Mobile daily commercial register and patriot., 1841-08-23

TERRIBLE DIsAsrER.-The New York papers bring the account Of most terrible and destruc structiye disaster in the burning of the steamboat Erie with nearly two hundred individuals on board.
 From the Journal of Commerce we learn that she Jeff Buffalo on the 9th inst. for Detroit, with per- sons. When off Silver Creek, about 30 miles from Buffalo and from land, the boat took fire and was totally consumed together with all on board, except 2 who were picked up by the De Witt Clinton, some three or four hours afterwards.
 Among the saved are the Captain, German, one lady and three of the crew. the rest being passen- gers. The boat took fire from the explosion of two barrels of yarnish which had been placed over the boiler deck and had become heated. In exploding, a portion communicated with the fire below The boat had been recently reftted and painted and aished over inside, and the fire in very few moments extended over the whole vessel It was impossible to do any thing for the salvation of the sufferers.
 OFFICE OF THE Cow. ADV. & JsUREAL.1
 Buffalo, Aug. 10, "a. m.
 Agfd Catasfrephei-StsambOat Erie Bwaf !-Op~
 oae hundred aud sevsnty livss iosti!t
 Gentlemen,-I have barely time to write you that the steamboat Erie was entirely destroyed by fire last night of Cataraugus Greek. She left here last evening for Chicago with something over POO souls on board, including crew. lhaving been recently re- painted and repaired) and the steamboat Clinton Bringing twenty -seven only of the whole number of persons who were on board, with the most heart rending intelligence that the rest all drowned burnt!-The Captain Of the unfortunate Erie is among the number brought by the Clinton. cannot send YOU the names of the sufferers for want of time; in fact have not yet learned whether the waybill was saved or not.-About l5O of the passengers,
 au,iUr
 It is said (with how much truth know not) that the yarnsh was not entirely dry when she left this port and that when the fire took, spread with such rapidty that those on the upper deck had not even time to 20 below before they were enveoped in flames The persons saved taken from the wheels of the boat, pieces of furniture, chests, &c.
 Yours, truly, E.
 The mail to-day brought us farther particulars of ,his awful catastrophe The list of the given is ncomplete-most of those lost were seerage pas sengers wi ith large hmes-some with five, six and seven members Nearly all the survivors are dread fully burnt and otherwise injured.
 The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, says:-
 .Nothius occurred to mar this prospect till about 8 when the boat was of Silver Greek. about miles from shore and 3s miles from this city, when slight explosion was heard, and immediately, instantane- ously almost, the whols vessel was enveloped in flames. Capt. Wno Wds ou ue sPf<t ocCA at the time, rushed to the Ladies Cabin to obtain the Life Preseryers of which there were from 90 to 100 on board but so rapid had been the progress of the flames he found it impossible to enter the cabin. He returned to the upper deck his way giving orders 10 the Engineer to stop the engine, the wind and the headway of the boat increasing the erceness of the flames and driving them aft. The Engineer replied that in consequence of the flames he could not reach The engine. The steernan instantly 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 then ordered to be lowered. Two of the boats were lowered, but in consequence of the heavy on, and the headway of the vessel, they beth swamped they touch- ed water. We will not attempt to describe the aw- ful and appalling condition of the passengers. Some were frantic with fear and horror, others plunged he ,dlooe madly into ,he waer others again seized upon any thing buoyant upon which they could lay hands. The small boat forward had been lowered 1t was along side the wheel, with three four per- sons in it. when the captain jumped in and the boat immediately dropped astern and filled with water.
 A lady Aoated by with a life preserver on. She cried for help There safety m the boat. The captain threw her the only oar in the boat. She caught the oar and was saved. It was Mrs Lynde of Miiwaukie, and she was the only lady saved. In rhis condition the boat of fierce fire, and the passengers and crew endeayoring to save themselves by swimming or supporting themselves by whatever they could reach--hey were found by the Clinton at about 10, F. M. The Clinton Jeff here m the morn