Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-07
THELoss OF THE PROPELLER pHG

NIX CONFIRMED I1cO Hundred Lire, Lest.
The Buffalo Express, OF Monday. gives the
melancholy particulars as follows
On Saturday, evening last we received tele-
graphic dispatch from New York, announcing
The distressing intelligence OF The burning oil the
propeller Phoenix on Lac Michigan, on Sunday
of last week, and The destruction Of large num-
Der of lives The report was not Al FIST general
y credited, but yesterday morning the schooner
Onlonasan arrived, bringing corroboraion O!
the calamity, with some particulars in relation lie
il.
Capt Robinson, OF the schooner. saw and con.
versed with the male of the Phoenix, who is on
board the propeller Delaware, ard gathered from
him The following particulars: Or Sunday, the
2lst November the propeller Phpaix, having on
boa nd some Two hundred men, women anu chill
dren, emigrant passengers, mostly from Holland,
besides the crew OF about thirty persons, and lor
" cabin passengers bound Tor Chicago, made
Manilowoc Bay, Lake Michigan, in heavy wea.
Their, for shelter from the gale. She lie, go her
chors, but the sea was SO heavy that She dragged
them, and, 10 save themselves from shipwrecK,
she put out IT, sea again.
She had proceeded to within fifteen miles Of
Sheboygan, being about equi-distant from that
place and Manilowoc, and about six miles of
share, when fire was discovered in her hold
Every effort was made 10 extngush it, and with
good success Blu, the vessel seemed doomed 10
destruction, for they had no sooner mastered the
fire in The hold, than il broke out between the
decks, having been communicated from loe Doll
ers. The wind was quite fresh, and blowing d.
recllv on shore, which accounts Tor her being SO
far of land. Captain Sweet was confined 10 his
berth by sickness, and The command deVolved
upon The FIRST male.
The greatest terror and confusion ensueo Gu
the second appearance OF fire, and all hopes OF
saving the vessel we're soon abandoned. A rush
was then made for lhe'suiall boat, when MIR. David
BIsh, of Southport, with grea, presence OF mind
and determination OF purpose, ordered and dfo7e
them away from the boa, directing the male TO
take possession Of and lower itaway. He then
took Capt. Sweet from his room and placed him
in The boat. when he directed some twenty others
10 follow, and the boat left the Propeller for the
sbore-Mr Blish himself remaining nehind.
The Propeller Delaware hove 10 sight abou!
the time that the boat lett, and new hopes were
raised on board that she mig ht reach them IN
| lime 10 save them from des!Iuclion-bul II was
vain hope The boat lha, lett for shore arrived
in safety, but before The Delaware cou'd come up
with the burning vessel, she had sunk, and all on
| board, except two picked up, had persisted eilher
by fire or flood. MIR. Blsh fell victim 10 bis
efforts 10 save olhers-he being among the lost.
A MISREPRESENTATION CORRECTED
A statement appeared, few days since, in the
Boston Atlas, 10 the effect that orders had been
issued by The Secretary of the Treasury to reduce
the wages of the laboIeIs in the various CUSTOM
house. Of the country The Union, of Thursday
evening, notices the charge, and publishes 10 re-
ply thereto the circulars issued by the Secretary
Of the Treasury, from which The statement orig
natcd. whence il appears tha, the object OF The
Secretary is mol to reduce wages, but 10 dispense
with all ncumbenls Of office in The cns'om'house
whose services are not absolutely necessary; and
il s believed tba, the entire saving effected by Mr.
Walker in tie expense Of coi!echng me revenue
will amount TO near hall miliion o! 9oilan pei
.unum. So far is The Secretary from doing any