Terrible conflagration and destruction of the steam-boat "New Jersey,", 1856 (hand-coloured litho)

Dramatic view of the steamboat engulfed in flames and smoke, the captain still at the helm as the passengers escape into the icy river. Panicked passengers jump into the water already teeming with disaster victims, including an African American man, who thrash, swim, and attempt to stay upon and assist others onto cakes of ice, debris, and a single rowboat. Rescuers from the nearby wharf, including firemen, work frantically and desperately throw a rope to a woman standing afloat a cake of ice. Also shows a horse on the fire engulfed deck and a woman propelled by a flame off ...