The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-08-19

orders to the engineers stop The engineer replied
that in consequence Of the flames he could not reach
the engine, The sieersman was immediately directed
to nut the helm hard sarboard. The vessel swung
slowly round. heading to the shore, and the boats
were ordered to be lowered rwo OF the boats were
lowered but in consequence of the heavy sea- they both
swamped as they touched the water,
At this period the spectacle appalling in the ex.
reme, and language can describe the frantic horror
of the doomed passengers. The small boat was lows
ered-four, persons in 1.-THE captain jumped iE and
The boat filled with water and dropped astern. lady
hoated by at this moment with life preserver
on she shresd for hep.thS captain threw her the
" oar in the boatshe caught and was lac
dy was Mrs. Lynde, Of Milwaukee, and she was the on
ly female who was saved from that iated vessel.
In this condition. the boat mass Of fierce Gre, and
tho passengers and crew endeavoring to themse
YES by winning rsu2po-ting bV whatever they could
reach-hey were fouud by the ClN.on at about 10 P.
NJ. The Clinon left here nthe morniug but IN conse-
quence ofthe wind had put into Dunkrk. She laid
there till nearly sunset at which time she ran out and
had proceeded as far as Barcelona, when just at tw-
light the fire ofthe Erie discovered some twenty
miles as,ern.-1he Clinton Immediately put about and
reached the wreck asoutl0.
1t wus fearful sight. All the upper works of the
Erie had been burned away. The engine was standing
but the hull was a mass of dull red fame. The pas
sengers and crew floating around, screaming in
their agony and shreakins or hep,Ihe boats Of the
Clinton wore instantly lowered end nlannsa and ovory
person that could he or heard was picked up and
every possible relefaiforded. The Lady, little seam>
boat living at u ,krk went out flhat harbor
as possible after the discovery Of the fire, and arrived
soon after the Clinton. 1t was not thought by the
Vivors that she saved any.
At one o'clock A. NJ, all was over. Nothing was
heard but The low, dead cracking Of the expiring fire.
Not solitary struggle for life could he seen on tho wide
waste of waters No trace left on the classy sur
of the deep of all that had pershed in that hour of ago.
nv except portion ofthe hapsss hulk OF the l>a!ed
Erie An effort was made to the hull ashore, but
sunk in eleven laoms water about four miles from the
banks ofhe lake. ii was now daylight, and the Gin.
ton headed for the shore.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.-Among the passengers
board were six painters in the employ of MIR. w. G.
Miller of Buffalo, who going to Erie TO paint the
steamboat Madison. They had with them demiiohns
filed with spirits of urpeniine and vansh which
known 10 Capt. Titus placed on the boiler deck,
directly over The boilers. One ofthe remen who was
saved says that he had occasion 10 60 the deck and
seeing the demiohns remoued Them. Tliey were repa.
ced. by whom 10 not known, Immediately previous to
the bursting forth ofhs flames as several on board havs
assured u.s. light explosion was heard. The deml-
Johns had probably burst with the heat and their nia-
mable contents taking the fire instantly communicate
10 every part ofthe boat, which, having been freshly
vanished. caught as if it had been gun-Powder
Iti singular coincidence that the Erie was burned
identcally at the spot where the washington was
burned in June. 1885, Capt Brown, who comman-
ded the Washington at that time, happened to be on
board the Clinton, and was very active in saving tile
survivors on board.
1t is impossible give correct list al the passen'
gers Ofcabn passengers Capt Titus thpks there
between 20 aod 40 ofwhom 10 or IL were ladies. In
the s,eerage there were about l40 passengers nearly
all of whom were Swiss and German Immigrants.
These were in families, all ofwhom found common
grave iL the yawnng deep.