The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-06-30
HIElA NEWS
Awful Catastrophe.
n Steamboat Destroyed, and Fifty LiUes
Lost.

l>OSJ.
We are again called upon to record a
steamboat disaster of most appalling cha
racter; and in which FIFTY human beings
were hurried into eternity. The boat allu-
ded to is the WASHINGTON. she was
destroyed by fire about o'clock, on Satur-
day morning, while off Silver Creek. We
'derive the melancholy particulars from the
Buffalo papers of Saturday evening.
The Washington, says the Buffalo Com
mercial of that date PASSED the North A.
merica while the latter lay at Erie 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 glaze of light was discovered
by the helmsman, in the direction of Silver
Creek, and the North America was Instant
ly put about for the scene of apprehended
disaster.
On nearing the spot, about 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 living
human being on board. The lake was lit
orally covered with hats, bonnets, trunks,
baggage, and blackened fragments of the
wreck.
The intense anxiety of the witnesses of
this fearful scene, for the fate ofthe passen-
gers on the unfortunate Washington, was
partially relieved by the discovery of sever
al small boats near the shore, in which the
survivors of the disaster had been rescued
from destruction.
The alarm had been given at Silver
Creek as soon as the flames were perceived
from the shore and all the boats that could
be found were sent to the rescue of the suf-
ferers. There were only three skiffs beside
the yawl of the Washington, which could
be thus used. . f.,,.. - ,,....,'
The North America took on board about
40 ofthose saved, many whom, including
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 ofiniuries soon after reaching
the shore, and one child was dead in its
mothers arms when she was taken out OF
| the water.
After picking up all the floating baggage
which could be seen, the hull, which was
still able to float the engine, was towed into
Silver Creek, where it sank in 6 or 8 feet
water. The North America remained al
Silver Creek, employed in this melancholy
e,.ng was done by Captain Edmonds and
his crew for the relief of the sufferers.
| Their prompt and efficient saryices are en-
titled TO all praise. ...
The ilI-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 rapid progress when discovered as to
defy all attempts TO extinguish it. The
helm was instantly put about and the boat
headed for shore, but in few momentf the
wheel ropes were burnt off, and she was
rendered an unmanageable wreck. Had
iron rods been substituted, as melancholy
experience has taught on the Mississippi,
this appalling loss of life might have been
saved!
We hoar that the surviving passengers oi
the Washington unite in stating that nc
blame was attributable to Capt Brown the
commander.
We hepe and expect that the reported
loss of life, as stated above, may prove ex.
aggerated. We have heard, since commen.
cling this article, the loss variously estima-
ted from twenty to sixty. Many Of the
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 have suffered heavily. One merchant
from Illinois lost So 600 in money.
The Buffalo Journal of Saturday evening
says - ,4.
The steamboat North America, Captain
Edmonds, came to the relief of the Wash
ington. This boat was within some eigh
or ten miles of this city, but seeing the ligh
the captain very promptly put back, and
was thus the means Of saving many lives.
Several of the passengers were picked uE
almost exhausted; among whom was wo
man with two children in her arms, at leas
a mile and half from the wreck-the chill
dIen were unfortunately dead, however.
The master of the boat and all the officer:
are among the survivors. The porter, the
barber, the wheelsman, and two fremen o.
! the crew, are known to be lost.
| -
A most extraordinary and destructive
hailstorm occurred near Tate's creek Ky
| about tbrpn rniIas from, 7 o,.;,,rtor a., a,