Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-08-24
THE PARTICULARS

THE PARTICULARS.
The steamboat ERIE is DESTROYED The
Erie left Buffalo, at P NJ, Monday, for
Chicago. She had 200 persons, passen-
gers and crew on board. Nothing occur
red to mar the pleasure Of the voyage, till
5 o'clock, when the boat was off Silver
Creek, 8 miles from shore and 33 from
Buffalo, when slight explosion was heard
and Immediately the whole vessel was in
flames. Captain Titus, who was on deck
at the time, rushed to the lady's cabin to
obtain the life prescryers, Of which there
were some 90 or 100 on board, but so ra-
paid had been the progress Of the flames
that it was Impossible TO enter the cabin.
He then returned, and gave orders to stop
the engine, as the progress Of the boat in
creased the flames, but the fire prevented
It. The steersn1an was then told 10 put the
helm hard cardboard. The boat then swung
heavily round toward the shore, and three
small boats ordered out. Two were low
cred, but in consequence of the heavy sea
and Roadway Of the boat, both swamped.
We will not attempt 10 describe the aw-
fully appalling condition Of the passengers.
Some were frantic with fear, others plum
ged headlong into the water, others again
seized upon any thing buoyant, upon which
they could lay hands. The small boat for
ward had been lowered. 1t was along side
the wheel with three or four persons in it,
when the captain Jumped in, and the boat
Immediately dropped astcrn filled with wa
ter. A lady floated by with life preser-
yer; she called for help; there was no safe
ty in tho boat: tho captain threw her the
only oar in the boat; she caught the oar
and was saved. 1t was Mrs Lvndc, er
Milwaukee, and she was the oaly lady sa-
we'd.
In this condition, the boat was mass
Of fierce fire, and the passengers and crew
endeavoring TO save themselves by what
ever means they could reach-they were
found by the Clinton about 10 p. NJ. The
Clinton left here in the morning, but 10
consequence Of the wind had put into Dun
kirk. She laid there till nearly sunset, at
which time she ran out, and proceeded as
far as Barcelona, when just at twilight,
the fire Of the Erie was discovered some
20 miles astern. The Clinton Immediate
ly put about, and reached the burning
wreck about 10. 1t was fearful sight.
All the upper works Of the Erie had been
burned away. The engine was standing,
but the hull was mass Of dull, red flame
The passengers and crew were floating
around, screaming in their agony and
shrieking for help. The boats Of the Gin
ton were instantly lowered and manned
and every person that could be seen or
heard was picked up and every possible
relief afforded. The Lady, little boat
lying at Dunkirk, went out Of that harbor
as soon as possible after the discovery Of
the fire, and arrived soon after the ClIn-
ton. 1t was not thought by the survivors
that she saved any. BY A. M. all was
still but the dead cracking of the fire
Not a solitary individual could be seen or
heard on the wild waste Of waters. A line
was then m; dc fast to the remains Of the
Erie's rudder, and an effort made to tow
the hapless hull ashore. About this time
the Chautauque came up and lent her as
sistance. The hull Of tho Erie was towed
within about four miles Of the shore, when
it sunk in IL fathoms water. By this time
it was daylight The lines were cast off.
The Clinton headed for this port which
she reached about six o'clock. or those
who arc saved, several are badly burned,
but none are dangerously injured so far as
we have heard.
Origin of the fre.-Among the passen-
gers on board were six painters in the en-
ploy of Mr.. w G. Miller, of Buffalo, who
were going to Erie to paint the steamboat
Madison. They had with them mjohns
filled with spirits Of turpentne and varnlsh
which unknown to captain Titus, were pla-
ced on the boiler deck directly over the
boilers. One Of the fremen who had &C.
cason TO go TO the deck, and seeing the
demijohns, removed them. They were
replaced, but by whom is not known. In
mediately previous TO the bursting forth of
the flames, as seve raj on board have as
sured US, a slight explosion was heard
The demijohns had probably burst with
the heat, and their infamable contents, Ia
king fire instantly, communicated to every
part of the boat, which having been fresh
ly vanished, caught as if it had been gun
powder.
Nota paper nor an article Of any kind
was saved. OF course il is impossible 10
give a completelist ofthose on board. OF
cabin passengers, Capt. Titus thinks there
were between 80 and 40, of whom 10 or IL
were ladies'. In the Storage were about
about l4O passengers, nearly oil Of whom
were Swiss and German immigrants
They were mostly in families with the
usual proportion of men, women ana chill
drcn. The heart bleeds at the thought.
1t is singular coincidence, that the E
rie was burned at almost, identicalIy, the
same spot where the Washington was
burned in June, 1888. Captain Brown,
who commanded the Washington at that
time, happened to be on board the Clinton,