[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] June 6, 1831, the "General Jackson," plying be-tween Peekskill and New York, exploded on her down trip off Grassy Point, and all the front portion of the cabin v.'as torn away. Three persons were killed out-right,— the fireman, a little girl of twelve years of age who had just tripped on board laughing and talking gaily, and William Mitchell, a resident of Peekskill. Beverly Rathboue, of Peekskill, was injured so se-verely that he died some time after the accident. Jacob Vanderbilt, brother of Cornelius, was cap-tain of the boat, and escaped without injury. The date of the explosion of the " General Jackson " was indicated in almanacs for years after. In 1841 occurred a great contest between two morn-ing steamboats, the " Telegraph " and the " Kos-ciusko," which divided the people of Peekskill into two parties, each favoring a different boat. In their haste to outstrip each other, these boats more than once carried passengers beyond their stopping places, and one morning, each being anxious to have the first chance of securing passengers at the towns be-low, they drew out of their landing-place, at Peeks-kill, an hour before the appointed time, leaving fifty disappointed passengers behind. Like the gallant warrior from whom it received its name, the " Kosciusko," was compelled to acknowledge defeat, and left the "Telegraph" in possession of the route. The " Telegraph " ran between Peeks-kill and New York for many years after.