The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-30 00:00:00

could not reach the engine. The steersman was in-
stantly directed to put the helm hard a starboard. The
vessel swung slowly round, heading to the shore, and the
boats—there were three on board—were ordered to be
lowered. Two of the boats were lowered, but in conse-
quence of the heavy sea on, and the headway of the
vessel, they both swamped as soon as they touched the
water. We will not attempt to describe the awful and
appalling condition of the passengers. Some were fran-
tic with fear and horror, others plunged headlong madly
into the water ; others seized upon any thing buoyant
upon which they could lay hands. The small boat for-
ward had been lowered. It was alongside the wheel,
with three or four persons in it, when the Captain
jumped in, and the boat immediately dropped astern,
filled with water. A lady floated •by ,with a life-pre-
server on. She cried for help. There was no safety in
the boat. The Captain threw her the only oar, and was
saved. It was Mrs. Lynde, of Milwaukie; and she was
the only lady saved.
In this condition, the boat—a mass of fierce fire, and
the passengers and crew endeavouring to save' them-
selves by swimming, or . supporting themselves by what-
ever they could reach—was found by the Clinton,
at about ten P.M. The Clinton left here in the morning,
but in consequence of the wind had put into Dunkirk.
She laid there till nearly sun-set, at which time she ran
out, and had proceeded as. far as Barcelona, when just
at twilight, the fire of the Erie was discovered some 20
miles astern. The Clinton, immediately put about and
reached the burning wreck about ten. It was a fearful
night. All the upper works of the Erie had been burnt
away. The engine was standing, but the hull was a
Mass of dull, red flame. The passengers and crew were
'floating around, screaming in their agony and shrieking
for help. The boats of the Clinton were instantly
lowered and manned, and every person that could be
seen about was picked up, and every possible relief
afforded.
The Lady, a little steamboat, lying at Dunkirk, went
out of the harbour as soon as possible'after the discovery
of the fire, and arrived soon after the Clinton. It was
not thought by the survivors that she saved any. By one
A.M., all was still except the dead crackling of the fire.
Not a solitary individual could he seen on the wild waste
of waters. • A line was then made fast to the remains
of the Erie's rudder, :and an effort made- to tow the hap-
less hull ashore. Abont this time the Chautauque came
up and lent her assistance. The hull of the Erie was
towed within about four miles of the shore, when it sunk
in eleven fathom,s:water. By this time it was daylight.
The lines were cast off.- The Clinton headed for this
port, which she, reached; about six o'clock. Of those who
are saved, several, are badly :burned, but none are dan-
gerously injured so far.as we have heard.
ORIGIN OF THE , FlRE.—Among the passengers on
board were six painters the employ .of Mr. W. 'G.
Miller of this city, who. were going to Erie to paint the
steam-boat Madison. They had with then): demijohns
filled with spirits of turpentine and varnish, which, un-
known to Captain Titus, were placed on the boiler deck
directly over the boilers, One of the firemen,' who was
saved says he kad occasion to go on deck, and seeing
the demijohns; removed them. They were replaced, but
.by whom is not known. Immediately previous to the
bursting forth of the flames, as several on board have as-
sured us, a slight explosion was heard. The demijohns
had probably burst with the heat, and their infla-
minable contents, taking fire instantly, communicated to
every part of the boat, which 'having 'been freshly var-
nished caught as if it had been gunpowder.
• Not a paper nor an article of any kind was saved. Of
course it is impossible to give a complete list Of those on
board. Of cabin passengers Captain Titus thinks there
were between thirty and forty, of whom ten or twelve
were ladies. In the steerage were about 140 passengers,
nearly all of 'whom were. Swiss and German emigrants.
They were mostly in families with the usual proportion
of men; •women, and children. The heart bleeds at the
thought.
It is a singular coincidence that the Erie was burned
at almost identically the same spot Where'the Washing-
ton was burned in June, 1838. Captain Brown, who
commanded the Washington at that time, happened to
be on board the Clinton, and was very active in saving
thesurvivors of the Erie.

