Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-07-11
We are indebted to Mr. r. L. Parsons for a late
st Louis paper.

We are indebted to Mr. r. L. Parsons for late
st Louis paper.
Further Particulars of the Loss of the Griffith.
The Cleveland Plaindealer gives the following
further information in relation to the Griffith and
and her loss. The boat was a new one Of Medium
dimensions and of excellent character with the ira
yelling public. She had just been purchased by Capt
Roby and this fatal trip to him and his family was
the first trip after the purchase. 1t is supposed that
the number of deaths will reach two hundred and
sixty!
A hatfull of silver watches, taken from the emil
grants, with several gold ones, were sion
Of the coroner, and several thousands in money.
BY far the saddest sight was the ssfuneral at the
trench.'' On small hiIlock on the high bank
looking the scene Of death, the night before many
struggled in vain against their fate, was opened q
trench 80 feet long, feet wide and feet deep. In
this had been laid, in promiscuous order. man, wo
man, child, husband, wife and daughter; the father
and son, the mother and infant, layer upon layer,
until within four feet of the surface. What hor-
rid work! To see human bodies arranged for COM
pactness, the rough pile and larger bodies leveled
up with children and lesser bodies, that this vast
grave should present an even surface with the
brush and boards which were laid their faces,
and on which the earth which was dug out of the
pit was thrown back. When we assembled the bank
we found two or three hundred people around the
brink of the mound, taking last look and perform
ing the last rites to the victims below.
UP to the hour Of 10, the lake was so smooth and
clear, that could see bodies they lay upon the
bottom, and so closely had they jumped IN upon
each other, that when, in one instance, one body
was hooked and raised eight others followed hold
ing fast to each other.
1t seems that while the boat was running, her mo-
ton drew the flames toward the stern, but as soon
she struck, the breeze from the lake took eie Ct
and forced the forward, where the pas sengers
were assembled, with such rapidity that they were
forced almost at the instant to make the leap.
The consequence was, that the good swimmers
were carried down and drowned hy those who
could not swim. Nwould seem as though they had
sunk one solid mass, in one general embrace.
and that, too, in only eight or nine feet of water.
The clerk and mate were of the opinion that
there were about 400 persons on board. all tod
thirty saved, one hundred and fifty dead bodies re-
twenty yet to be accounted for.
The Cleveland Herald says that Richard Mann,
second wheelsman, stood at the wheel until the
pilot house was SO enveloped in flames, and he was
so badly burnt as to be unable to save himself. Dr.
Maronchy, of Louisiana, writes an interesting &C
count. He says he was first seriously alarmed for
his safety when the boat was about mile from
land. He says:
saw the mate on the starbonrd guard throwing
the lead and directing pilot no hold her-
The mate looked so perfectly cool thought we
must be pretty safe. The engine was still work.
ing, and we appeared to he nearing the shore rap
idly. Iasked him what was to be done, he told
me nothing. The engine then stopped, but as the
boat had good deal Of way on her, she continued
to approach the shore. This all occurred in l
should think from three to five minutes. The
flames were not raging in all the midship part Of
the vessel. saw now the thing out: no Ioats
were to be seen, they having afterwards learn
ed, been all burnt up. looked about me for
moment, and tried TO make up my mind what was
best to be done. determined to go out on the
bow and stem alongside Of the bowsprt did so
and held on to the irons and chains about that part
About this time good many had, as I thought i'm
prudently, jumped overheard. The boat was still
making considerable Roadway, and of course, all
who went over and did not strike out vigorously,
must have passed under the wheels.
The Doctor says it was not over seven or eight
minutes from the time he got out of bed till he
compelled to take water.
The water around the bows now mass OF
human beings, men, women, and children. hope
lessy struggling for life. The boat moving.
but barely moving towards land. as had no hopes
of being able to swim more than few rods, de-
termined to let her carry me as far as possible
She soon however stopped. or at least the motion
was scarcely perceptible. On the forward rart or
bows of the lower deck. the mass of people was
immense; all crowded close forward, some madly
Glunging over. others throwing ever their wives
and children, and rapidly following them to almost
certain feath. still held on, and tried to form
some estimate Of the distance to land and conjec-
tured it might he about three hundred yards. l
now thought that ny chance OF escape was extreme
y slight. In the multitude wildly struggling in
he water around. did no. see how even an expert
swimmer could escape, and people were dash1ng
overheard in every direction.
By the exercise Of great presence OF mind, and
Selling the moment when there was wa opened
through the struggling Of human beings, the
writer got safe to land, almost exhausted.
sEvery one have since met with, appear sur |
'rised that few were saved. Now taking all !
into account don't see how any
hing else could have been expected. Let us re- |
collect that the fire was amidships, little or no
alarm Civ until too late, DO believe at all.
don't think that even the bell was rung.
Most of those who jumped over before the boat
stopped, unless expert swimmers, must have been |
either drowned, or killed by passing under the
wheel. Many must have persisted in this way
To every man who had either wife or child with |
him. there was hardly any chance Of escape. All |
such were irrevocably doomed. All they could do
was to plunge over and drown together. believe |
but one man so situated escaped. As the steerage
were mostly emgrants. and in families,
it is easy to see how frightful the destruction
must have been.
Confession Of Professcr Webster.