might with porfect ease have carried away at least twice the number. At last 1 was picked up bs a yawl of a topsail schooner, which came (oo off our boat. I was so exhauste: by that time | was hardly conscious of anything, exeept that I was rescued, ond I know that I made the two sailors who saved me no asknowledgo- ment of the service which they had rendered me. I do not intend this for an advertisement, but Lhope to see those men again, and to ofer them a, pro; requital for tho assistance they bestowed. You will, of course, inform them where 4 can be found, | and I trust that by this as well as other measures | which [shall teke, I may bo enabled to moet them. 4 The behavior of the straggling victims andor the one or floating near, seemed to me at once We erful and noble. [ neither saw nor exp any attempt on the part of any one to attein her own exfety at the expense of that of aay other person. 1 was struggling in the v nearly or j quite half an hour. Only once in that time was I pushed or pulled off from achanco for rescue by any fellow sufierer, and thon a woman, who was clinging toa brace near by, enabled mo to avail myseif of the same means of support The folowing is from o correspondent of tho Commercial Advertiser :— The owners of the Armenia ought to bo con- demned for their shameful noglect in having far- with a great m requested ali to boat | of distance board the 23th inst, and soon aft cted, fol- cooded along’ very venia, and banded niing wo steered for tthe landing, T leoked ron the other side Athens channel, a vod a mile and over ed her to make tho landing at Honey iy Wo waited at ‘om the straighter th co for th of the way, afer whier the Henry Olay When we started from what Lhad heard of tho . that wo would overtake Catskill abead o the latter ply and get out eame along sido of ‘the dock. ny [ supposed lof the H Ar » to make her land ing pla but livtle, if ‘1 only overtook ber as she stopped at Br ling, the Honry Olay passing by that pluco wishout stopping. The Armenia got under weigh before we came np, and. ag they saw we were hoad, she was st dircetly for the ag it is termed, of the Henry Clay, which sho succeeded in. reaching. She “hung on’? to the suction of the Honry Olay, and we ran together for some distance side by side, aod but little di aput. Atlength, by asheer oFthe Henry Clay how of the Armenia was brought. into the action of the quick water of the Henry Clay’s wheels, and this caused the forward guard of the Armovia to come in contact with the after quarter of the Henry Clay. The Armentathen slackened her speed, and dropped astern. I am par- ticular in detailing this affair just as I viewod it at, the time; for when I weut. aft from the forward deek, where I had been standing, | found mach excitement prevailing, aud have since heard statements rospect- ing it which do not agree with my view of tho aflair, This was the only part of che passage where there appeared to be anything like racing on the part of the Henry Clay. Two such boata, going along side by side, very nearly together, doubtless appeared dangerous and frightful to many jen- gers; but I roust say that, from the very position of the bonts—ide by sido, ‘and so near together—I knew there contd be no serious collision, for boate cannot ran sideways, and the only danger I appr hended was the brenking of the side-houses, or join- er’s work, by the boat having the higher guard iiding on the guard of the other. When the Armenia dropped astern, we adually on her the rest of the way. I thought from the appearances of matters now, that those having charge of the Armevia had given ap the ontest, and wero coming at their ordinary rate of speed. The excitement among the parscngers on the Henry Clay seemed fust praeing away,and mat- ters were going on pleasantly again, without a thought, 0 far as 1 was concerned, about the Arme- nia. From all that I saw and heard, I am bound in candor to state my impression, that each boat, from the the timo we passed Kingston, until we reached the place where the terriblo disaster occarrod—a distance of 80 or 90 miles—was managed without reference to the other. During the passage, I had a conversation with Mr. Collyer, ono of the owners, _ who was on board, J was not acquainted with of the officers of thetbeat. Mr. Collyer me the captain, for whom I inquired, was sick in his reom. [ had noticed the clerk, assisted by the barkeeper, discharged the duties of the