Phenix Gazette

New York, June 12.

Horrible Accident.--We regret to state that two females were crushed to death on Saturday afternoon at the launch of the ship Saratoga! The vessel was launched into the slip lying on the east side of pier No. 56. On the west side lay the sloop Rose, laden with stone. The pier itself is very long and low, and was completely covered with spectators, as was also the deck of the sloop. Of these a large number were females. No sooner had the ship plunged into the slip, than her bulk swelled the waves to a great height, and caused them to rush with so much force across the pier that they broke the fastening which held the sloop's stern, whilst those by which her bows were secured remained firm. All who stood on the pier were drenched, several were thrown down by the waves, and many were precipitated into the slip in which the sloop lay. Among the latter were two females whose melancholy fate we have to record. The moment was alarming, and the cry of fear arose from the multitude; but soon a number of persons, perceiving no further danger, rushed to the rescue of those in the slip.

The two deceased females had fallen into the slip, between the pier and the sloop, and were quickly seized by two men, who had scarcely succeeded in raising them by the hair to a small height above the surface of the water, when the reaction of the waves, and the fastening at the bows, forced the sloop back with violence, and in an instant both were crushed to death against the pier!!
One of them, a young female, named Margaret Force, had the two sides of her head literally crushed together!--'Twas a sight too shocking to look at. The other, named Bailey Cohen, had her body, near the breast, crushed in the same shocking manner.

The bodies were immediately removed with all decency to the adjacent houses, where the Coroner held an inquest, and a verdict in accordance with these facts was rendered by the jury. The jurors were at the same time decidedly of opinion that no blame attached to the persons connected with the sloop, or with the ship. Mr. Webb, of the firm of Webb & Allen who built the ship, went down to the pier previous to the launch, and repeatedly cautioned those standing on it against remaining there.

We learn that Margaret Force was only 17 years of age, the daughter of respectable parents who reside within a few miles of Newark, N. J. and was on to this city to visit her uncle, Mr. Wilson of Chatham street. Mr. W. had accompanied his niece to see the launch, and was the person, we are told, who raised her when she was crushed to death in his hands!

Mrs. Bailey Cohen, the other lady appeared to be about 33 years of age, and had arrived in this city from New Orleans about two months since. She boarded in the house of Mrs De Young, in Canal street near Elm street. She was a widowed lady and was accompanied to the launch by her youngest son, aged about 10 years. This boy, with his brother who is aged about 14 years, are now left orphans upon the world.— 'Twas piteous indeed, to hear the poor boys wail over the body of their dead mother. They were, we believe, taken into the care of a gentleman named Solomons, who was on the jury.