Washington telegraph., 1850-07-10

account of most dreadful destruction OF
life, from the burning OF the steamer
G P. Griffith, ell Lake Erie. on the lfth
utmo:
Death has now visited us IN fearful
form, and with terrible effect. ne
steamer G. P Griffith, was consumed
about daylight yesterday morning. ana
we fear some two hundred souls perisheo
amid flame and water. When iirst the
alarm was gwen, the passengers were
cool and collected. 1t was thought 'ne
boat could reach the land-for which she
was steeriug-and that thus all wouid De
saved. But, sadly, the steamer struck
upon sand bar, half mile OH shore,
and then panic reigned. The passengers
according to those who were saved. De-
came wild with despair, aud plunged
madIy into the water as if life was sale
there! Death alas. came TO them amid
the gurrlluy sounds of the watery waste
and by scores they lett their homes OH
earth, for their homes, we hope, III heaven.
Of the cause of the fire, we know nothing.
And the saved unfortunately can explain
nothing. They were asleep pm bed. All
tney know is, that about 8 clock-or
about day. y.break-ihe alarm OF hre was
given The shore was in sight. Hope
said il could be reached andall were still.
But when the bar was struck, hope was
converted into despair, and, wildly, death
by fire was stunned To meet death amid
the waters. The passengers plunged into
the lake, aud but few were saved. The
number of passengers on board is thus
stated:
S,eerage, 256; Cabin, As; Crew, 25;
Total, 326
Mr.. r. G.. Parks, Postmaster of Roches-
ter, Pa aud we'll known 10 our cltizens
was aboard, aud one of the saved. We
give his account OF ii as he gave 1t to u.s.
He was reused at or near 4 A. NJ.
The fire was then burning i'll the rims
of the chimnev> of the boat They were
distant from the land three miles The
second mate ordered the boat ashore,
which was Immediately obeyed.
When within nalf mile OF shore she
grounded. The flames had not then
burst out into the forward part of the
cabin. but Immediately after, The pilot
house was enveloi ed. The command
was then given from one of the officers
/ W tHc DeASHChSClS W cuNC 'HN hA-Oi'Nc'
Many Of them Immediately jumped over
board, when the Captain called TO the men
below 10 throw the wood, which was on
fire, overheard. Men then in the CABIN,
and on the lower deck. jumped overheard
in crowds. some twenty at time.
The Captain remained OH the upper
deck, near his state room, forward OF the
wheel house. Alter all the passengers
had jumped overheard, the Captain threw
the BARRIERS wife his mother, wife and
child, into the lake, and plunged III him.
self He remand moment Oh the sur
face, when with his wife in his arms,
they both sank together.
Not female or chld-6fIeeu were
counted-was saved except the BARRIERS
wife
There were al least according to Mr..
Parks estima e, two hundred and fifty
emigrants, chiefly from England aud Ger
many, forty-five or fifty cabin passengers,
besides the crew, numbering about 25
The number of those saved on til
| beach, was only 40, Mr.. Parks was on
th- wheel. He could NOT swim. While
there, scores hoated round him >hriekiug
madly, .'Save me. Save me-" lie could
do nothing He felt like giving up. But
with a few others he held on, and soou
the struggle was over, and all was quiet
save the sound of the waters as they bea-
against the charred hull of the steamer
Tbs was The first "trip Capt Roby had
made. After daylight search was made
| for the bodies. Two aud three were
taken up at a time; aud they were LAID
upon the shore. 1t was a sad sight TO
behold No books were saved. A list,
therefore, of the passengers cannot he
given.
| The sceue on the lake shore was mel
anchov i'll the extreme. One hundred
aud fifty bodies were strewed along. The
boats would gather up five or six together
from the bottom of the lake. In the
death struggle they had clasped each
other with the ffmest grip. A long
trench was dug, aud IN that the poor
emigran's were buried, Bury my child
here, said lone parent. Lay my wife
there" husky spoke a bereaved husband.
Aud babes and children, aud men aud
women from Ireland, England and Ger
many, We're buried together under the
same sod near he spot where their lives
We're so suddenly taken. The Mayor OF
the city, a number of The Council, aud
near one hundred of our citizeus charter
ed the steamer Diamond, and left at half
| past three P. NJ, for the scene ot the dis
a>ter yesterday, with material, and me-
chanics, to make collins 10 bury the dead
The Griffith was on the Toledo aud But
falo lne-was owned by Roby aud Stud
derford, aud nearly new. Capt. Roby
had his life insured for six thousand do
| lars.