Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-08-19
Most Appalling Calamity!
Destruction Of The Steamboat Erie by
Fire, and he Loss Of One Hundred
and Serenig Lires!

tnir, 10 any, we sUpuIu Dc Culleu upon 10 Ic'
cord the destruction of that bon,, together
with loss of life uneqnaled on our own, oI
.fnusi any other waters. The Eric left the
dock at 10 minutes past 4, p. NJ, loaded will
merchandise destined for Chicago, and as
nearly as can now be nscertaincd, about VIC
hundred persons, including passengers and
crew, IN board. The boat had been tho.
roughly 0vcrbaulcd. and although the wind
vas blowing fresh, every thing promised q
pleasant and prosperous voyage.
Nothing occurred 20 mar this prospect I'LL
ghout 8. when the boat was Of Silver Creek
about miles from shore. and 33 miles from
this city, ,when light explosion was heard
and immediately, taniaDeously almost, the
whole vessel was cuvcloped in flames. Capt
Titus, who was on tie upper deck at the time
rushed 10 the ladies' cabir to obtain the life
preservers, Of which there were from 80 20
100 on board but so rapid had been the pro
gross Of the flames. he found it impossible tu
enter the cabin. lie returned TO the upper
deck, on his way giving orders for the engi.
nccr 10 stop The engine, the wind and the
Roadway of the boat increasing the fierce.
ness Of the flames and diving them aft
The engineer replied that in consequence OF
the flames he could not reach the engine.
' The steersman was instantly directed IA
put the helm hard Il starboard. The vessel
SWING slowly round, heading 20 the shore,
and the boats---'tbero were three Oh board
were then ordered to be lowered. Two OF
the boats were lowered, but in conscque nee
of the heavy sea on, and the hcadway of the
vessel, they both swnmpcd as sU6ueaa Uey
touched the water. We will MOI s,tcnts9o
describe the awful and appalling condim4
of the passengers. Soine were frantic with
fear and horror. others plunged hcadlong
madly INTO the water, Others again seized
upon my ,hirg huoyant upon which they
could lay HANDS. The small boat forward
had been lowered. Ii was alongside the
wheel, with three or four persons in it, when
the captain Jumped III and the boat immedl
atoIy dropped astern and filled with water.
a lady floated by with a life preservcr on.
She cried for help. There was no safety IN
the boat. The captain threw her the only
oar in the boat. She caught the oar and was
saved. II was Mrs. Lynde, of Milwaukee,
and she was the only lady saved.
IN this condition, TIE boat a mass Of fierce
fire, and the passengers and crew endeavor
ing to save themselves by swimming, or sup.
porting themselves by whatever they could
rrach--ihey were found by the Clinton, at
about 10 4. VI. The Clinton left here in The
morning, but in Consequence of the wind had
pu, into Dnnkirk. She lay there TIL nearly
.unset at which time she ran out, and bad
proc ce dcd as far a. Barcelona, when Just AZ
-wilIght the fire of tho Erie was discovered
some 20 miles astern. The Clinton was i'm
neda,ely Put about and reached'tifs burning
wreck aboot ten. 1t was o fearful sight. Al
a II. A A
away. The engine was standing, bu, the
IuN was d mass of doll, red fame. The pas.
scpgers and crew were floating around.
scre AIMING ~ their agony and shrIeking for
help. The boats of the Clinton were instant
ly lowered md manned, and every person
hat could lie seen or heard was picked up.
and every possible relief afforded. The
Lady, little steamboat lying at Dunkirk,
went out of that barbor as soon as possible
after the discovery Of the fire, and arrived
soon after The Clinton. |, was not thought
by the survivors that she saved any.
BY a. NJ. all was still except the dead
cracking Of tho fire. Not a solitary ind Vi
dual could he seen or heard on the wild waste
OF waters. a line was then made fast To the
remains Uf the Fries rudder, and an effort,
made to tow the haplcss hull ashore. About
this time the Chautauquc came up and lent
her assistance. The hull of the Erie wns
towed within about four miles Of the shore,
when il sunk in eleven fathoms water By
this time it was daylight. The lines were
cast oft. The Clinton headed for this port.
which she reached about q o'clock. OF
those who were saved, several were badly
burned, but none are dangerously injured so
far ms we have heard.
Origin OF THE FIRE.-Among the pas.
scngers on board were six painters in the en-
ploy of Mr.. w. q. Miller, of this city, who
were going to Erie to paint the steamboat
Madison. They had with them Gemijohns
filed with spirits of turpcniinc and varnlsh,
which, unknown to Capt. Titus, were placed
ON the boiler deck directly over the boilers.
One Of the firemen, who was saved, says he
had occasion TO go on the deck, and seeing
the dcmljohns, removed them. They were
replaced, but by whom 1t is not known. In.
medatcly previous 10 the bursting forth vi
the hamas, MS several on board have assured
us, slight explosion wos heard. The dcmi.
Jrhns had probably burst with the heat, and
their inHainnabe contents, taking fire in.
stantly communicated to every part Of the
boat, which having beon freshly vanished
caught as II 1t had been gunpowder.
Not paper nor an article ot any kind was
saved. OF course it Is impossible to give a
complete list of those on board. OF cabin
passengers Capt. Titus thinks there were be.
tween so and 40, Of whom 10 or 12 were
ladies'. 10 the stecragc were about l30 pas
sengers, nearly all Of whom were Swss.and
German immigrants. They were mostly IN
families, with the Usual proportion OF men,
women and children. The heart bleeds at
the thought
Ii is singular coincidence that the Erie
was burned nj almost idcnlicaliy the same spot
where tho Washington was burned in June.
1888. Capt. Brown, who commanded the
Washington at that time, happened to be on
board the Clinton, aud was very active in
saving the Survivors of the Ere.
We annex list Of the lost and saved SO
far as we have been able TO ascertain.
LOST.
w. NJ. Camp, Harrisburg, Pa.
WIIieu Wccks, Brooklyn.
John T.. Pool, New York city.
T.. s Copp, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Otto Torp, N. Y. wife aud threo children.
Lloyd Griston, Eric, Clerk
Mr.. Joes, Steward Of the boat.
Mrs. Giles Williams, Chicago.
Chs. J. Lynde, Milwaukee.
Watts y. Lyndc. Homer, NY.
Mrs. W. H. Smith, and child, Schenectady.
A. Sears, Phlly Barber, Henry Weaver,
WIN. Thomas, - Evoris, Peter Finney,
painters, Buffalo, in the employ Of WIN. G..