We have never seen ;our' city in a more profound
gloom. The destruction of the Erie and the appalling
horrible loss of life, impress the heart of every one.
The Mayor of Buffalo, immediately upon the receipt of
the intelligence, very properly convened the Common
Council, when appropriate measures were taken to re-
lieve such 'sufferers as were in need of assistance.
LATER.—By the Robert Fulton, Captain Hart, we
learn that two .more persons were saved by the people of
Dunkirk. One was Frederick Parmlee, bar-keeper of
the Erie, and an AMerican, name unknown.
The Fulton also picked up two boats, one beloning to
the Erie, and the other a sail-boat belonging to Dunkirk,
which was swamped on its way to the rescue. Those on
board were picked up.
(From the Buffalo Commercial of Wednesday.)
' THE ERIE:—The Clinton; as soon as she could dis-
charge her cargo yesterday morning, returned to the
scene of the disaster, to pick up whatever could be found.
She found no bodies, nor any thing scarcely to repay the
search. The water was covered for miles with cinders
and fragments of the wreck, more or less charred, and
and that was all. Dr. Harris, the. Coroner, who accom-
panied the Clinton, has furnished us the following :
" Alexander Lamberton, musician, from Erie, and
Frederick Parmalee, bar-keeper, were picked up by a
small boat after the Clinton had left. Parmelee was on
the water 'seven hours, and showed great presence of
mind in exerting hirnselfto save Mr. Gelston, the brother-
in-law of Col. lice& Ile gave. Mr. Gelston a plank, which
he had secured for his own preservation— and whentbel
boat had ceased to move, after waiting to find some one
else to whom he could render assistance, he took one
of the fenders of the boat, and by managing to keep
upon it, he succeeded in preserving his own life. Small
pieces of charred wood, and portions of the boat, were
found floating, as well as part of the goods that remained
without being entirely consumed. The boat also picked
up the wheat measure, which was the means of saving
Mr. Williams, This is about all that has not already
come to your knoWledge."
Notwithstanding the heroic and self-sacrificing act of
karmalee, we fear there is no reason to hope that Gel-
ston was saved. In addition to what is stated respecting
Parmalee's gallant conduct, we learn from the Repub-
lican of this morning, that Mr. Engar Clemens, too, the
engineer, abandoned a plank on which he was floating to
three' children,' and after some search found a box or
bale, which he also resigned :to an old man, and after-
being some time in the water at length reached the boat
to which Captain Titus was clinging.
We learn that Mrs. Lynde, too, the only lady saved,
evinced as much' coolness and intrepidity as any one on
board. ller presence of mind never forsook her for a
moment.

The Republican farther says,—
Mr. Parmalee gives a most terrific description.
Among other things he says, that while watching the
boat from the water, 'he observed that the masthead was
'one sheet of flame—that the flagstaff was wreathed with
fire--that the flames Were bursting from the centre of
the vessel. He saw a man standing on the cross-head,
(the highest part of the engine—the engine had stop-
ped) and watched him until his clothes
.were burned
from him, and he fell amid the flames.

A boy who is now at the American behaved with the
most perfect coolness, holding on to the rudder chains
with hand, leg, and arm, relieving each, as the other was
too much burnt, and desiring those who were with hini,
in case they survived; to tell his friends of his death and
coolness. He, too, is a gallant fellow, and deserves the
highest commendation.

SOUTH AMERICA.
DREADFUL MUTINY AND SLAUGHTER.—Tho bark
`Sardius, from Buenos Ayres, brought dates from that
port to the 19th June. -The only intelligence of conse-
quence, is of a mutiny which broke out on the night of
the 11th on board the Riverista bark of war, Twenty-
fifth May, one of Commodore Coe's squadron in the
harbour of Montevideo. The native portion of the crew
commenced an attack upon the officers, who were soon
joined by the foreign seamen, amounting to 45 in num-
ber. A brisk fire of musketry and pistols was opened
and kept up 'for an hour between the parties, when the
officers were further reinforced by the crew of three boats
manned from the squadron. They rushed upon the muti-
neers, and after some resistance overcame them. It is re-
ported that 30 were killed on both sides, including three
officers, and , a considerable number wounded—eight of
the mutineers were shot the next morning. It is said
Monte Video papers of a later date are silent respecting
'the mutiny. ... . , •
On the next 'night 'another .Riverista brig 'of war was
observed to be on fire,"atid berore the flames were extin-
guished
she was so blunt as to be rendered useless.
• CoMmodore Coe in his Cori'ette and the bark Twenty-
fifth May sailed from Monte Video on the 16th.
The Argentine' squadron, under the command of Ad-
miral Brown, expeeted to sail in a few' days from Buenos
'Ayres.

It is understood that General Echague has opened the
campagne in Corrientes.

