The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-08-21
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune
BUFFALO, Aug. 10, 1871.

Correspondence Of the New York Tribune
BUFFALO, Aug. 10, 1871.
[The following is from Mr4Parmelee,
the barkeeper Of the boat. Perfect con-
fusion succeeded, in the midst Of which
the small boat, hanging astern, was low
cred by the hands and brought to the
side. Aftera few ladies had been handed
down, the frenzy of those behind became
intolerable, and numbers lleaped in bey-
ond the capacity ofthe boatto sustain them,
and'it -swamped.
Several of those who fell from the boat
were drawn under the wheel, and were
drowned there; while few clung to the
boats sides and were finally saved. A
second and third boat were rendered use
less by the same infatuation. Some five
minutes after the appearance of the fire
the machinery became deranged and stop
ped.
Twenty minutes only had elapsed
from the beginning Of the fire, after the in
tenseness of the heart had forced over
every other person, when Capt Titus
threw himself into the water and ADAM
doned the boat to its fate. The few who
then remained alive were tossing in the
midst of heavy swell, dependent upon
the precarious support, one of an oar,
another of a plank or box, and liable
every moment to lose their hold though
exhaustion and the benumbing effects Of
fright
The steamboat Lady returned with the
two she had picked up to Dunkirk; one
of them was my informant. He had
thrown himself overheard on plank,
when he saw farther efforts to be useless,
but relinquished it to friend who could
not swim, and took for his own support
the "fender," which just then fell by his
side. He states that those who survived
the swapping ofthe,boat. chung with des-
peration to the burning wreck, except as a
few found other support.
One man he saw standing for some min
utes on the gallows-beam, the flames en-
circling him, with his coatskirts thrown
over his head, till he dropped dead into
the body of the flames. One of the wheel
men is said to have been burnt up doing
his duty at the helm. Young Beebe, "a
lad OLD, one of those saved is reported
to have behaved with great courage. As
he descended the guys to the water, the
chain was so hot tina, he left masses of
flesh upon the rod at every clasp of his
hands
Reaching the rudder he stood upon
that, and soaking his jacket in the water,
he applied it to assuage the pain of his
hands, and then used it to extnguish the
fire from his dress and parts of the wreck
near him. Though badly burnt, he is
likely to recover.
The only lady who was saved Mrs.
Lynde, wife Of c. J. Lynde, Esq, OF Mil
waukie,) was standing at the stern of the
boat with her husband, arranging her life
preserver about her persen, when the
boat gave a lurch and precipitated her into
the water, She saw rothiCg more of her
husband but was herself buoyed up till
the Clinton arrived.
The first notice which the boat was
upon (he Fulton) had of this sad event
was at Dunkirk, about in the morning
where Mr.. Parmelee came on board The
boat was placed upon the track of tho
Erie, and in about one hour we perceived
indications of the disastcr-a bucket, a
chest of tea, and box of lemons were
picked up. Presently the numerous small
pieces of burnt wood, embraced in quite a
small area, indicated the immediate scene
I of the catas trophe.
As they were seen at some distance off,
the boat checked her speed, and her slow
and solemn motion, over the unmadc
graves of hundreds, the measured surge
of the waves under her Prov, and the
sound of the occasionally putting steam
were felt to be more solemn than any
common tribute to the memory of the
dead. Soon after we left this spot, VIC
picked up one of her boats, parts of which
were covered with the burnt flesh from
the hands and feet of those who Jumped
into it. Most of these facts were derived
from the bar-keeper, and some are rumors
current in Buffalo. In great haste.
+. A. NJ. J.