Litchfield enquirer., 1841-08-19
Office Of he Com. ADJ and Journal, I
BuFFAIo, Aug. g. A. M.

4wFUL CATAsTRoPHE-STEA E
RE BURNT-OVER ONE HUNDRED AND
SEVENTY LIVES LOST.
Gentlemen-I have barely time 10 write you that
he steamboat ERIE was entirely destroyed by nre
~ night off Cauaraugus Creek: She LETT here last
evening for Chicago with something 200 souls on
ord including Hsvng Dssn rSeSH n,oY re- re-
1hrned, bringing q only Of whole number OF per-
sons who were on boaFd-with the most heartrendlng
nleigence that the res. are ell DROWNED or burnt
number brought by the Clinton. cannot send you
s names Of the sufferers for want Of time in fact
- UO. About I5O Of the passengers were, however
Il German EmigTants.
Il Is said with how much truth know notl that
he varnish not entirely dry when she left this
BORT. and that when the fire took it spread with such
Sapdity that those on the upper deck had not even
slime to 60 below before they were enveloped ~
flames. The persons saved were taken from the
y wheels OF the boat, pieces OF furniture, &c.
From the N. Y. Euening Post.
The Steamboat Erie Destroyed by Fire-1Uo run
dred Lives Lost.-We have received from gentle
man who came passenger in one OF the steamboats,
which arrived from Albany this morning. the parncu'
lars of friehful accident on Lake Erie.
The steamer Erie, commanded by Capt. Titus, lett
Buffalo on Monday afternoon at halt past CLOCK,
for Chicago, having as the captain soppses a9ou n
ken in a considerable cargo, destined tor the various
ports on the lakes, among which was supply OF ma
terals paints, varnshes &c, oe,omg,ns 10 some
carboy containing varnish was broken about O..
clock on the boiler deck, having either burst with the
heat or been dashed in pieces by the motion OF the
steamer, for the wind and waves were high, and the
LIQUID heing scattered all Sides the vessel was sud-
denly enveloped in flames, so fierce and scorchlng,
and spreading with such rapidly. that most OF the
persons board, unable TO face them. eaped mo the
water. The steamer De Witt Clinton had LETT Bufta'
10 not long before the Erie and had stopped at Dun
kirk Seeing the Erie fire, the Captain OF the DE
Witt Clinton made haste to come to her assistance
and saved 81 persons, among whom were the captain
and one Of the One OF them was female.
lady of Meadvie, Pa, who owed her safety to lie
preserveF; her husband and child were dro" ned
No other female, though there were many on ooard'
was rescued.
The carboy of varnish was on part OF the deck I'M
media,ely over the furnace. The Captain had once
caused to be removed but for some reason or other
the painters had replaced it, Observing this, ne was
about to give orders to remove IT second Tune "hen
he was called aft, and before he returned the vessel
Was in flames
The number Of passengers is matter OF CONJECTURE
only Several persons had staid TO 60 on board
Of the steamboat, and crowded had she become
that an hour or two before her departure it had be
come necessary to decline receiving any more ~
persons went on board of the Erie from the American
Hotel alone. None of the names OF the passengers
have come our knowledge.
The flames consumed the boat down to the waters
edge The Captain of The De Witt Clinton made an
attempt 70 tow her into Buffalo The little band Of
survivors arrived al Buffalo on Tuesday morning
Few of the passengers when driven by the flames
into the Lake had time to take with them any thing
10 support them in the water