AN AFFRAY AT THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.—
By a late arrival accounts have been received at Boston of
an outrage attempted by the British Consul, at Honolulu. on
the editor of the Polynesian, Mr. Jarvis, a Bostonian. The
cause of the attack was the publication of certain correspond-
ence between the Governor of the I-land and the Consul. In
order to punish the editor, the Consul, accompanied by a man
named Starkey, went to his house to horsewhip him ; but it
happened that a friend of Mr. Jarvis, just arrived at from the
Uuited States, was at his house, and be, being almost as stout
and strong as Mr. Charlton, immediately grappled with the
latter, while Starkey attacked Mr. Jarvis. Mrs. J. brought
her husband his cane, with which he punished his assailant
handsomely,; and the Consul faring no better in his conflict
with the stranger, made the best of his way out of the house,
leaving Starkey to his fate. Both were subsequently brought
before tee civil authorities, and fined for the assault. The
outrage produced the greatest excitement among all classes
and complexions. A public meeting of all the foreigners was
called, at which several Englishmen took a pat t, and resolutions
were passed expressive of the indignation of the meeting and
the foreign community, at the conduct. of the Consul and his
associate in the outrage, and the doings were published in the
Polynes:an.—New Font Paper.
STATE OF STOCKPORT.—The population of
this borough, which ten years ago amounted to upwards
of 58,000, is now reduced to 50,495. There are in the
borough 10,890 dwellings ; this number 2,053 were
unoccupied in June last. There are also ten cotton mills
and a print work totally unoccupied, and five mills but
partially occupied. The number of empty dwellings is
803 more than in June 1840. The cotton mills, on an
average, are working about four days "a week, and at
the present moment there are at least 1,500 factory ope-
ratives out of employment ; but tbe greater part of
these have only been thrown out of employment this
week, in consequence Of the stoppage of an extensive
establishment 'for the purpose of making fresh arrange-
ments respecting partnership. It is, hoWever, expected
they will resuMe •Nyork again in a.few weeks.—llictnches-
ter Times.

Viscount Melbourne arrived at Windsor Castle
ea Satt4llay 'veiling at seven o'clock.

