Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-12-04
BURNING OF THE STEAMER PHENIX, AND THE
Loss OF TWO HUNDRED LIVES.

BURNING OF THE STEAMER PHENIx, AND THE
Loss OF TWO HUNDRED LIVES.
FROM COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER MONDAY.
Accounts received here this morning do vary from those
which arrived yesterday This unfortunate vessel
Sunday the 2lst instant within about fifteen miles of She
boygan and about the from Manitouwac, when it
discovered that she fire in her hold She had been
compelled to put being unable procure sufficient
anchorage IN Manouwac bay where she had gone for shell
ter This fire was extingushed but this
done than broke the forward boilereck
having been communicated from the boilers.
The vessel about six miles the shore The great
est confusion prevailed after the second discovery Of fire.
then appeared that there hope Of exnguishng A
rush made for the small boat which would have rendered
II entirely useless, but Mr.. David Blsh of Southport-a
gentleman whose should henceoh be held perpetual
remembrance among those who navigate the Lakes-drove
the crowd away and, having taken Capt Sweet, the
mander of the propeller from his BERTH where he lay sick,
and directing many follow the boat could safely carry
the boat left for the shore, Mr. Bsh voluntarily remaining
behind.
The propeller Delaware hove in sight about the time that
the small boat left but unable to arrive in time to
those board from destruction Before the Delaware reach
ed the spot the burning vessel had sunk, and all board
either burnt drowned, with the exception Of two,
who picked up Mr. Bsh persisted among the rest It
appears probable that tc0 hundred and fy Rres lcee lost
One hundred and fifty of the passengers had recently arrived
from Holland This greater destruction Of life than has
occurred at one time upon these lakes.
We understand that there board large amount of
merchandise including forty fifty hogsheads of sugar. and
great quantity of dry goods &c 1t is estimated that this
loss is not less than $50, 900 or 100000
Mr.. HOUSE,, the engineer Of the steamer Phenx, lately
burnt Lake Michigan has furnished the Cleveland Herald
with list Of few Of the persons lost by this sad calamity
whom he recollects by name, follows
Mr.. West lady, and child, Racine Mr.. Fink and lady,
DO Mrs Heath and sister, Little Fort Mrs Long and child
Milwaukee ]. Burroughs Chicago; ID. Bish, Southport
I two Misses Hazeton, Sheboygan.
eight Storage passengers, together with hundred and fifty
HoIanders were also lost.
Of the officers and lost-D W. Keller, stewards
]. c. Smith, saloon keeper n. Merrill I'd w. Owen,
I'd engineer H. Robinson ls porter J. Newgen LIST fire
man T. Halsey, T. Feeau, ]. Murdoch, A. Murdoch,
George --, deck hands II. Tisdale, cabin boy L.
Southworth, wheeIsman two colored cooks
The Cleveland Herald says that Mr.. House remained
board until the flames fairly drove him into the With
a broad he fender rope and Immediately jumped
overheard His fingers touched the fender, which caused it
to roll, and il with considerable effort that he finally
reached it. very large, vigorous emigrant plunged
into the this moment evidently with the intention Of
securing the fender for himself but he sank drowned
Immediately. Mr.. House found state-room door,
which he tied his fender with his neckerchef Upon this
float he supported himself for about hours and half,
eVncing throughout, from all learn, presence
mind, forude and hardness almost incredible When he
first got into the water he surrounded by those who
intent upon ekng out their existence until relief might prov
exhausted and chilled their sleep Of death. Mr. H.
the first discern the lights of the Delaware Propeller she
bearing down the relief of those unfortunate beings,
and announced the fact those around him. at the time
exhortng them hold little longer and they would be
rescued from their penous situation AT that ume he
alive within the sound of his voice, and
he is confident that in few minutes afterwards not single
one remained, except the three who saved lady,
cabin passenger drowned within reach of him. and she
among the last yield to the king of terros The descp
ton which he gives Of the burning wreck is awfulv terrific
hrl pT
her sides times srcamed far upon the waters aud then
cued alot, until fame meeting flame, the combined
rushed mady upwards till il seemed lost in the clouds.
The shroud and rigging covered with living beings
who sought safety there rather than in the Their
marked features lighted by the ghasy glare of the
flames and, the fire reached them in their retreat,
another fell and either burnt to death drowned
One reached the crostrees where he dashed himself
There he remained after his companions had all fallen, and
then he died aud when finally the mast went BY the board
ha went with IT,
Mr. West of Racine succeeded in throwing overheard
teras enough 10 float himself, wife, and child He requested
his wife leap into the with the child and place herself
upon door This, with hearted devoeness she reus
DO unless her husband accompanied her They joined
and Pungng into the yielding flood, sank together to
rise in life.
Mr. Long Of Milwaukee saw his wife and child drown al
within his reach, without the power to He after
wards got hold Of the wheel under the sern and Of
the three who saved alive from the water
The body young Tsda the cabin boy, found float
ing upon ladder. lie laying upon his side with his
head resting upon his hand lie evidently drowned,
but died from cold.
When the passengers became OF the imminent dan
gr which surrounded them, and that almost certain death
awaited them, presented which beggars descp-
Some beook themselves to quiet prayer, Others howed
for help, whilst others still bowed in meek Submission to the
fiat OF ruling power. As the fire progressed after an
other Of the voices hushed in death, and Stiffness
ful and profound succeeded.
There could not have been less than two hundred human
beings swept eternity by this disaster and fully three
fourhs OF that number strangers from far off country
They had torn themselves from the soil that gave them BIRTH
and bidding adieu to their father land through tolls hard
ships and prvaons bad pressed forward the land cf
promise. Almost within sight OF tina, haven of peace and
rest for which they had long hoped and faithfully aboreJ
ended their hopes apd their prospects Male and female in
fancy and YOUTH exulng manhood and feeble old ae sank
together in watery grave