Litchfield enquirer., 1838-06-28
9tearaboat Disasters.
from GIs B.daIO Commercial AaUertissr, Juus |
AWFUL CATASTROPHE.

Dy toS pa8ScneetS on WHICH we lcdru JIG paf- ticulars of most heart-rending calamity THE DESTRUCTION or THE NEW AND ELEGANT brRAMBoAr WASHINGTON, by fire, off Sill yer Creek, about 3 o'clock this morning, with the estimated loss of FIFTY LIVES!
 The Washington passed tho North Ameri- ca while the latter lava Eric,in the early part of the night, and was not again seen by those on board the North America, until when within about three miles of this city, bright glare of light was discoverdd by the heims- man, in the direction of Silver Creek, and the North America was instantly put about for the scene fapprehended disaster.
 On nearing the spot, about 6 o'clock, the burning hull of the large and noble boat was found drifting over the waters, three or four miles from shore, with not a living being on board. The lake was literally covered with hats, bonnets, trunks, baggage and blackened fragments of the wreck. ... .... ..
 The intense anxiety ofthe witnesses of this fearful scene, for the fate of the passengers onsthe unfortunate Washington, was partial lyrelieved by the discovery of several small boats near the shore, in which the survivors of the disaster had been rescued from des- truction. 1as IF, y
 The alarm had been given at Silver Creek, as soon as the flames were peceived from the shore, and all the boats which could be found were sent to the rescue of the sufferers There were only three skifs, besides the yawl of the Washington, which could be thus used.
 The North America took on board about forty of those saved, many of whom, inclu- ding all the ladies, remained on shore. There were six dead bodies picked up on the spot those of four children and two women. One man died of his injuries soon after reaching the shore, and one child was dead in it's moth- CTS arms when she was taken out of the wa- ter.
 After picking up all the floating baggage which could be seen, the hull, which was still able to float the engine, was lowed into Silver Creek, where it sunk in six or eight feet of water. The North America remained at Silver Creek, employed in this melancholy business, six or seven hours, and every thing was done by Captain Edmonds, and his crew, for the relief of the sufferers. Their prompt and efficient services are entitled to all praise.
 The ill-fated Washington was built at Ashtabula, last winter, and had made but one trip previous to her destruction. The fire caught near the boilers, and had made such progress when discovered, as to defy all att tenpts to extinguish it. The helm was inc stantly put about, and the boat headed for shore, but in few moments the wheel-ropes were burnt off, and she was rendered an un- manageable wreck. Had iron rods been sub- taught on the Mississippi, this appalling loss of life might have been averted
 We hear that the surviving passengers of the Washington unitein stating that no blame was attributable to Captain Brown, the com- mander.
 We hope and. expect that the reported loss of life, as above stated, may prove exagger- ated. We have heard, since commencing | this article, the loss variously estimated from | twenty to sixty. Many ofthe survivors were | badly burned before they left the boat.
 We have no statement as to the probable | amount of pecuniary damage sustained by ! this distressing event. The passengers must l have suffered heavily. One merchant from | Illinois lost $6,OOO in money.
 Names of passengers lost and nissing.-I Shurtz, Clinton co. N. Y Wm. Shurtz, wife ! and three children, do. w. Shed, St. Law renee co. N. Y. MT. Barker, family of six, only one saved. A Scotchman, name not recollected, lost three children, mother and l sister.
 From the Bgfaloaian-E Ertro, Sunday, June l7.l
 COnfGgrGti0n of the Steam Ship George Washington. on.-The Washington left Cleave- | land, on her down passage from Detroit, on | June 14th, at 8 A. M. She proceeded on her | way safely, until Saturday o'clock, A. M, | when she had arrived in the vicinity of Silver ! Creek, about B miles from Buffalo. t8
 The boat was now discovered to be on fire, l which proceeded from beneath the boilers. l The passengers were alarmed, and aroused from their slumbers ]; such scene of confu- sion and distress ensued as those only of my { readers can imagine who have been in simi- ] lar circunstaccS.
 Despair did not however completely pos- sess the mass until it became evident that the | progress of the flames could not be arrested. 1 From that moment the scene beggars all de- scription. Suffice 1t to say, that numbers l precipitated themselves from the burning mass into the water; some of them with Shriek Of despair, and others silently sunk be- meath the waves; others momentarily more fortunate, swam short distance and were drowned; others still, on pieces of board and wood, arrived on the beach-yet some epen of these sank into watery grave. The small boat had by this time put of, loaded with a. bout twenty five souls, for the shore. They arrived safes picking up one or two by the way. The writer of this article was one of the number. Other small boats came to our assistance, which. together with the Wash- ington's boat saved perhaps majority of the persons on board.
 There Is reason to believe that as many as forty perished. It is impossible to compute the precise number. Many remained on the boat until 1t was wrapped in one sheet of flame. Ofthese there Is reason to believe that numbers perished in the confiagration; while others half burned, precipitated them- selves into the watery element; thus suffering the double agony of death, by fire and scGter.
 Most of the crew were saved the caDfain being among the number-who, during tho awful calamity, acted with tho utmost deci- sion and intrepidity. Indeed. no blame, as far as the writer has been informed, has been attached to any officer or hand on the boat. The utmost exertion was used f0 nm her on