► THE PROJECTED BREAKWATER
OFF BRIGHTON. .
(Abridged from the Brighton Guardian.)
One Monday afternoon a highly respectable meeting
was held at the. Town-hall, " for the purpose of taking
into consideration the advantages likely to arise by set-
ting
,ep a breakwater in front of the town, and the pro-
ject Of :Captain Taylor, for a floating breakwater, and to
take such measures as to the meeting may appear ex-
pedient."
Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed I. N. Wig-
ney, Esq. M.P., Captain Sir Samuel Brown, R.N. (the
proprietor of the Chain Pier), Major Allen, Captain
Heaviside, Thomas Attree, Esq., C. Wigney, Esq., W.
Scott Stonehewer, Esq., Robinson, Esq., Captain Tay-
lor, R.N.' Captain Morgan, RN.,Ig
Captain; 'Quhae,
RN., the Rev. James Edwards, &c. &c. &c,-
The High Constable, Mr. TnomAS FULLER, was
called, to the Chair.
Mr. SOMERS CLAERE read the requisition and the no-
tice convening the meeting. and also the following letter
from Captain Pechell, R.N.
"-Hampton Court Palace, Saturday, Aug..2l, 1841.
" Dealt Sta—l have received an official intimation
from:Wm Somers Clarke that you have convened a pub-
lic ne,:eting of the inhabitants of Brighton for Monday
next, to consider Captain. Taylor's project -of a floating
breakW,ater; and I regret that, being detained here under
circinnstanceS of a most afflicting and distressing nature,
I shall be deprived Of the opportunity of .being present on the discussion of a subject of such essential import-
ance to the borough.
" I shall, however, hold myself in teadiness.to give
effect to the wishes of the meeting to the utmost of my
power; and, should the invention of Captaiti Taylor be
approved of, it will afford me the greatest pleasure to as-
sist in carrying out the views of that talented and distin-
guished officer.
" I have the honour to be, dear Sir, your very faithful
servant, " GEO. R. PECHELL.
" Thomas Fuller, High Constable, &c."
The Hion CONSTABLE opened the business by saying
that. he had much pleasure in presiding at the meeting.
If the object for which it was convened shouldhe Car-
ried into effect, it would be of great. advantage to the
town. It would conduce to its advantage in every
respect. They had now a railroad, and he. thought, from
what ha heard from Captain Taylor, the project of a
breakwater would add to the benefit of the town, espe-
cially as, it ivould provide a harbour for-our seamen in. the
season" of distress.
~...,..„ „••
T. N. Winsfue, Esq, M.P., as one of the ,requisitionists
for convening the meeting, and as ati,inhebitant ,of the
town felt much pleasure in attending- and moving the
reeolution placed in his hands. He should not trouble
the. meeting with many remarks,- as Captain Taylor
would follow and point out more particularlythe nature of
his plan; hut he wished to call attention to one or two of
the, important advantages that would .arise to' Brigh-
ton from making it the means of direct oominu
nicatien between London and Paris. • He had
it a particular point to come clown from London
to attend the meeting that day-(Loud cheering)—
considerieg . the plan would be of vital importance
to this great and important town. Every one, he
thought, must see the propriety of something being
done •to provide shelter in the event of' storms, on a coast
which was deficient in harbours. It was a very great
and important object to protect that 'useful class of our
townspeople, the Brighton fishermen ; every one knew
the great dangers to. which they were exposed, and would
readily join in contemplating some plan by which' it
might be remedied.—(Hear, hear.) . Captain Taylor
offered that plan, which held' out an inducement for them
not to be backward in providing the remedy. They were
all aware that the Government commission had been
appointed to make a report :on the state of the coasts in
general, and of the propriety of forming harbours of re-
fuge. That Commission had reported, recommending the
formation of two hundred such harbours ; but the ex-
pense would be so enormously great, involving an
outlay of many millions sterling, that it was , almost
hopeless to expect that the Government would incur it.
Captain Taylor's, plan offered a very safe and effective
remedy at a very small cost ; and he (Mr. W.) thought,
knowing as he did the dangers of this coast, that it Would
not only be very desirable, but very gratifying fur the
people of Brighton that they should show the country
the benefit of carrying out Captain Taylor's views
in providing for the safety of so large and valuable a class..
of our fellow-creatures.—(Hear, 'hear.) If a break-
water were established at Brighton, it would increase
the means of communication with the Continent.
They 411; knew that packets going out had been -de-
tained- for hours, and even days, because there- was
no plaee of refuge for vessels to go into in stormy wea-
ther.; butif this breakwater was' erected, it would pro-
vide the means of safe embarkation, and must bring
Brighton into a direct route with Paris, which would
not only'be of great local advantage, but of great na-
tional ,advantage, shOrtening the communication 'be
tween. London and Paris, which, via. Brighton, .might
then be accomplished in sixteen hours. Another advan-
tage would be this. Brighton was said to be a beauti-
ful coast; but still a great attraction was wanting that
was found in other parts. There was a great paucity of
shipping at Brighton, arising. from the shallowness of
the coast ; and in consequence of this want of approach
they lost the sight of shipping. But if the .breakwie
ter, were constructed, vessels might approach the coast
with greater safety ; and in stormy weather they would
run in and ensure safety and protfttion: Atiother
inducement for them to adopt the plan would be found
in tho .teourag.rnent it 'would offer' to -the I:;eittie-
wen of the Yateli Club. They. had tried boat' races
in a humble way ; but. if they had. •the breakwater it
would be: a safe mooring :I'or yachts, and gentlemen,
. instead of going to eoutharnpton, would make Brighton
a place of resort, and the townspeople would see
their beautiful shipping lying within the reach, and
have the pleasure of their company. Taking this cur-
sory view of the matter, he (Mr. Wigney) felt hienselfjus-
tified in asking the High Constable to call this meeting,
anti take the opinion of the town on the plan, and adopt it
if it met with their approbation. As a Brighton.man he
had brought the subject forward ; it was a measure they
ought to take up`warinly; it was one of great importance,
and such as all who felt desirous of furthering the suc-
cess. oftthe town ought most readily to concur in. He
felt great pleasure in submittingr, the first resolution. • •
Major ALLEN seconded the first resolution, and after
makingesome remarks on the plan, said; with regard to
thnSafety 'of the coast, he would advert to its usefulneSs
in making the town the resort of many thousands of per-
sons from distant parts of the country. -In late'years the
progress of steam in this country had been very great,-and
its gigantic power was now perfectly governable and
tractable. They had railroads formed in this and other
parts of the country connecting them all together. Some
two hundred years ago it was so great a difficulty to un-
dertake a journey from York to London, that a monu-
ment was to be found in York Minster erectedito the
memory of a man who, while travelling into 'foreign
parts,' that was, too-Loncion—(Hear and laughter)—had
died upon the road.—(A. laugh.) At that, ,tune it took
eight days to get from York. to :London ; but 'now, ow-
ing to the formation of railroads, the journey was ac-
complished in twelve hours.... A railroad was coming
to this town ; it was already opened as far as
Hayward's Heath, and in a very few weeks it would be
opened throughout 'the . whole line, and the journey
from, London to Brighton would hen be performed
in abotit two hours, which would enable the people of
York to come to Brighton in fourteen or sixteen hours
at the.' most. From Brighton to Dieppe was an eight
hours' voyage ; and when the railroad, which he. under-
stood was projected from Dieppe to Paris, was finished,
the entire journey from York and all the other northern
parts of England to Paris might be accomplished in
about thirty hours. This was an all-important consi-
deration' ; and connected with a floating breakwater it
would be a great inducement to the people to travel by
steam, and would make Brighton one. of the most -irn-
pdrtant towns in the kingdom. The project to, be -ex.;
plained by Captain Taylor was that of a 'floating
breakwater. A stone breakwater offered such resistance
that the sea breaks over it, and in some instances vessels
had been carried over it by the force of the waves ; but
a floating; 'breakwater yielded to the most violent'and
tempestuous storms, let the sea rage ever so much or ever
so Waves generally were. nine feet high ; the
breakwater would be six feet above the ..surface of the
water, and jay yielding to the pressure and -violence
of the waves, and by the water being thrown
through' they interstices and coming over the top of
, the lereakiVeter, there would be comparatively smooth
water within its range.,, If that object cctlld be obtained,•
it wonitl be' of very- great advantage to the town ; it
Would, benefit the 'country at large by'protectieg' the
coast from foreign foes, and be of great' advantage to
this town by,increasing its trade.--(Hear.) A notion,
however, existed, that it would 'spoil the.' bathing,
and make Brighton a mere commercial town. No inten-
tion of the sort existed. There were to be no WarehouSeS
built ; but the breakwater was to serve more as a refuge
for vessels to run into' from storms than as a place where
they might receive or discharge merchandise. ' 'How the
money for carrying out the plan was to be obtained 'was
to be left to the judgment of the meeting: It would
entail a great expense, but not anything like that of 'a
stone breakwater. Each section would extend about
60 :'eet in length, and would cost about 6001. A patent
ha b ea obtained by Captain Taylor for the improvement
of •reakwaters, and a company was before the public,
alt wag"), he believed, not yet incorporated by Act Of
Pa liament, for the purpose of carrying out the inven-
tio •. That Company challenged public inquiry, and
sta td that they would contract with harbour trustees
an I other:parties for the formation of floating break-
wit; r.i. Some outlay would certainly be required to
c,..ery the ,object into execution, and the means Must be
raised either by public subscription, or by the aid of the
public companies, such as the Chain Pier Company and
the Railroad Company.—(Hear.)
Capt. TAYLOR then presented himself, and
was received
ob-
with much' cheering. After it had subsided, he
served, that from the very able manner in
*Hell their
worthy member (Mr. Wigney) and the gentleman Who had
just addressed them, had pointed out the
beunneces-
sary advantages
of the floating hreakwaker; it would
for
and' he would
hint to dwell at any lengtla
In-
deed, they had exhausted the subject,
nautical
point 'of'
therefore merely touch upon it in
the
eitTon 'them. In-
breakwater Week/
importantause vessels would be'
view. In respect to the protection
appendage to
because
the tide, and th-ose
afford, it woutd become a very
the. harbour of Shoreham,
enabled to anchor at all
tinibeannels would at passing up and down the
.c
e meeting would
d 'lofto them the details the pian,
allow him he would read,
selves of the- same protection. If Ali •
and afterwards he should be most nappy to give any
be requited. The calculations
formed he would not -then
explanation ghat might be
on which 'die plan V,
explain, as
I would take -up too much time ;- but he
would submit them with the utmost 'confidence to prac-
titealThe Gallant Captain here read
a great
manuscript description of his scheme and
great
n length and e
an, g iil eers.
the pres„meatuivantages it would confer ; and afterwards
went on to state. that the most eminent -mathematicians
-and shipbuilders had 'cleel4red that a breakwater CO3l-