oi in at the landings. In speaking with Mr Collyer about the comparative speed of the different boate on the river, he took occasion to say that there was an agreement between the owners of the Honry and Armenia, that they should not race. I told him that the Armenia, by taking the Athens shan- nel, showed a determination to get ahead. He said it was a)l wrong, and a violation of their agreement not to race. # I was sitting oa the ‘after deck, enjoying s view - of the beautifel yil'eges and country seats on eastern shore of the river. We had jast r. Forrest’s country eeat, when 1 noticed an unuseal ir forward, and heard the boa. Was on fire. Mr. Kidder, of New York, by whom I sat, Tequested me to sit by his daughter until be could g@ ambsee what was the matter. Ho soon returned, an at nounced that the boat was on fico, aad they word heading her for the shore. I then went for m friend, who was in the after cabin, lying down. assisted him on deck; but by that time the gang- ways were so filled with smoke and fire that our re- treat forward was cut off Tho boat soon struck the shore with much force; we being on the after t of the boat, were some 150 feet from the shore. he flames were rapidly approaching our deck, and the only way of escape wus by the water. I hastil seized all the floating articles Icould lay my hands on, or tear from their fastenings, and threw them over to the crowd straggling in the water. At length I bad to take the leap; I could swim, but my sick companion was nearly helpless. { could not prevail on him to jump over with me; he said, to go or stay would prove equally fatal. Beorched by the flames, ho at last got over the rail, and dropped into the water. ‘e succeeded: in reaching a rene under the guard, where we were tupported for a long time, until resoued by a boat. Left the brace after my companion was A and swem out from under the guard, to see if there was no help approaching. I saw Mr Coilyer swim- ming towurds us from the shore, shovin; from the railroad fence. I swam towards aided him in ecattoring the boards around, within teach of those who were sustaining themselves on chairs and settces. Mr Collyer was enabled to save many lives by the aid of those boards. I swam with one of them back to my friend, who paladin ag to the brace. I wished toget him onthe board, and by its aid swim to the shore; but his strength was gone ; his hold of the brace relaxed, and dowa he sunk into the water. I almost despaired, but with much difficulty I succeeded in getting his head above water again, by clinging to the brace with vone hand, and, aided by «fettee which had floated. near re, I was evabled to keep my hold till we were hoth rescued by some men in a small boat. A T trust, enitably thankful to ® mercifal Providence for my safety. "I foe! overwhelmed with horror and distresa, in view of the awfal destruction of human life. Still I de not feel disposed to ee in the in- discriminate censure and condemnation of the offi- cors ef the ill fated boat. So far as they are culpa- | ble, let them be held to an account, but with more per | freedom from excitement let the facts be ascertained, before pronouncing judgment. Jony RK. Harris, Bellows Falls, Vt. THE INDIGNATION MELTING. No. 5 Beaver srreur, July 30, 1852. Error Or Tum Haran. Sir:—In the report of the meeting held ab the Astor House, on Thursday, published in the Henatp of this morning, my remarks aro incor rectly reported; and tho report tuhds to throw die credit on my whole statement. I did not state, as the report says, “that when the safety valve of the Henry Clay was opened, be saw ® thiek colamn of emoke issue.” Id well uaderstand how sunoke could possibly com over, gue imy tentionally opene Tenid ‘at Shetek ng was this—"I wagon board the Armenia, and when the Henry Clay ran into ag, @ few tiles above Kingston, she had on so much steam that her safety valve must have been erowded open, nished her with le one ema)! boat, and that not a lifo bowt. If there bad been @ sufficient numbor of euch on board, many lives would have been saved, of shore who perithed by the Henry Clay. Whilst waiting at Newburg for the Armonia, expoctin; that she would be Jess crowded, I obsorved one 0: ag I noticed tho steam eveaping from the steam pipe in a quite thick volume, showing conclusively that rhe bid on more steam than sho could carry.” Both boats were ur eth striving for first landing at Kingston, and, in consequence