The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-06-26
Further Particulars of the Burning of the
Griffith.

CLEVELAND, June H.
"A vessel saw steamer burning ahead Of it,
after daylight, and stood for her. She was found
to be the Griffith, all burnt down to her main
deck. The propeller Delaware, Capt. Napier,
was there, and the vessel left her towing the
wreck ashore. Captain Napier reports two hun
dred lives lost. The Delaware was not with her
when she burnt. Those saved got on shore and
will be up in an hour or two, when further par
tculars will be learned
No families or children were saved except the
BARRIERS wife. The steamer was about miles
out when she took fire. The second mate order
ed the boat to put for shore; she grounded when
within about half mile.
LATER Mr.. Sands of the Arena, who con-
versed with the mate of the Griffith, informs us
that about four o clock this morning the boat was
found to be on fire. She was running near the
shore, but all on board, said to be 300, were
burned or drowned-save thirty-seven only of
the crew were saved
Captain Roby was seen to throw his wife
overheard and then jump after her, but they
were drowned together. No cause was assigned
for the fire. The boat burned some fourteen
miles east of Cleveland, and Mr.. Sands, who
was stopping at Loga's Tavern, fourteen miles
below, saw the flames.
LATER SrlLL.-The propeller Delaware has
arrived from the scene of the disaster, bringing
only four of the survivors Of 80 or 40. Among
the saved We're the LIST mate and the acting
clerk upon the trip-Mr. Wilkinson, brother i'm
law of Capt Roby. The Captain mother was
lost. Three ladies were saved, two of them
Germans. The boat struck about 200 yards
from the shore
No baggage was saved
When the Delaware left, there were from 40
to so dead bodies on the beach. The scene is
represented one of the most heart rending
description.
LATER.-We left the side ofthe wreck at two
o'clock this, Monday; afternoon, and at that time
l4O bodies had been recovercd-most Of them
German emgrants.
The Griffith struck in nine feet water, and is
a mass of ruins.
The passengers were aroused by the cry OF
fire, and sprang overheard to escape the flames.
There have been found six or eli ght together,
locked in the embrace of death
An English woman and four children who
had been sent for by the husband and father, a
resident of Cleveland, had risen early to be in
readiness to meet him, were all lost The
spectacle presented by the row of corpses extern
ded in puseless slumber upon the beach-green
limbs distorted in the death agony, we hope ne
yer again to behold. The inhabitants in the
neighborhood turned out to give them aid, and
long trenches were receiving the unknown
dead
Professor A. Sharpe, of Willoughby, had Ia
ken charge of matters and his exertions were
most efficient. Our townsman John G. Becky,
looking after the dead, we saw tears streaming
down his cheeks as he recognized mother and
three children.
We add the best list of the saved and lost we
could procure.
SAvED.--Mr Evans 1st mate, Mr.. Merchcrly
Cincinnati, Bartholomew Selover, Geo. c.
Peck, Homer. DuIsy fireman, Jas. Hurd do, r
G. Parks Postmaster Rochester, Va, D. w
Reed Bcllefountain
Losr-Cupt.s e. G. Roby, wife and two
children; Mrs. Wilkinson, mother-in-law o.
Capt. Roby; II. Palmer, telegrapher in Speeds
office, Toledo; Alice B. Champion, Toledo; MIR
Who'eman, Cleveland; Thos. Gilman; Mrs. w
Trinkham and two children, Geo Welman and
a lady bound for Cleveland, with four children
mother and child, Cleveland; Ferlan, deck HAND
bodies taken to Buffalo on the Troy; Mrs
Heath, wife of F. Heath, Wall St., N Y, and
their children, Francis, Helen, Florence and
Washington; VIM. Fillmore, bar keeper; M
June, I'd engineer; Darrod, LIST porter; Christian
chambermaid; M. Rchwheelsman, Sandusky
negro, LIST cook; Mr.. Davis, waiter, Buffalo,
Hugh Matrom, fireman; Weller, deck hand
Furguson w. Atkinson, Cleveland.
| A lady name unknown, Dan Donovan, stew
ard, supposed to be lost These are all the names
| furnished us as yet
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE GR1FFITH
The fire was discovered about the smoke pipes
The crew endeayored to extingush it without
alarming the passengers, but the flames spread
SO rapidly that the cry was soon raised, "save
yourselvcs!'
The hurricane deck was literally packed with
emgrants sleeping, and when the fire was an
InOunced rs beyOnd control the utmost confusion
and terror reigned The boat was Immediately
headed towards land and grounded six hundred
yards from shore. But the heat had been SO
intense that most of the passengers had jumped
overheard, prcferring watery grave to a death
by fire. Even the captain in his desperation
flung his wife, two children and mother over.
board rather than see them devoured by the
flames, and then threw himself in after them.-
They all Immediately sunk to rise more.
The emf grants were crowded forward and
literally pushed overboard by those retreatine
from the flames. Some had presence of mind
enough to throw overheard their chests and
swim upon thems but nearly all were lost.
| Both yawl boats were so badly burned as tc
be useless.
The beach was strewed with bodies for seve
raj rods. They lay SO thick upon the bottom Of
the lake and IN such shallow water, that they
were finding them and taking them ashore by
the boat load.
1t is stated that Captain Roby had insured his
life for six thousand dollars, short time previ
Gus to his decease.-Chi. Jour.
Instructions FOR THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION
The letter of instructions from the Secretary
of the Navy to Lieut. De Haven, Commando,
of the Grnnell Arctic Expedition, is published
We make some extracts from it. He says: