Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-09

! Loss OF THE PHpNix.-G Great Destruction
Of Life. The Buffalo Express Of 29'h ult
furnishes the particulars Of the horrible cal
,mi,y of the loss OF the propeller Ph@nix
and of over two hundred persons who went
down with her. The Express has It's account
from tie captain Of a vessel who conversed
with the mate OF the III fated Phoenix, and
gives II as foiows:-
On Sunday. the 2lst ult., the propeller
Phoenis, having on board some 200 men.
women and children, emIgrant passengers,
mostly from Holland, besides the crew OF
about ,hlrty persons, and forty cabin passen.
gers, bound for Chicago, made Manitowoc
Bay. Lake Michigan. IN heavy weather, for
shelter from gale. She let 60 her anchors,
but the sea was so heavy that she dregged
,heu.and 70 save themselves from shlpwreck
sh. pnt on, to sen again. She had proceeded
10 within about fifteen miles Of Shcboygau,
being abou, equl-dls,ant from that place and
Maul,owoc. and about six miles off shore,
when a fire was discovered in her hold
Every effort was made TO ex,lngu,sh it, and
with GOOD success. But the vessel seemed
doomed To destruction, for they had no sooner
mastered The fire in the hold, than II broke
out between decks, having been communicat'
ed from the boilers. The wind was quite
fresh and blowing directly on shore, wh'cf
accounts for her being so far oil land. Cap
tain Sweet was confined to his berth by SICK
ness, and the command devolvcd upon the
first mate. The greatest terror aud conin
SION ensued on the second appearance OF the
fire. and all hope OF saving the vessel was
soon abandoned. A rush was then made foi
the small boat, when Mr.. David Blish, OF
Southport, with great presence o: mind ana
determination of purpose, ordered and drove
them away from the boat, directing the mate
TO take possession OF 1t and lower 1t away
He then took Capt. Sweet 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.. Bllsh
himself rcmainng 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 des,ruc.
,ion but il was vain hope The boat then
left for the shore arriving IN salety,Ont before
the Delaware could come up with the burn
ING vessel, she had sunk, aud all on board,
except two picked up, had perlshcd, either
by fire or flood. Mr.. Blush fell victim TO
his efforts to save others-he being among
the lost.
The calamity involves greater desruc-
ton of human life than has ever occurred
IN one event, upon these waters. Most OF
those on board were foreigners, and their
loss W Nj not be realized, but still II is dread
fol catastrophe, whlch carries 10 destruction
IN So short time, more than 200 human be.
lugs, lth so small chance tor escape as
appears upon this occasion. Only ~ saved
from some 270 persons. Eight OF the crew,
we understand, were among those saved.
As more complete accounts ot tins iearln'
disaster. and fuller information as 10 lis
causes, reach us, we are constrained 10 speak
N strong terms Of the conduct Of the parties
having the charge of the boat. 1t is but too
apparcn, that with ordinary care the sad
catastrophe might have been avoided.
Some difficulty was discovered within MI
hour or two after starting, which was du'y
reported to the second engineer, who, ot the
time, was IN charge Of the engine. That otil
Ger refused to listen TO the urgent representa-
ilons uf the fireman. who, 1t seems, was
sufficiently apprehensve of danger TO urge
the engineer ~ command To call up the tirsl
officer Of lba, department. Information was
a second time conveyed to hun, aud was
second time disrcgorded
In an hour afterwards the mischief wos
done. the top Of the boilers having become
red hot and communicated the fire 10 the
boat.