The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-09
General JntelIipeute.

Loss OF THE PROPELLER PHOENIX Con-
FIRMED.-O uer 240 Lives Lost The Buffa-
10 papers of Monday confirm the previous
reports of the burning of the Propeller Pho
nix on Lake Michigan, on Sunday, the 2lst
ult., and represent the loss of life to have
been even greater than was stated in the first
accounts. We copy the following particulars
from the Buffalo Express:
Capt Robinson, of the schooner Ontona-
gon, which arrived at this port on Sunday,
saw and converscd with the Mate of the PhG-
nix, and gathered from him the following par
ticulars: The Phoenix, having on board
some 200 men, women and Children emigrant
passengers, mostly from Holland beside the
crew of about thirty persons, and forty cabin
passengers, bound for Chicago, made Maito-
voc Bay, Lake Michigan, in heavy weather,
for shelter from the gale.
She let go her anchors, but the sea was so
heavy that she dragged them, and to save
themselves from ship-wreck she put out to sea
again She had proceeded to within about
l 5 miles of Sheboygan, being about equi-dis-
tant from that place and Matowoc, and about
six miles off shore, when fire was discovered
in her hold. Every effort was made to cx-
tinguish it and with good success. But the
vessel seemed doomed to destruction, for they
had no sooner mastered the fire in the hold,
than it broke out between decks, having been
communicated from the boilers. The wind
was quite fresh and blowing directly on shore,
which accounts for her being so far off land.
Capt. Street was confined to his berth by
sickness, and the command devolved upon the
first mate. The greatest terror and confusion
ensued on the second appearance of fire, and
all hope of saving the vessel was soon aban-
doned. A rush was then made for the small
boat when Mr. David Blish, of Southport
with great presence of mind and determine
ton of purpose, ordered and drove them away
from the boat, directing the mate to take pos
session of it, and lower it away. He then
took Capt. Street from his room and placed
him in the boat, when he directed some
twenty others to follow, and the boat left the
propeller for the shore-Mr. Blish himself re-
naming behind.
The propeller Delaware hove in sight about
the time that the boat left, and new hopes
were raised on board that she might reach
them in time to save them from destruction
but it was vain hope. The boat that left |
for shore arrived in safety but before the
Delaware could como up with the burning
vessel she had sunk, and all on board, except
two picked up, had persisted, either by fire
VI IlI' DAoH lCll NlCJill 10 HIS
to save others-he being among the lost
This calamity involves greater destruction
of human life than has ever occurred, in one
event, upon these waters. Most of those on
board were foreigners, and their loss will not
be realized; but still it is dreadful catastro-
phe which carries to destruction, in so short
a time, more than 200 human beings, with so
small a chance for escape as appears upon
this occasion. Only 80 saved from some 27O
persons Eight of the crew, we understand,
we're among those saved.
This account varies somewhat from others
in regard to the number on board-and those
'aved-and may not be strictly correct, but
t is made up from the best information We
could obtain.
The Buffalo Commercial says, the Phoenix
was insured for $4,000.
There was on board large amount of
merchandise, including forty or fifty hogsheads
If sugar, and great quantity of dry goods,
&c. 1t is estimated that the loss is not less
han 10000 or 100000. Probably much of
t was insured in New York, as is usual.