Vermont Phœnix

The Steamboat Kosciusko.—The following account of the escape of the steamer Kosciusko, which runs between Hartford and New York, from destruction during the recent gale, is copied from the Hartford Times of Tuesday:

The steamer Kosciusko left New York for Hartford, last Saturday afternoon, (Sept. 28,) at 4 o'clock. A northeast storm had just commenced. The boat had a large freight on board. The storm and head winds prevented fast progress—the boat being some 12 hours in getting from New York to within 6 miles of Saybrook light. We learn from one of the passengers, that all on board abandoned the hope of getting on shore by means of the Kosciusko, after her fuel had been washed over, and her fires put out. Accordingly preparations for a wreck were made. Ropes were lashed to the persons of all; cotton bales and other articles that would swim, were prepared with ropes attached to them, and in this way, the passengers and crew awaited their fate. The boat was now at the mercy of the waves, the water constantly dashing over her. Under these circumstances, a favorable change of wind occurred, and a final effort was made to get her to an anchorage, which barely succeeded. All the loose timber, some of the doors, and a part of the promenade deck were put into the furnaces, and steam enough was raised to move the boat. In this way she was, with much difficulty, taken to an anchorage near Crane's Point, L. I., arriving there about 8 o'clock P. M., on Sunday. Capt. Lefeyre went on shore in a small boat, but was unable to return until the next morning, on account of another change of wind, and the heavy sea. He lighted fires on shore, however, as a guide to those on board, in case the boat was wrecked. The Kosciusko remained at this place till 4 o'clock, P. M., on Monday. Wood was procured from the shore on Monday, by means of small boats, with which the Kosciusko was enabled to get to Lyme, where she took in coal, and arrived at Hartford at 8 o'clock, A. M., Tuesday morning. It was evidently a very narrow escape for her.

A number of our merchants have met with considerable loss, in goods that were thrown overboard. Among the goods were, leather, dry goods, dye wood, hard ware, stoves, &c., amounting to $10,000, probably.