Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-08-26
CORRESPONDENCE Of Tie Heraid.

boat Erie on Lake Erie, was burned at
the mouth of Silver Creek. with 100 per-
sous on board, out of which only 27 are
known p have escaped. have my inlor-
nation from gentleman who has seen
some OF those who were saved. The par
ticulars Of the disaster will reach us by
this afternoon train.
learn that the flames spread with ra-
pidily iu consequence Of The bursting OF
some casks of varnish that were placed
near where the fire originated.
Yours in haste, n. GiLLMnRg,
Collector of Syracuse and Utica Railroad.
Destruction o fihe Steamboat Erie, by Fire,
and Loss of nearly 1ico Hundred Lires.
The steamer Eric left Buffalo on Mon
day afternoon at O'Clock lnr Chicago
The precise number on board OF her is not
known, but tits estimated by the captain
from glance AT The register before eav-
ing the harbor to have exceeded TWO hen
ded souls. Amongst tho number were
scveral painters, who with their materials
were on their way 10 some port up The
lake for the purpose Of painting boa, ly-
ing there. a strong wind and rough sea
prevailing at the time, Capt. Titus hesita-
| ted ior some lime 10 put out, but the Dc
Wit Clinton having left about three hours
previous, lie was fuaily induced TO start on
the fatal voyage.
Al about s o'clock the vessel was sud
denly wrapped in flames from the burs-
ting OF carboy of varnish on the boiler
deck, whilst so sudden was the cOmbus-
ton that the passengers were at once for
! ced overheard, in many Instances with
out tho slightest article TO sustain them.
Fortunately the De VIII Clinton had
put into Dunkirk, and discovering the Erie
! in flames hastcned 10 her relief.
She picked up twenty seven only OF tie
whole number OH board, whilst about Two
hundred fell victims 10 The devouring e!c-
meut. Only one female was saved. as al
50 were the captain and one oflhe crew.
The Erie, in addition to a full compile
ment Of passengers, had on board large
quantity Of mcfchandizc for Chicago and
Intermediate places.
For the above particulars we are iudeb-
ted 10 friend who came down in the bonI
tins morning, and they may be relied upon
as correc. in all The leading features atten.
ding this most melancholy occurrence.
Such are all the particulars we have yet
received. To night We shall know more OF
this awful affair. None OF the passengers
Games arc known here and all is suspense,
all anxiety. How dreadful!
We understand that The Eric was FIVE
gears old, was built and owned by Mr..
Reed, of Erie. Penu., and cost 500, ,000.-
She is said 10 be splendid and fast boat,
and of the first class. She was recently
put in complete order, retitted and repain-
ted in fine style. She was great favor
ito aud has encountered many severe gale.
This is the third steamer burnt on the
Lake within our recollection. The Great
Western at Detroit, about year since,
and the Geo. Washington, several years
ago, with three hundred passengers.
To show her size we will give her di-
mensions -
Length, leo feet
Breadth Of beam. 27a
Extreme breadth, 5l4 q"
---A-xlepih. 12 -"
Her power was two hundred aud fifty
horse power, and her burtheu six hundred
tons bur,hen. Her commanders name is
Il. j. Titus.
The De Wit Clinton which rescued
the twenty persons lives, is an old boat,
used for freight and passengers.
Immediately on the receipt Of the above
painful tidings, we issued third edition,
and the city was thrown into deep sem
satiOn.
Not since the burning Of The Ben Sher-
rod, on the Missssi ppi. George Washing
ton, ON Lake Erie, and the Lexington, OH
Long Island, have we heard of such
dreadful, shocking and deeply TO be de-
plored calamity Us the destruction ofthc i'll
iaed Erie, and more Than hundred aud
fifty men, women, aud children. Until VIC
learn all the names of these unfortunate
persons who have thus been hurried into
eternity, anxiety never SO great will per-
wade the whole country.
What fatality! Nearly two hundred
human being from all nations and of all
ages and sexes, met together in Buffalo
las, Monday 10 be sent uuprepared bc!orc
their Maker .-Herdid.
Still further particulars o. The recent terri
Ile Calamity on Lake Erie.
By Pomeroy's Express. las, evening, we
received Buffalo papers of Wednesday, in
advance of the mail. They contain fur
rher particulars Of the awful affair on Lake
Erie.
We hoped that We should learn some
thing to-day to relieve the details publish
ed yesterday, but every thing we hear
serves 10 deepen the horror. All that the
Imagination can conceive OF the terrible
aud hearl-rending was realized in the aw-
ful destruction OF the Erie. Scores sank
despairinsly beneath the wild waters, but
there is reason 10 fear that many, very
many, strong men, helpless women aud
tender children perished in the flames.
Alexander I.amberton. musician, from
Erie, and Frederick Parmalee, barkecper,
were picked up by small boat after The
Clinton had left. Parmalee was on the
water seven hours. and show ed great pre- !
sence Of mind in cxerting himself to save