Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-06-28
BURNING 81 TuE sTKAMDOAr
WARRINGTON, - Lake ksss.

The Washington left Cleveland, on
her passage 10 Detroit. on June lItb,
at Z, A. s!. She proceeded on her
way safely. until Saturday, 2 o'clock,
a. NJ. when she had arrived in the vi.
entity Of Silver Greek, sbou, 33 miles
from Buf1lo.
The boat was now discovered 10 be
on fire, which projected from beneath
the boilers. The passengers were
alarmed, and aroused from their slum-
bers; such scene Of confusion and
distress en.ued, IS those only OF my
readers can imagine who have been in
similar circumslanccs.
Despair did not, however complete
~ possess the mass until 1t became ov-
Iden, that the progress ot the danes
could not be arrested. From that mo-
men,, the scene bcEgafs all description.
Suffice 1t 10 say. that numbers pseoipi-
tateG themselves fiom the burning mass
INTO The water. Sore of them with a
shick OF despair. and others silently
sunk beneath the wave; others, mo.
mcntanly more fortunate, swain a
. short distance and drowned others
still. on pieces oi boards aud wood. az
uVed on the beaC h-yct' some tir1 O,
these sank In'o wa,eGy grave. The
small boat had by tits time rut or
loaded with about - souls. Tor the
shore. These arrived safe. vicking VI
one or two By the way. The asiter OF
THIS article was one OF the number
Other small boa!s came 10 our assis.
lance. which. together with the Wash.
ingion's boat, saved Perhaps a majori,y
OF the persons on board.
There IS reason TO believe that a,
many as forty peTished. |, i, ippossi
ble 10 compute tie precise number
Many remained on the boat un,ilit wa,
wrapped IN one sheet OF fame. O
these there Is reason ~ believe tina
numbers persisted in the couflactatiop
while others, halt burned. precipiiatec
themselves into the wa,ery elemen,
thus suffering tie double agony @
death by fire and raier.
Most of the crew were saved. III.
captain being among The number
who. during the awful calamity. ac.e,
with the utmost decision and intrepid
iy. Indeed no blame, as far as III,
writer has been informed. has been at
taohed 10 any officer or hand on boar,
! the boat. The utmost exeruon wa
used TO run her on shore, Until il be
came necessary 10 stop the engine il
oIder TO let down the small boat. " hic!
having been done, the GTc had pro
crossed so far as 10 render IT impossible
10 again start the machinery.
will give few particulars Of tn
losses oi the passengers.
Mr.. Shudds Is the only survivor G
his family, consisting Of seven. a Ia
dy passenger lost three children. a 81,
ter and mother. Mr.. Michael Park
er lost his wife and parents, sister an,
her child. But | will no, further Gnu
merate tho cases Of individual bereavc
ment. Truly it is no, in man to kno,
what day may hring forth"
II IS prope, TO say. that vhile tn
wr'ier alone is responsible Tor the fore
going statements, all the survivors {
whom this paper has been submitted
concur IN the facts sci forth.
II. J. GUDD.
ofGaveisvillc, c
Many were the heart rending scene
that occurred in this terrible ca,asirc
Pie. An English family, consisting {
a man. his wife and two children, cam
on board the boat at Toledo. Will
the fire was raging. man wcrke
by the side Of our informant nll the
could stay OF board no longer. The
he and his wife threw their childre
overheard, and jumped in after then,
The father and two children wcr
drowned-ihe mother was saved.
Several passengers wen, into con
WILSON'S with terror. on the deck. a
the Outset, and persisted in the flame.
a woman, With child grasped un
der each arm, all dead, was picked u
by The North America. on her rc,urt
10 Buffalo.
y newly married couple. suppose,
20 have embarked at Ere. jurnpc
overheard in each others arms. an
sunk together.