Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-08-23

BURNING OF THE ERIE.
From The BgGtio Commercial advertiser .4ug. l6
MOSE AppAIIING CAIAMITYl

MOST APPALLING CALAMITY
Destruction Of the Steamboat Erie and The loss OF
one humid ed and seventy ires Little did we think
yesterday in pennng II brief paragraph in com
incubation of The Eric, that today should he
called upon 10 record the destruction Of that boat
together with loss of life unequalied on Our own
or almost any other waters. The Erie left the
dock at 10 minutes past p. M, loaded with nier-
chnndize for Chicago and, rs nearly MS can now
be ascerained, about 200 persons, incung Ins-
sengers and crew, on board. The boat had been
thoroughly ovethauled, and although The wind
was blowing fresh, every thing promised pleas
ant aud prosperous voyage. Nothing occurred to
mar this prospect ill about g. when the boat was
off Silver Creek, about 8 miles from shore, and 33
miles from this city, when slight explosion was
heard, and Immediately, inslnntuneously almost,
the whole vessel was enveoped in flame. Capt.
Titus, who was on the upper deck at the time,
rushed TO the ladies' cabin to obtain the Life Pre-
servers, Of which there were from 80 to 100 OH
hoard, but SO rapid had been the progress of the
flames, he found it impossible to enter the cabin.
lie returned to the upper deck, on his way giving
orders TO the engineer 10 stop the engine the Wind
and the Roadway ofihe boat increasing the fierce
ness of the flames and driving them aft. The en-
gineer replied that in consequence of the flames
he could no; reach the engine. The steers
man was instantly directed to put tie helm hard
starboard. The vessel swung slowly round, head
ing to tho shore, and the boats there were three
Oh board-weic hen ordered TO be lowered. Two
OF the boats were lowered, hut in consequence oi
the heavy sea on and the hediwny Of the vessel,
they both swnmped as soon rs they touched the
water. We will not attempt 10 describe the awlui
and appalling condition of The passengers
Some were frantic with fear and horror others
plunged headlong mady into the water, others IL
gain seized upon any thing buoyant upon which
they could lay hands. The small boat forward
had been lowered. 1t was alongside the wheel,
with three or four persons in it, when the captuin
jumped in and the boat Immediately dropped
tern filled with water lady foaied by with n
life preserver on. She cried for help There was
no safety in the boat The captain threw her the
only oar IN the boat. She caught the oar and was
saved. il was Mrs. Lynde of Milwaukee, and she
was the only lady saved. In this condition, the
boat mass OF fierce fire, and the passengers and
crew endeavoring to save themselves by swimming
or supporting themselves by whatever they could
reRch-ihey were found by the Clinton at about
lO +. nj. The Clinton left here in the morning.
but IN consequence ofthe wind had put into Dun
Kirk. She laid there till nearly sunset, which
time she ran out AMI had proceeded MS far as Bar
celona, when just at twilight, the fire of the Erie
was discovered some 20 miles astern. The Gin
ton immediately put at.out and reached the burn
ing wreck about 10. Ii was fearful sight. All
the upper works of the Erie had been burned u
way The Engine standing, but the hull was
u mass of dull, red flame. The passengers and
crew were floating around screaming in their ag-
Clinton were instantly lowered and munncd, and
every person that could he seen or heard was pick
ed up aud every possible relief afforded The
Lady, little steamboat lying at Dunkirk went
out OF that harbor rs soon as possible, after the
discovery OF the fire, and arrived soon after the
Clinton. 1t was not thought by tie survivors that
she saved any. By A. NJ. all was sill except the
dead crackling of fire Not solitary individual
could be seen or heard on the wilde waste OF wa
ters. line was then made fast TO the remains OF
the Ere's rudder, and effort made TO tow the
hap!ess hull ashore. About this time the CHATEAU
que came up and lent her assistance. The hull
of the Erie was lowed within about four mikes OF
the shore, when it sunk in eleven falhoms water.
by this time it was day light. The lines were
cast off The Clinton headed for this port which
she reached about O'Clock. OF those who are
saved, several are badly burned, but none are dan
gerously injured SO far as we have heard.
Origin Of The fire. Among the passengers on
board were six painters in the employ of Mr.. w.
G. Miller of this city, who were going 10 Erie tu
paint the steamboat Madison. They had with
them demjohns filled with spirits of turpenline
and varnish, which, unknown TO Cnpt Titus, were
placed on the boiler deck, directly over the boil
ers. One of the fireuen, who was saved, 8 'yS he
had occasion to 90 on deck, and seeing the demi-
johns, removed them. They were replaced, and
by whom is not known. Immediately previous
TO the bursting forth of the fumes, as several on
board have assured US, slight explosion wa'
heard. The demohns had probably burst will
The heat and their InlamalIe contents taking fire
Instantly, communicated to every part of the boat
which having been freshly variislled caught us i
il had been gunpowder.
Not Il paper nor article OF any kind was sa
we'd. OF course il is impossible To give complete
list of those on board. Ofcabn passengers, Capt
Titus thinks there were between 30 and 40, q
whom 10 or l2 were ladies' In the steeragn were
about l40 passengers, nearly all of wi ON were
Swiss and German immigrants. They were most
ly in families with the usual proportion Of men
women and children. The heart bleeds nj III,
thought
II is II singular coincidence that the Erie wal
burned at almost identically the same spot wher,
! the Washington was burned ia June, 1888. Capt
| Brown, who commanded the Washington at tina
iime happened 10 he on board the Clinton, an,
was very active in saving the survivors of th
Erie.
LOST.
| w. NJ. Camp, llarrsburgh, Ia.
John e. Pool, New York city.
E. S. Cobb, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Quo rorp, N. y, wife and three children.
Lloyd Ge'sion, Erie, clerk.
MIR. Joles, steward Of the boat.
Mrs. Giles Williams, Chicago.
Chas. J. Lynde, Milwaukee.
Watts $. Lynde, Homer, N. Y.
Mrs. VIM. II. Smith and child Schenectady.
A. Sears, Phillip Barber, Henry VIEWER, Wa
| Thomus, - Eyans Peter Finney, painters, Bu
iaIo, in the employ of VIM. G. Miller.
Miss A. Miller, Buffalo, sister Of VIM. g. Mil
| Ter.
I'D. Woodward, N. Y.
WIN. Griffin, Miss.
ID. s. Sloan, Geneva.
| f. Stow, Canada.
/ VIM. Sackel, Mich.
Mrs. Spencer and Two children.
| Mrs Dow.
Mrs. Robinson, BalsIon Spa, N. Y.
| Miss Robinson, do