Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-06-24


Struggled in vain against their fate, was
opened trench 80 feet long, 6 wide, and
8 deep. In this had been laid in promis-
cuous order, man, woman, child; husband,
wife and daughter; the father and son, the
mother and infant, laying upon laying un-
til within four feet Of the surface. What Il
horrid work! TO see human bodies ar
ranged for compactness, the rough pile and
larger bodies leveled up with children and
lesser bodies, so that this vast grave should
present an even surface to the brush and
and boards which were laid over their la
ces, and on which the earth which was
dug out Of the pit was thrown back
When We ascended the bank, I've found
two or three hundred people around. the
brink of this mound, taking Inst look and
performing the last sad rites 10 the victims
below. "A clergyman or an exhorler was
addressing the bystanders, and warning
them in accents solemn of the uncertainty
of life, and the feeiness and vanity of all
things here below. Although there was
no procession, or tolling bell, no coffined
hearse or funeral array, the scene was
solemn and impressing. Yet how soon
will this event be forgotten
GAS from the wing, the sky no scar retains,
The parted wave no furrow from the keel,
So die in human hearts the thoughts of DEATH"
In their habillments Of seeming slumber,
just as they were taken from the deep,they
now lie in one common mouldering pile.
But after all, it matters but little whether
our grave be in the fragrant shade, in the
fathomless ocean, among our kindred or
in such place as this; the day is coming
when we shall all appear at one universal
bar and receive from righteous judge the
Just reward of our deeds. He that is wisest,
penetrates the future deepest.
We are indebted to DR.. ST. John, OF Will
loughby for the following which was IN
tended for the use of all the Cleveland
papers, having been got up and sent here
at our suggestion.
THE GRIFFITH-THE DEATHS.
VERDICT OF THE coRoNER's JURY, ETC
send you such facts as came under my
observation respecting the burning Of the
Steamboat c. p. Griffith. An unusual
light was seen in the direction OF the Lake.
between and O'Clock, A. NJ. by some
Of our citizens, some OF whom ventured
drive to the lake TO learn the cause Of it.
When the alarm was given there was, as
you will easily infer, no want of DISPOSE
ton to fly to the relief of the sufferers.
We were able by 10 O'Clock 10 draw from
the bottom of the lake about one hundred
# b1, ho
survived having been saved by the mate
with boat from The saw mill Of Mr..
Canada. Some swan ashore.
Up to the hour OF ten the lake was so
smooth and clear that we could see bodies
as they lay upon the bottom, aud so closely
had they jumped in upon each other, that
when, in one instance, one body was hook
ed and raised, eight others followed, holding
fast to each other.
1t seems that while The beat was running.
her motion drew the flames towards the
stern, but as soon as she struck the breeze
from the lake took effect, and forced the
flames forward, where the passengers were
assembled, with such rapdity that they
were forced almost at the same instant to
make the leap.
The consequence was that the good
swimmers were carried down and drowned
by those " no could not swim. 1t would
seem as though they had sunk as one solid
mass, in one general embrace, and that,
too, in only eight CT nine feel OF water.
Mr.. Holly and his room mate made their
escape by sinking down and swimming
under those who were struggling above as
far as they could swim without breathing.
A MIR Spencer of Ashtabula stayed on
The boat until he saw a space clear through
which he could swim out into the lake, and
then made his escape by swimming around
those who had so hastily juml ed in before
him.
The citizens appointed committee for
the protection of property, providing for
the survivors and disposing of the BODIES of
the dead. We did as we would be done
by. Some of the good people Of your
city complained Of our burying all foreign
ers who had no trace of name or home in
one common grave and in their clothes.
We have only 10 say that your citizens
had notice early enough to have been on
the ground before they were put in the
grave, and as it was they were covered
with nothing but leaves when they were
making their comments, and could easily
have been removed if there had been any
disposition to do better, instead of talking
about it. | was glad 10 hear the Mayor
Of your city say that unoer all the circum
stances we had done the best that could be
done.
The clerk and mate we're of the opinion
that there were about 800 persons on board,
all told; thirty saved, one hundred and
fifty dead bodies recovered, which would
leave about one hundred and twenty yet to
be accounted for.
Capt. Roby had just bought seven.
eighlhs OF the, boat, The engineer owning
the other eighth.
dia not learn whether the boat was in.
sured; but one Of the men belonging ON
BOARD was heard to say that he thought il
wrcng 10 insure boats.
To give any accurate description Of this
areadiul scene, is impossible. /; beggars
eyerv effnrt at descriplion, Two men rela