Blog Post 6 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
The disaster of the Steamboat or Steamship Empire of Troy [New York] happened in New York when the Schooner Noah Brown, which was carrying lumber collided with the Empire making a gash causing the water to rush in quite quickly. This accident happened at 10 or 10:30 PM when the passengers were sleeping. There were about 260 passengers and 23 of them died.
Captain Tupper of the Empire was cleared of any responsibility as it was felt that the Noah Brown was at fault for being overloaded with lumber. It was dark and ships were not well lit.
The four boys in the Ladd family all died and the mother, Harriet Z. Williams Ladd was hurt when they rescued her from the sinking ship and never fully recovered from this awful experience. One account said they were compensated about $1,000 which may have been used to bury the boys and erect the monument.
One article, titled, "Another Body Found", stated, ..."The body of a boy about 11 years old named Elias W. Ladd, the youngest of the four brothers lost by this terrible disaster has been recovered." He was stuck under a sofa in the cabin.
The 1850 census of Christian County shows the family as they settled there with Noyes Ladd, Jr. and his wife Phebe Williams and their children, the mother Harriet and her unmarried sister Elizabeth and Noyes Ladd sister Ann living there.
With life beginning over again in Illinois, this family from Connecticut, bought land and set to farming. Life does go on but it is never easy.
Showing posts with label Empire Disaster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Empire Disaster. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Deplorable Calamity!
Blog Post 5 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
Newspapers from all over New England [NEHGS Historical Newspapers] carried stories of the collision of the Steamboat Empire with the schooner Noah Brown with headlines like:
Steamboat Disaster on the Hudson [The Farmer's Cabinet, Amherst NH, 24 May 1849]
Deplorable Calamity. [The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA 24 May 1849 from the Albany Argus, May 19th]
Shocking Steamboat Disaster! Twenty or Thirty Lives Lost! [Semi-Weekly Eagle, 21 May 1849, Brattleboro, VT
The Steamer Empire- Another Body Found. [The Hudson River Chronicle, 19 May 1849]
I have searched the Web and not found a drawing of the Steamship Empire. I have searched the archives of the New York Times and have not found the headline of this horrible disaster. I did find a reference to it at a later day. If anyone can help me then, please let me know.
I will blog about what I found from these newspapers next...
Newspapers from all over New England [NEHGS Historical Newspapers] carried stories of the collision of the Steamboat Empire with the schooner Noah Brown with headlines like:
Steamboat Disaster on the Hudson [The Farmer's Cabinet, Amherst NH, 24 May 1849]
Deplorable Calamity. [The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA 24 May 1849 from the Albany Argus, May 19th]
Shocking Steamboat Disaster! Twenty or Thirty Lives Lost! [Semi-Weekly Eagle, 21 May 1849, Brattleboro, VT
The Steamer Empire- Another Body Found. [The Hudson River Chronicle, 19 May 1849]
I have searched the Web and not found a drawing of the Steamship Empire. I have searched the archives of the New York Times and have not found the headline of this horrible disaster. I did find a reference to it at a later day. If anyone can help me then, please let me know.
I will blog about what I found from these newspapers next...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Drowned on the steamship Empire
Blog Post 2 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
This large monument is the resting place of the four sons of Noyes LADD. Sr. [desceased] and his wife Harriet Z. WILLIAMS who drowned while aboard the steamboat Empire on the night of 17 May 1849.
Cyrus S. [16Y/6M/14D], Darius [14Y8M/3D], Nathan S. [12y/6M] and Elias W. [10Y/8M/20D] LADD "who were drowned on board the Steam boat Empire which was sunk by collision with a Schooner on the Hudson River opposite Newburgh May 17 AD 1849. Their bodies were taken from the cabin and rest here beneath this mound."
Stone further reads:
"Mysterious providence! It was an eve of loveliest spring vesper looked fourth [sic] and smiled. And all the stars, gazed on earth intense. Such was the night so lovely, still serene. When with a mighty crash; the steamer sunk, And their spirits fled away to their God."
This large monument is the resting place of the four sons of Noyes LADD. Sr. [desceased] and his wife Harriet Z. WILLIAMS who drowned while aboard the steamboat Empire on the night of 17 May 1849.
Cyrus S. [16Y/6M/14D], Darius [14Y8M/3D], Nathan S. [12y/6M] and Elias W. [10Y/8M/20D] LADD "who were drowned on board the Steam boat Empire which was sunk by collision with a Schooner on the Hudson River opposite Newburgh May 17 AD 1849. Their bodies were taken from the cabin and rest here beneath this mound."
Stone further reads:
"Mysterious providence! It was an eve of loveliest spring vesper looked fourth [sic] and smiled. And all the stars, gazed on earth intense. Such was the night so lovely, still serene. When with a mighty crash; the steamer sunk, And their spirits fled away to their God."
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